In response to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 121 reduced stopping distance (RSD) requirements, brake lining manufacturers have released a range of new replacement products.
“It is vital for fleets to maintain the original braking performance of their vehicles, particularly given the increased RSD requirements,” says Dennis Griffin, product manager-commercial vehicle friction, Federal-Mogul Motorparts. “RSD-certified brake linings provide the safety and performance demanded by brake system manufacturers and fleets.”
Available through commercial vehicle parts distributors is the new Abex RX 6297 copper-free lining that is said to exceed both FMVSS 121 RSD and brake manufacturer standards for 23,000-lb. tractor applications. The Abex brand also includes independently validated, RSD-certified linings for 20,000-lb. tractor applications. Federal-Mogul Motorparts and Abex have developed non-asbestos organic (NAO), semi-metallic and combination NAO/semi-met formulations as well.
The most important industry tests in the OEM and aftermarket friction certification process are the FMVSS 121 and Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J2115 tests, notes Earl Brown, product manager-Reman Brake Shoes, Bendix. “These two tests, which all commercial vehicle drum brake friction materials must adhere to, establish bulk drum temperature guidelines,” he explains. “Selecting the proper friction is vital for maintaining the performance, service life, and safe operation of drum brakes.”
For fleets using air disc brakes, Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake offers OEM-rated replacement brake pads for its ADB22X air disc brake systems. According to the manufacturer, the ADB replacement pads performed more effectively in testing than aftermarket air disc brake replacement pads in terms of stopping distance, heat (which can lead to swelling and brake drag as well as accelerated pad wear), and corrosion resistance.
To address the need for using the same friction material on both tractors and trailers, Haldex has introduced its Grey-Rock Legacy GR2015 and GG2020 compounds. Using phenolic resins and base materials, the products are offered in 20,000- and 23,000-lb. axle ratings.
Available on all INTRAAX and VANTRAAX integrated suspension systems and TRLAXLE non-integrated axles, Hendrickson features a complete line of brake shoe assemblies and replacement brake shoes, camshafts, and cam tube kits designed for various applications and brake ratings.
To improve corrosion resistance in its RSD friction materials, Meritor PlatinumShield III coating is now being used for new and remanufactured Meritor brake shoes. The coating is designed to resist micro-abrasion caused by movement of the brake lining against the shoe table during normal use.
A range of brake parts products is available from TSE Brakes. The Visi- Chek visual brake stroke indicator allows a tech to check brake stroke simply by looking at an integral indicator to see if it shows green. Five part numbers handle the majority of TSE Brakes applications.
TSE Brakes has also introduced UL-Disc air brake actuators for air disc brakes. The actuators feature full immersion electrodeposition coating inside and out and a powder coating finish; a main spring with an added UL base coating; a self-guided, e-coated pressure plate to help ensure consistent alignment; and diaphragms constructed with contaminant-resistant rubber reinforced with nylon fabric.
For all brake parts and linings, manufacturers noted that becoming familiar with design features and OEM recommendations goes a long way toward making the right choices.
