BRAKING & COLLISION AVOIDANCE
With Meritor forecasting that 30 percent of
the North American market will be specifying
air disc brakes (ADBs) by 2020, it’s important to
choose the right brake for your operation from
a performance and maintenance standpoint.
Th e reason being: both will impact your total
cost of ownership (TCO).
Use of ADBs, which has doubled from 10
percent in 2010 to nearly 20 percent in 2016,
delivers multiple benefi ts to specifi c vehicle
applications and duty cycles. Across linehaul,
hazmat, severe duty and vocational applications,
end-users benefi t from increased safety
and exceptional performance.
Maintenance and Performance
Considerations
While disc brakes may eventually come to
dominate the North American market as they
have in Europe, fl eets need to evaluate duty
cycles and lifecycle costs.
42 Fleet Maintenance | October 2017
One key consideration is routine maintenance.
Because disc brakes are built with
fewer components, maintenance is simpler
and takes less time – which off ers the additional
advantage of increasing vehicle uptime.
While maintenance for drums involves
inspection of brake linings and lubricating
cam bushings and slack adjusters, servicing
ADBs oft en includes only checking for pad
wear and making sure boots and seals are in
good condition.
Brake Categories
Meritor works closely with OEMs on the development
of braking solutions and with fl eets to
choose the right solution when spec’ing their
vehicles. We off er three categories of brakes
— air disc, drum and hydraulic disc — that
meet current and evolving market demand
in North America.
Meritor EX+ air disc brakes for truck/trailer
linehaul and vocational vehicles off er superior
stopping distance, increased pad life and
reduced maintenance downtime because of
their faster pad change capability, reduced
brake inspection time and sealed internal
adjuster mechanism that protects contamination,
resulting in longer caliper life.
Meritor Q+ drum brakes for linehaul and
vocational applications deliver consistent
performance, stopping distance and reduced
downtime due to these brakes’ longer service
intervals. Th ey are available with wider brake
shoe packages and advanced friction material,
off ering longer lining life.
Meritor Quadraulic hydraulic disc brakes for
medium duty trucks and buses deliver exceptional
stopping performance and reliability due
to the four-piston design.
Particular Benefits
Each braking system off ers its own benefi ts,
based on vehicle usage.
With disc brakes, Meritor has seen very good,
consistent performance and feel, regardless of
the duty cycle.
For vehicles with brakes that run hotter, such
as those for transit bus and refuse collection,
customers have seen many benefi ts with discs.
Because the disc brake rotor is exposed, heat is
released easily to the atmosphere, which helps
lengthen service intervals and improve stopping
performance.
For fleets spec’ing vehicles in the construction,
logging and off-highway segments
that operate in dusty environments, fully
enclosed drum brakes remain an optimal
solution to reduce maintenance costs. Some
linehaul fleets spec’ing 6x4 tandem drive
axles prefer a split system, with drums on
rear axles and air disc brakes on front steer
axles to gain many ADB benefits at an optimum
acquisition cost.
Evaluate
Many diff erent companies are competing for
your business. Th erefore, it’s important to
evaluate your needs and apply a solution that
matches brakes to optimize performance based
on vehicle usage.
Look for a solution from a company that
delivers top-of-the-line value and is willing to
help vehicle owners fi nd the right product for
their application.
Whether spec’ing disc or drum brakes — or
even opting for the growing trend of a split
system — be sure to make your investment
wisely. Your decision will impact the safety
of your drivers as well as the general public,
plus aff ect your vehicle’s total lifecycle costs.
Spec The Right Brake
For Your Operation
TCO is impacted by brake performance and maintenance
By T.J. Reed
VICE PRESIDENT, FRONT DRIVETRAIN,
NORTH AMERICA, MERITOR
The company (www.meritor.com) is a leading global supplier
of drivetrain, mobility, braking and aftermarket solutions
for commercial vehicle and industrial markets. Reed
is responsible for establishing the strategy, direction and
priorities of the Meritor front drivetrain business, which
includes front axles, brakes and wheelends.
» Whether specifying air disc, drum or
hydraulic disc, it is important to evaluate
needs and choose the right braking solution to
optimize performance based on vehicle usage.
This decision will also impact the safety of
drivers and the general public, as well as
affect the vehicle’s total lifecycle costs.
Photo courtesy of Meritor
Evaluate duty cycles
and lifecycle costs.