LOUISVILLE, Ky. — ConMet has introduced TruTurn – a brake drum that boasts improved dimensional consistency and uniform wall thickness, thanks to a new fully-machined finishing process.

The end result is a drum that delivers improved performance characteristics and greater longevity, Rob Edstrom, ConMet’s vice-president of sales and marketing announced at the Mid-America Trucking Show.
Traditionally brake drums arrive from the manufacturing plant with imperfections which are then offset by adding weld-on weights or cutting away material (a process known as balance cutting).

However, Edstrom says ConMet’s new patent-pending finishing process eliminates the need for balance cutting or adding weld-on weights, thus improving the drum’s durability. The TruTurn drum has less potential for cracking than traditional brake drums, is exposed to lower per stop temperatures and delivers a more uniform distribution of temperature and braking cycles, Edstrom says. All of those factors contribute to a longer life cycle. Also adding to the TruTurn’s life expectancy is the fact the drum’s outside surface is painted after machining, giving it better paint coverage and making it less prone to rust and corrosion.

Edstrom says the performance of the TruTurn drum is also an improvement, as the drum’s uniform wall thickness reduces vibrations and delivers better braking.

“It may not be rocket science, but it is clever,” Edstrom said of the new finishing process.
The process is applied to both the inside and outside of the drum, and utilizes engineering tools such as Computer Aided Design (CAD), Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and solidification modeling.

“The TruTurn brake drum is truly unique in that it is machined on the outside as well as the inside,” Edstrom explained. “Through this process the drum is ‘turned to balance,’ which means it is inherently balanced, as well as having its strength optimized because the drum wall thickness is uniform around the circumference.”

The TruTurn brake drum has met and exceeded all braking performance and durability criteria and is certified to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 121 requirements.

Despite the enhancements, the drum won’t come at a premium price. Edstrom says the TruTurn brake drum will be available at the same price as its predecessors and is available immediately.