Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems has found a way to decrease the weight of its air disc brake without compromising performance and reliability.

The North American version of the brake, ADB 225, will make its way to the market weighing 30 pounds less per wheel end compared to current European technology.

“Today’s air disc brakes are dramatically improved over earlier versions where weight, cost and balance issues prohibited them from being a compelling option,” says Ron Bailey, technical sales manager for Bendix. “What’s more, the performance of the new air disc brake is far superior to the S-Cam drum brake alternative – stopping 26 per cent shorter than drum brakes and exceeding the current National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) stopping distance requirements by 39 per cent on a 6 x 4 tractor.”

The new system already exceeds NHTSA’s nine-step program recommendations for a 30 per cent improvement in stopping distance by 2007.

Bailey explains the ADB 225 has a streamlined design, a more efficient force multiplier, less than 10 per cent hysteresis and works well in combination with drum brakes and ABS.