Disc brake sliding caliper retention is provided by a pair of torque bars fixedly mounted to a non-rotating member adjacent a rotating disc member. The torque bar pair constrains at least one sliding caliper from rotation with the disc when the caliper clamps down on the disc but allows axially movement relative to the rotational axis of the disc. The torque bars are mounted to the non-rotating member such that caliper forces resulting from engagement with the disc are perpendicular to the torque bars thus eliminating turning or shifting of the torque bars.
A twin-disc brake comprises a fixed support, extending over an angular sector of about 180.degree., and common to two calipers associated each with a respective disc. The calipers are mounted so as to slide axially along guides in the support and have hydraulic cylinders arranged on only one side of the associated disc, each caliper presents a reaction face for the pads on the other side of the associated disc. The brake is axially compact.