Freightliner to offer ConMet CastLite drums

Freightliner Trucks is now offering ConMet CastLite brake drums on all of its medium- and heavy-duty truck models as they are designed to deliver significant weight savings and improved performance with a lower cost premium than other lightweight drum designs.

Mark Lampert, Freightliner’s senior vp-- sales & marketing, said the CastLite drums achieve significant weight savings due to a computer-optimized, patent-pending shape, allowing for up to a 15% weight reduction over standard, full-cast brake drums while maintaining a high level of durability and performance.

Additionally, the shape of the CastLite drum offers more surface area for increased cooling and better overall braking capabilities -- as better heat transfer improves the cooling process, thus allowing the drum shape to remain consistent even after extensive brake usage, he noted.