When rebuilding an engine, no conscientious technician would toss in a new set of rings and neglect to look at the condition of the liners, pistons, valves, heads and other vital parts.

Why? Because the engine is a system of components working together, and individual components depend on each other to perform properly.

The same is true of the foundation brakes. Observing the condition of all brake components when performing a brake reline will explain premature lining wear or brake performance problems and head off future troubles.

Most experts agree that minimum acceptable lining thickness is 1⁄4 inch, which should be slightly above the rivet heads. There is a possibility of drum scoring or camshaft turnover when the lining is less than the minimum thickness.

Regard reline time as an opportunity to restore total system performance.

Start With The Foundation Brakes
A good beginning is to take an up-close look at an application of the brakes.

Watch for excessive deflection and loose or broken parts. Check cam splines for wear, as excessive wear allows lost motion between the slack adjuster and camshaft. Replace the camshaft and the slack adjuster if there is more than .020 inch of free movement between them.

Also check the clearance between the slack clevis pin and its bushing. Clearance should not exceed .020 inch. When reinstalling a slack, use an anti-seize compound on the camshaft splines to make it easier to remove next time.

Interpret Shoe Wear
Don’t just throw old shoes in the core bin-look at them. Lining wear should be even around the circumference of the brake assembly, and from inboard to outboard. More wear on the bottom, top or one side could indicate that peripheral brake hardware is worn. When that’s the case, brakes can’t be adjusted properly.

For example, look for tapered wear, a condition where the shoes show more wear at the inboard or outboard side, rather than wear that’s uniform. Worn anchor pins, holes and bushings or outer S-cam bushings can allow applied force to push the shoes to one side, resulting in tapered lining wear.

This condition often is accompanied by outer edge abrasion on the brake shoes. This is caused by the shoes tracking out of alignment because of worn parts. Do not reuse shoe rollers and anchor pins.

Note: When removing anchor pins, don’t heat the spider and try to hammer them out. Heating removes the metal’s temper, and hammering a hot spider will cause permanent distortion, reduced brake performance and abnormal wear. If anchor pins are stubborn, douse them with a light, penetrating oil, let the oil work in and tap them out as gently as possible, or use a puller designed for that purpose.

Clean the spider with a solvent and wire brush, and inspect for broken welds or cracks in the camshaft and anchor pin areas. Check tightness of the spider securing bolts and be sure the spider is not bent-the anchor pin holes must be parallel to the centerline of the axle. Otherwise, the shoes won’t track properly in the drum, and tapered wear will result.

Don’t confuse tapered lining wear with a high ridge on the inside edge of the linings. This is beneficial, as it prevents a lip from being etched into the drum, and makes drum removal easier. It also helps keep water and contaminants out of the brake assembly.

Unequal lining wear between the leading and trailing ends of a shoe may be the result of a weak return spring, a worn outer S-cam bushing or an out-of-arc shoe.

Attempting to adjust a brake with any of these conditions will result in dragging and high contact pressure at one spot of the lining, which will lead to rapid lining wear and heat damage to the brake drum.

Are any linings cracked? If so, it’s a good bet that they were loose on the shoe. This can be caused by a shoe that’s out of arc, rust buildup on the shoe surface or improper riveting.

When replacing the shoes, make sure the lining is tight and follows the contour of the shoe. Always check a replacement shoe’s dimensions-don’t assume it’s okay just because it has new lining on it.

When choosing new or rebuilt shoes or new friction material, stay with name brands as bargain products are likely to give you more trouble than you’d like.

If linings are contaminated with oil or grease, correct the cause before relining. The problem is almost always a leaking oil seal, too much grease on a grease-type wheel bearing or camshaft bushing, or careless handling.

If the lining is otherwise okay, but an area no larger than 10 percent of the total lining area is contaminated by grease or oil, the spot can be cleaned with brake cleaning solvent, not gasoline or another substitute. If done improperly, this can lead to a brake imbalance condition.

