The patent-pending Platinum Series brake drum from Webb Wheel Products uses a new material that’s a blend of Webb’s work with compacted graphite iron and technology devised by Waupaca Foundry for NASCAR use. It’s a premium product with ” exceptional strength ” and light weight (55 pounds compared to 77 for cast iron), along with high heat-transfer capabilities and thus a low wear rate.

In durability testing, Webb says it matched three standard steel brake drums against three examples of the new Platinum product in controlled stops from 70 mph after doing others at lower speeds.

While the steel drums lasted only 20 stops on average before showing heat checks and/or cracks, the Platinums were still fine after 100. Webb’s own full-cast drum averaged 34 stops. The new drum is available now for all popular truck and trailer axles, specialty models to follow.