TRW is the worlds largest supplier of Electronic Parking Brakes (EPB) and this is only one part of their range of active safety systems which include steering, suspension, driver assist devices and of course braking components. The presentation covered Drum In Hat (DIH) systems (transmission brakes to you and me) and EPB actuation of both disc and drum brakes.
It was evident from the outset that there was a very high level of interest in this event. The diversity of questions Brian Newell, from TRW, had to field indicated a considerable lack of knowledge on how the trade should properly maintain and service EPB's.
The TRW EPB ECU incorporates software to detect MOT roller brake testing that doesn't create a 'fault' in the ECU memory and a host of other features a vehicle manufacturer can specify were appropriate. TRW software to assist in the removal and calibration of the calipers following brake pad renewal is incorporated in the vehicle manufacturers test equipment. For the after-market TRW have their own stand-alone EASYCHECK handheld device. This works via the vehicle 16 pin OBD socket to calibrate the calipers following pad replacement to set the correct brake pad to disc air-gap and thus the clamping force when the EPB is applied. Failure to calibrate the EPB following pad replacement can lead to binding pads and the incorrect clamping force being applied to the brake discs. Once calibrated the EPB self calibrates every 1000km to compensate for brake pad wear. The EASYCHECK has many other functions, one of which is to clear the EPB ECU memory of faults.
This was a first class presentation incorporating much of the hardware for members to handle supported by short video's on how to change pads safely and re-calibrate the EPB.
By Paul Jarvis