Don’t Overlook Hardware, Drums
Check cam bearing surfaces for wear, and replace the cam if wear exceeds .010 inch. A cam that’s within tolerance but has deep grooves caused by the seals can be reused, but it will admit abrasive contaminants and accelerate bearing and cam wear. The cam bearing should be replaced at each reline.

Carefully look at the S-cam and rollers for flat spots and irregularities. An irregular surface on these parts will cause brake noise and make brakes grabby and slow to release. If in doubt, throw it out. Return springs are inexpensive, and there’s almost no excuse for reusing them, but if you must, be sure they’re not stretched, broken or corroded.

When reassembling, don’t forget to lube the cam bearing and seals, and anchor pin bores and bushings. No matter how good a reline you’ve done, the linings must have a smooth, round drum to rub against. Light scoring and abrasion are okay, as long as they’re no deeper than .010 inch.

A drum with surface heat checks should be inspected periodically. The checks may wear away. But if it’s obvious that they are getting worse, discard the drum. Needless to say, any crack through the drum’s thickness means the drum should be scrapped.

To check for roundness, use a dial indicator to measure a mounted drum’s diameter in the center of the rubbing path. Take another measurement 90 degrees from the first one, again in the center of the rubbing path. If the two measurements are not within .010 inch of each other, the drum can be cut or rotated one bolt hole and rechecked. If it is severely out of round, the drum should be discarded.

Whether a drum should be cut (turned) is a matter of debate. Legally, it’s permissible to cut a heavy-duty drum to .080 inch oversize, but bear in mind that the radius of the new lining won’t match that of the drum, and will result in reduced braking performance and lining damage.

Also remember that one of a drum’s jobs is to absorb heat, and the heavier the drum, the more heat it can absorb. Turning a drum removes valuable metal and reduces the drum’s effectiveness. If you want top performance, replace drums as wear approaches .080 inch.

The key to a good reline is to remember that brakes are a system of components working together to get the job done. If part of the system isn’t right, the system isn’t right.

If you extend that line of thinking, the same is true of the entire vehicle. Wheel seals, bearings, axles-anything you touch during a brake job should be treated with the same respect given to the brake components.

Bring everything as close as possible to its original condition, and you won’t be sorry. It costs more up front, but a thorough job will pay for itself in long life and trouble-free operation.

For More Information
For more information on brakes, you may contact the following companies directly or use the FREE Reader Service Card in this issue. Other companies offering information on brakes can be found in the Truck Parts & Service Aftermarket Buyers’ Guide & Directory as well as in The Buyers’ Guide on our Internet web site at www.truckpartsandservice.com.

ArvinMeritor, Inc.
Florence, KY
888-725-9355
www.xpresswayplus.com

Bendix Spicer Foundation
Brakes LLC
Elyria, OH
866-610-9709
www.foundationbrakes.com

Brake Sentry
Asheville, NC
866-548-0545
www.brakesentry.com

Carlisle Corp.
Charlottesville, VA
800-840-5635
www.carlislemotion.com

Federal-Mogul Corp.
Abex Friction
Southfield, MI
248-354-7700
www.federal-mogul.com

Gunite Corp.
Rockford, IL
800-677-3786
www.gunite.com

Haldex
Kansas City, MO
800-643-2374
www.hbsna.com

Marathon Brake Systems
Rome, GA
800-223-5201
www.marathonbrake.com

Roadranger-Eaton/Dana
Kalamazoo, MI
800-826-HELP
www.roadranger.com

Webb Wheel Products, Inc.
Cullman, AL
800-633-3256
www.webbwheel.com

IN THEIR WORDS…ANSWERS BY MARC KARON

Why did you start the business?
“We enjoy the customers, vendors and the challenges of the business. It was not our intention to exit the business or industry when we sold to TransCom in 1998. Soon after that, we realized that we had made a mistake and began to strategize how to get the businesses back. Our efforts were rewarded in 2002. We wanted to reclaim our businesses because we believed that with the correct business model we could be successful.”

