Front axle electric park brake

An Electric Park Brake (EPB) system for front axles has been developed by TRW, making the technology a more affordable option for a wider range of vehicles.

The system, which is planned to launch in 2013, increases safety and frees up space in the passenger compartment. A TRW spokesman commented:  “Until recently, vehicle manufacturers have been reluctant to routinely fit disc brakes to the rear axles of small cars - normally a pre-requisite for EPB – because they are relatively expensive and lower cost drum brakes can comfortably meet performance specifications. TRW’s front axle EPB offers an affordable solution, requiring only small modifications to the front axle calipers and integrating the necessary electronic components and software into an existing ESC control unit.”

The system enhances emergency braking performance by integrating with the ABS/ESC in the event of hydraulic failure.