Automotive Brake Pad Molds

Center researchers fabricate automotive brake materials for testing on vehicles and on dynamometers. These materials are molded to the specific shape for a given vehicle. To make a brake pad, a metal backing plate is inserted into the bottom of the mold, some glue is added, and then the friction material mixture is added. The mold is then placed in a heated press. After cooling, the pad is removed and ready for use.