What’s been your toughest business decision?
“It is hard to choose between two difficult decisions. The first was the decision to put our entire personal assets at risk to buy back the companies even though they were losing money at the time. The second toughest decision is ongoing. As less expensive product from China continues to proliferate, we have been very careful not to support these products. Maintaining a brand marketing strategy is often challenging, but has been very rewarding.”

What was your worst business decision?
“The worst decision we made was to sell our businesses to TransCom.”

What was your best business decision?
“Although I defined it as one of the toughest decisions, buying back our business from the bankruptcy court was also the best decision we’ve made. In addition, a very positive decision was to incorporate all inside and outside salespeople, along with branch managers, in all decision-making regarding vendors and market strategies. This group of decision makers, which we call the ‘Leadgroup,’ has made many positive suggestions and decisions. Our success with this proves that involvement breeds commitment.”

What is the best way to maintain a competitive edge?
“The best way to maintain a competitive edge is to employ the very best people. This strategy may seem risky since payroll expense likely will exceed those of your competitors. However, this is still a people business. The best people are more productive, make fewer errors and develop the greatest customer loyalties. In addition to having the best people, you need to link your company brand with the most successful product brands in our industry.”

What is your five-year vision?
“There are two major challenges for us in the next five years. First, the consolidation of major fleets and their alignment with OEs, marketing groups or large national distributors will create margin pressure and reduce addressable business for independent distributors. Our business model stresses growth in new products and new markets to address the losses listed above. In addition, our company is developing a succession plan with key employees who will continue the business.”

What is your business philosophy?
“Our fundamental business philosophy is to win, but have fun doing it. We try to make sure we involve all of our people in our success. Virtually every aspect of our operations and results is communicated to each employee and we use incentives and rewards to create an attitude of a true partnership with all of our people.”

TOTAL TRUCK PARTS
Address: 6545 Wallis Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33413
561-684-3332

Website: www.totaltruckparts.net

Founded: 2002

Owners: Marc Karon
Tom Fitzpatrick
Tom Gibson
Jack Wilcosky

Number of Locations: Five
· West Palm Beach, Fla. (headquarters)
· Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
· Ft. Myers, Fla.
· Ft. Pierce, Fla.
· Miami

Employees: 93

2006 Revenue: $22.5 million

Business Model: Provide a broad base of products and services to increase value for customers, including large parts inventories for better availability, solid supplier relationships for competitive pricing and a talented and motivated workforce dedicated to customer service.

Growth Plan: Establish market leadership with each branch location and grow revenue and profit by adding new product lines and services. Total Truck Parts is actively acquiring real estate where it has facilities to better keep costs in line and allow for future shop and showroom expansion. New business is generated by adding affiliated customers called sub-distributors that allow the company to grow into new markets without large capital investments.

It was fun. I would still do it. It was pure magic. Smitty found new ways to serve the customer better. There was no can’t in him.”

That’s how Gary Dewell, then vice president of parts and service for Navistar International, described William A “Smitty” Smith, who ran his marketing efforts in the 1980s and early 1990s. Smitty passed away on April 18th, at the age of 61. Those of us who remember him know that the truck parts business lost a visionary.

To understand the impact of Dewell’s recollections, you must know that after Smitty alienated virtually every top executive of Navistar, Dewell was forced to let him go. Without a doubt, Smitty caused Gary more headaches than any man alive, and he finally had no choice but to fire him. However in looking back, he believes he’d do the whole thing again in a heartbeat.

What manner of beast could evoke such strong positive comments from a boss who fired him?

Smitty graduated from Rhodes College in his home town of Memphis, Tenn., then got his MBA from what is now The University of Memphis. He immediately joined Cummins in Columbus, Ind., where by popular legend, he had alienated almost all of his superiors within two years. In those days at Cummins, they didn’t fire MBAs, they sent them to corporate hell, Diesel Recon in Memphis.

