Webb Wheel Products' brake drum technology can be used to satisfy the recent U.S. government mandate for shortened truck stopping distance requirements
, the company says.

"We expected the stopping distance rules to be tightened and believe the new regulations will help improve highway safety," said Wolfgang Winzer, president of Webb Wheel Products. "Our R&D efforts have been targeted to helping our customers achieve the new stopping distances with economical drum brake solutions."

The new National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rule requires that a fully loaded tractor-trailer at 60 mph must be able to stop in 250 feet, 30 percent less than the former standard of 355 feet. A lightly loaded truck must stop within 235 feet. The new requirement, which applies only to new truck tractors, will be phased in over four years.

For most vehicle operators, upgrading to larger and/or wider S-cam drum brake sizes is a viable alternative to air disc brakes. Webb Wheel Products offers its patent pending Vortex brake drums, which are a lighter, more durable alternative to competitor drums, the company says. Vortex drums have heat dissipation characteristics that maximize lining life and reduce life cycle costs. The Vortex technology has been added to Webb Wheel's steer axle and wide drive axle brake drums specifically to meet the new stopping distance regulations without weight penalties over the existing standard drums.

According to the company, the servicing of these drum brakes are more economical, as operators and repair facilities are more familiar with the removal and replacement process. Replacement air disc rotors are also more costly than brake drums, the company adds.

"New regulation can often mean new costs and complications for end users, but in this case Webb has an answer that will not only meet the new federal requirements, but will actually save our customers significant replacement and maintenance cost over the life cycle of their fleet vehicles," Winzer said.

More info: www.webbwheel.com