A new long-life brake drum from Webb Wheel Products is available exclusively to Great Dane refrigerated van customers. Available exclusively for Great Dane for one year, the platinum brake drum is standard equipment on Great Dane’s entire refrigerated trailer line.
Webb says the platinum brake drum uses a blend of technologies and offers customers exceptional strength and low weight because it is made with compacted graphite iron. It also features heat transfer technology used on brake drums for NASCAR vehicles.
“During a NASCAR short-track race, brake rotors will become so hot that the brake fluid will begin to boil,” said Adam Hill, manager, technical information at Great Dane. “If a brake rotor can be developed to last an entire race under those conditions, consider the advantages if that technology is applied to the trucking industry.”
Webb’s test data indicates essentially the same lining wear rates compared with cast and steel shell drums, but substantial improvement for drum wear rate. Additionally, the durability of the platinum series drum renders dramatic improvements for severe 70-mph stops.
“Truckers are the most experienced driving professionals on the road, so it is unlikely that they will have to make many stops from 70 mph,” Hill said. “However, what the tests do show is under the most severe conditions, this new technology is at least three times more durable than what is on the road today.”