Recon was a mess

The challenges facing aftermarket professionals abound: Counterfeit parts, shortage of technicians, availability of technical data and inventory management practices and technologies, to name a few. In a recent survey we sent to our readers, these business issues ranked among the most pressing and were ones for which there was the greatest need for information.

It was the first such reader survey for Truck Parts & Service in quite a while, and given the rapidly changing dynamics in the aftermarket, it was long overdue. The results help validate our editorial direction as we tackle these and other issues to bring solutions to independent parts distributors and repair garages.

But despite the challenges, the survey also showed an overall healthy business environment for you and your peers. Consider:

• More than 55 percent report annual sales and service revenue of $2.5 million or greater.

• Better than half operate multiple locations with 20 percent operating more than 10 facilities.
• The vast majority provide customers with parts, maintenance and repairs.
• Most serve markets spanning 50 or more miles from their facilities, about one-third operate multi-state and at least nine percent are international, serving Canada and/or Mexico.
• Nearly half who offer drive-in service operate more than 10 bays. More than half employ 10-plus technicians.
• And, indicating that the type of information Truck Parts & Service provides is essential throughout your businesses, most of you share your copy with at least one other person, and almost 20 percent say it’s passed around among more than five people.

By any standard, this paints a portrait of Truck Parts & Service readers as savvy businesspeople-entrepreneurial and growth-driven in nature-who know the importance of staying informed on technical data and industry issues, and of keeping colleagues equally educated.

The survey brings us a wealth of data that will help shape future editorial content as we continue to make Truck Parts & Service your must-read business publication. But research can only tell us so much, and where that data ends I hope your involvement begins. This is your magazine and I encourage you to interact with it as you see fit. My e-mail address is at the end of this column and you can find a directory to our entire staff on page 55. For Truck Parts & Service to continue to be the voice of the independent parts and service provider, it is essential that we hear your voice.

One such opportunity is helping select the finalists for the 2007 Truck Parts & Service Distributor of the Year award. For the first time since its inception, we are complementing our traditional nomination process with your nominations. Peer recognition is a powerful endorsement of the business practices and innovations that are setting new standards in the aftermarket. And if you think your business is among those leading the way, we invite you to cast a ballot for yourself.

To make your nominations, visit this site. To reach me, e-mail dsmith@rrpub.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Slack adjusters-or brake adjusters as some call them-are devices used to maintain the proper clearance of the brake shoe friction material to the brake drum.

According to Randy Petresh, vice president-technical services, Haldex, “The primary purpose of a brake adjuster is to adjust the brakes automatically while they are in service. The brake adjuster maintains the proper running clearance between the brake shoes and the drum which, in turn, will minimize changes in brake chamber stroke.”

He added, “As the brakes wear, stroke constantly changes and increases unless the brake adjuster is there to compensate for the wear.”

While brake adjusters do not require a great deal of maintenance, technicians often will adjust them. John Hawker, engineer, Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake, said, “Do not adjust them. And I want that in bold and caps.” He explained that it is a dangerous practice to adjust automatic slack adjusters because an out-of-adjustment slack adjuster could mask an underlying brake system problem, including worn components within the wheel end or a broken return spring.

So what is the proper way to care for a slack adjuster and what should you do when you find an adjuster that is out of adjustment?

“Repositioning the adjuster and sending the vehicle out is not fixing the problem,” Hawker said. All you are doing is addressing the symptoms, not dealing with the cause.

Even before addressing maintenance concerns, make sure the brake adjusters are installed properly. “The installation is critical,” Petresh said. Therefore, whenever you do any wheel end or brake maintenance that disturbs the adjuster, make sure to reset it according to the way it was when it was installed originally on the vehicle.

The first thing you should do when a vehicle is in your shop is perform a visual inspection. “This is important because of where the adjusters are located: Underneath the axle, close to the road. They take a beating when it comes to road debris, contamination, corrosion, salt and mud,” Petresh said. “Doing visual inspections helps to make sure there isn’t any damage to the seals, the boots, the operating mechanism or the attaching points.”

