解:
$ (1) $在$Rt△ CDB$中,由勾股定理得
$ CD^2 = BC^2 - DB^2 = 3^2 - (\frac {9}{5})^2 = 9 - \frac {81}{25} = \frac {144}{25}$
$ $在$Rt△ ADC$中,
$AD^2 = AC^2 - CD^2 = 4^2 - \frac {144}{25} = 16 - \frac {144}{25} = \frac {256}{25}$
∴$AD = \frac {16}{5}$
$ (2) △ ABC$是直角三角形,理由如下:
$ AB = AD + DB = \frac {16}{5} + \frac {9}{5} = 5$
∵$AC^2 + BC^2 = 4^2 + 3^2 = 16 + 9 = 25,$$AB^2 = 5^2 = 25$
∴$AC^2 + BC^2 = AB^2,$
∴根据勾股定理的逆定理,$△ ABC$是直角三角形