Opel 1900 1973, Service Manual

Page: 270 / 625

DISC BRAKES
11
2. RUBBER FLUID 6.
3. HOLLOW 7.
AL5
3
Figure Left Front Disc Brake View
the piston circumference by its inherent tension. See
Figure
Both pistons are hollow. The open end
of each piston faces the brake disc.
A sheet metal spacer plate with two impressions for
preventing the piston from rotating is installed be-
tween each piston and friction pad and
secured by
the friction pad dowel pins. The two friction pads are
positioned on the right and left of the brake disc
recesses in the caliper halves. Each friction pad con-
sists of a backing plate with friction material, which
is abrasive-coated, bonded to it. The friction pad
assemblies are held in position in the brake caliper by
two dowel pins, secured by slit dowel pin retainers,
and by a cross-shaped retaining spring which is
loaded and positioned under the dowel pins, thus
pressing the friction pads and spacer plates firmly
against the pistons. The front brake line leading from
the brake master cylinder attaches to a distribution
tee from which a brake line leads to each front wheel
caliper. The caliper bores are interconnected by fluid
ducts within the caliper halves.
The front wheel disc brakes have self-adjusting pis-
tons. See Figure
The adjustment of the pads is effected by the pistons
which push the friction pads ahead towards the
brake disc for a distance equivalent to the amount of
friction pad wear. This means that the greater the
wear the closer the pistons move
towards the brake
disc. A running clearance exists between friction
pads and brake disc when the brakes are in “off”
position. This running clearance is provided
by the
rubber fluid seals which are positioned in the caliper
half bores and which tightly grip and exert their
pre-load pressure on the pistons. The rubber fluid
seals also prevent the pistons from being pushed into
the caliper half bores more than the distance equiva-
lent to the running clearance. As the friction pads are
adjusted by the pistons, there must be no static pres-
sure in the front brake circuit when the brakes are in
position. Non-existence of a static pressure in
the front brake circuit is achieved by eliminating the
check valve in the brake master cylinder on the front
brake circuit. During brake application the pressure
from the brake master cylinder is transferred to the
pistons in the brake caliper. The pistons move ahead
and press the friction pads against both friction
faces of the rotating brake disc. The force exerted on
the brake pedal determines the pressure of the fric-
tion pads against the brake disc. On releasing the
brake pedal, the brake lines of the front brake circuit,
including the caliper half bores, are relieved of
OPERATION