Hawker advised making sure you properly lubricate the adjusters during the vehicle’s normal chassis lubrication. However, before lubricating the slack adjuster, you should record the home position-with the brake released, it is where the clevis is in relationship to the face of the chamber.

Next, using a pry bar, stroke the brakes until the lining touches the drum. This establishes free travel, which should be between 3/8 inch and 5/8 inch.

The next step is to build air pressure to 100 psi, shut off the engine, do a full brake application and then measure power stroke.

Power stroke should be no more than what the current Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance guidelines specify for the type of chamber used.

If any of the measurements are out of spec, disassemble the wheel end to determine the real problem.

If all the measurements check out, then lube the S-cam and the slack adjuster according to the manufacturer’s established guidelines.

These procedures are simple enough, but some technicians still persistently try to adjust the automatic brake adjusters.

“People try to take the quick and easy way out and adjust the adjusters. They tighten them so the stroke decreases and then send the truck back out,” Petresh said.

“If they do that they are going to end up with the same problem within a few days.”

He added, “If a brake adjuster is not maintaining the required adjusted stroke it is because something else in the system may be a problem.

Petresh, who reviews warranty returns for Haldex, said that 40 percent of the returned adjusters are fine and have nothing wrong with them.

“When the technician sees that the brake adjusters are out of adjustment, he needs to determine the real problem. Does he have a cracked shoe? A flat spotted roller? A damaged cam shaft? A broken chamber bracket? An out-of-round drum?

“All of these foundation brake wheel-end issues have an impact on chamber stroke and brake adjuster characteristics,” he said.

There are a few things that can go wrong with the actual adjuster itself. For example, it can get damaged or hit by something like road debris, curbs, etc., or it can become rusted and corroded. Proper lubrication will help with preventing rust and corrosion.

According to Hawker, proper lubrication for all slacks includes 100 percent purging of the system. “Each manufacturer has its own procedures, but all contaminants must be purged and this includes water, chemicals, dirt and air,” he said. “You want the body of the slack adjuster to be 100 percent filled with an NLGI-Grade 2 lube. Do not use molybdenum disulfide or a light-duty grease.”

According to Hawker, another important item to check is the clevis pin to see if it moves. “If it does not move, do not send the truck out. Instead pull the pins out and clean them with a wire brush on a grinder, then apply anti-seize compound,” he said.

If you do not apply anti-seize compound, rust will develop and you will end up with a seizure of the pin to the slack adjuster or a seizure of the pin to the clevis.

“At that point, the slack adjuster stops adjusting because the pivot point no longer is free to move.”

He continued, “If you seize up a pivot point, you are going to reduce the ability of the slack adjuster to maintain adjustments. And you will put a bending moment into the push rod arm of the clevis.”

As you can see, if slack adjusters are not maintained properly, they will lead to more serious problems down the road and even can result in a truck being taken out of service during a roadside inspection.

But it is also important to keep in mind that a slack adjuster that is out of adjustment usually is the result of a problem elsewhere in the vehicle’s braking system.

When a vehicle comes into your shop with a slack that is out of adjustment, take the time to find the real problem and never manually adjust an automatic slack adjuster. That will not fix the problem and in fact can mask a more serious braking system issue.

Offering contract maintenance on your menu of customer services is a good way to tie customers to your shop. But given the many operational variables in each customer’s business, you must make sure to include the proper services and price them correctly for programs to be successful.

The first step in setting up a program is to determine which items the contract should include. Some customers will want to build their program

When you buy better, you sell better, but sometimes you need an extra set of hands-or checkbooks-to get good buying done. Power Heavy Duty brings independent distributors and service specialists together to create a more formidable purchasing power, enabling these companies to stay independent and competitive in the truck parts aftermarket.

To vie for marketshare, independent warehouse distributors (WDs) not only compete against one another, but also have to fight on two additional fronts: Warding off competition from roll-up groups and truck dealers.

