Patent ID: 8423191

Claim:
A brake caliper pre-stressing apparatus, comprising: a fixture for receiving a cast iron brake caliper for pre-stressing; a pre-stressing force actuator adapted to apply a pre-stressing load to the cast iron brake caliper; a force transfer module for transferring a pre-stressing load from a brake actuator side of the cast iron brake caliper to a reaction side of the cast iron brake caliper; at least one sensor for detecting at least one pre-stressing control parameter for feedback control of the pre-stressing load application; a controller, wherein the controller is programmed to receive detected pre-stressing control parameter information from the at least one sensor and to control the pre-stressing force actuator to maintain the pre-stressing force within a desired pre-stressing load control range, control application of the pre-stressing force in accordance with a pre-determined pre-stressing loading schedule, where the pre-stressing loading schedule includes the steps of: applying the pre-stressing load to the cast iron brake caliper, wherein the pre-stressing load is high enough to cause localized plastic deformation in the cast iron brake caliper housing, and below a load high enough to cause failure of the cast iron brake caliper by crack initiation; maintaining the pre-stressing load a predetermined period sufficient to permit the localized plastic deformation to occur; and removing the pre-stressing load.