Anticipating new stopping-distance requirements, Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake will launch its new high-performance drum brakes by the end of 2009. After many delays, Bendix thinks the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will announce the new rules for large trucks in next month.

Bendix Spicer plans to introduce a new, high-performance model of its popular Single Anchor Pin, Extended Service drum brakes – in a variety of sizes – for both steer- and drive-axle applications.  The launch is slated for the third quarter of 2009 to fleets interested in conducting field testing on the componentry well in advance of the effective date of the proposed stopping distance rules. The new drum brakes will be in production well before the effective date of the new requirement, currently thought to be May, 2011.
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Bendix Spicer says it’s working to develop variations of the high-performance drum brakes that will custom-fit various truck model configurations.

NHTSA first announced its proposed rulemaking on Dec. 15, 2005. Its proposal calls for either a 20% or 30% reduction in the required stopping distance for large trucks. The idea behind the new requirements is to help close the gap between car and truck stopping distances and thus promote safety.

Extensive vehicle test data by Bendix Spicer and others confirm that most trucks can meet or exceed the shortest of the proposed stopping distances without requiring air disc brakes, though ordinary S-cam drum brakes aren’t likely to be sufficient.