Brake wear indicator

Claim 1

A brake wear indicator for a brake having a push rod which is moved to move braking means into braking engagement, the brake mounted to a vehicle and having a brake housing, the indicator comprising a hollow cartridge, the hollow cartridge secured to the push rod by an adjustable clamp which clamps onto the push rod and onto the cartridge, an indicator member partially disposed in and movable with respect to the hollow cartridge, the indicator member having a first end with a warning portion, the warning portion normally disposed within the cartridge, the indicator member urged against a part of the vehicle by a spring within the hollow cartridge which yieldably urges the indicator against the part of the vehicle, the hollow cartridge securable to the push rod and having a second end through which the first end of the indicator member is freely movable, the first end of the indicator member urged against the part of the vehicle by the spring so that upon activation of the brake the push rod and the hollow cartridge move exposing a portion of the indicator member, to indicate amount of brake wear, the warning portion exposed in the event of abnormal brake wear, and the hollow cartridge second end having an opening sized so that a portion of the wear indicator exposed from within the hollow cartridge upon brake activation is cleaned of foreign material adhering to said exposed portion during its exposure when it returns within the cartridge.