Meritor is moving forward with a system designed for better stops – the new Meritor EX+ LS air disc brakes that are purpose-built for linehaul and trailer applications.

Weighing in at 71 lb., it’s promoted as the lightest air disc brake available. The existing EX+ L air disc brake weighs 74.5 lb.

The savings have come through the castings and single-piston design.

But it’s about more than shedding pounds. The company says the design is built to last, and has accumulated more than 1.5 million km of field testing while running through the paces of 330 internal lab tests. It’s taken more than four years to bring it to market.

The 86-mm piston diameter is twice as wide as competing models, which Reed says will minimize taper wear and maximize pad life. Adjuster mechanisms have been sealed from the elements, too.

For those looking to optimize the design, optional features include pad and rotor shields, positive pad retraction that optimizes the running clearance between the pad and rotor to extend pad life, and embedded sensors that can be used as an electronic inspection tool.