Patent ID: 8191690

Claim:
A shim structure for use in a brake system having a forcing member operable to urge a friction member against a rotating member to slow or stop the rotating member, the shim structure comprising: a shim body adapted to be interposed within the brake system, said shim body having at least one tab that is configured to oscillate out-of-phase with vibrations generated by the brake system during urging of the friction member against the rotating member to thereby dissipate vibrational energy generated by the brake system; wherein said at least one tab is defined within said shim body by at least one groove extending through the shim body, said at least one tab extending substantially coplanar with said shim body; at least one mass at least partially surrounded by said at least one groove, wherein said at least one mass is not substantially co-planar with said at least one tab; and a layer of adhesive extending between said shim body and a backing plate of the friction member to bond said shim body to the backing plate of the friction member, wherein said at least one tab is characterized by an absence of an adhesive layer thereon.