Disc brake with a pad retaining spring

A disc brake arrangement for vehicles, comprising:

• (A) a disc rotatable with a wheel;
• (B) a pair of friction pads mounted on rear plates and disposed on opposite sides of said disc and movable along the axis of said disc;
• (C) a caliper including:
• (1) a bridge portion having an inner wall extending transversely of said disc,
• (2) an operable portion defining a hydraulic cylinder with a piston therein, said piston being operably connected to one of said pads to move it into contact with said disc, and
• (3) a reaction portion abutting the other said pad, whereby, when said piston is actuated it moves said first pad into contact with said disc, thereby creating a reaction which causes said caliper to move in the opposite direction resulting in said reaction portion pushing said other pad into contact with said disc;
• and
• (D) a pad spring including two pairs of pad-engaging portions for retaining said friction pads independently of each other in the radial direction of said disc under a given load and comprising:
• (1) a central joining portion extending transversely across said disc, pads, and rear plates, said joining portion engaging a rib portion depending from said inner wall,
• (2) a first pair of pad-engaging portions formed by arms extending outwardly from one end of said joining portion at a slight angle with respect to said inner wall, said first pair of pad-engaging portions having a width substantially greater than the width of the first of said rear plates, on which said one pad is mounted, and engaging slidably with the upper portion of said first rear plate,
• (3) a second pair of pad-engaging portions formed by arms extending outwardly from the other end of said joining portion at a slight angle with respect to said inner wall, said second pair of pad-engaging portions having a width substantially equal to the width of the other of said rear plates, on which said other pad is mounted, and engaging with the upper portion of said other rear plate, and
• (4) a stopper element depending from the end of each pad engaging portion for restraining said pads from free movement along the disc axis.