In the mid 80s, marketing or buying groups formed to help independents gain equivalency with the big guys by allowing them to align themselves with a group in order to qualify for bulk purchasing rebates.

Power Heavy Duty was formed in 1994 by its president, Brett Upton. The organization is part of Elite Automotive Marketing, a roll-up group comprised of TruStar, an undercar two-step group; Eagle Nation, a group of traditional three-step automotive warehouses; and Axxis, a group for tool and equipment distributors. The organization is a family affair.

“My brother Steve Upton runs TruStar,” said Upton. “My cousin Kevin Medlin and I run Eagle Nation, Axxis and Power Heavy Duty.” Upton leveraged his experience in the automotive aftermarket to gain insight into the heavy-duty aftermarket and the potential for group buying.

“Basically, we help the distributor buy better. If he is buying, say, Triangle or Dayton parts or Baldwin filters, he’s buying on the WD program. But if he joins a group, he buys on the group program, which usually is based on the group’s annual volume,” said Upton.

“While an individual distributor might do $100,000 a year with a certain manufacturer, we probably do $10 million in business with them as a group, so the distributor receives rebates on the entire group volume or group growth-whatever we can do to help someone buy better.”

Power Heavy Duty, with 200 members, is the smallest of the four major marketing groups serving the heavy-duty aftermarket. But its smaller size does not translate into diminished support for its members.

Nathan Holecek, president, Truckmotive LLC, Waco, Texas, said that Power Heavy Duty’s focus on small independents drew him to the organization. “We sought out Power Heavy Duty because we thought they were a good fit for us; we’re small, hands-on guys,” he said. “We’re small, but we operate pretty big with the help of Power Heavy Duty.”

“Our thing is support, support, support,” said Upton. And by all accounts, Power Heavy Duty lends support to its members, manufacturers and to the industry itself.

In addition to the increased buying power, which is Power Heavy Duty’s main service to its members, it is a champion of small independents and has a particular affinity for spring shops.

“Within the group, we have a good percentage of distributors who are spring shops. We have a close relationship with the Service Specialists Association. We are almost two groups in one because we help the spring shop service center guy and we also help the guy who just sells truck parts,” Upton said.

Power Heavy Duty also offers its members services like territory protection and central billing, which allows a member to buy directly from a supplier while remaining eligible for group rebates.

Territory protection assures existing members that the group will not grant membership to one of their area competitors. “Say we have a member in the Houston area who does a great job supporting the marketing programs, attending meetings, buying lines that support the group and buying private brand lines. It’s not fair to sign up his Houston competitor so we can help his competitor buy better too,” said Upton.

Power Heavy Duty also has developed its own trademarked branding system. “Power Heavy Duty is a registered trademark,” said Upton. “We have various promotions with our members and we have our own private brand lines that enable us to meet competitive situations in the field.”

Holecek benefits from Power Heavy Duty private brand lines. “It’s hard for guys like us to set ourselves apart when you have one or two locations, but private labeling helps you stick in people’s minds,” he said.

Although they offer private labels, Power Heavy Duty places a lot of importance on supporting manufacturers who show loyalty to the group. “It’s key for us to keep supporting the manufacturers that have been in our group for years. We don’t just add new manufacturers every time they come knocking on the door since we have a pretty well-rounded base of manufacturers covering every category in the truck parts business,” said Upton.

The group also backs manufacturers by encouraging its members to use manufacturer training programs and to participate in their promotional programs. In turn, members can rest assured that the group has done the appropriate legwork by researching and carefully considering all manufacturers it stands behind.

In addition to supporting its members and participating manufacturers, Power Heavy Duty takes steps whenever possible to bolster the industry. The group has a 12-person board of advisors, of which Holecek is a member, and holds an annual meeting in conjunction with Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week, during which there are plenty of networking opportunities for members.

“At these meetings, Power Heavy Duty puts you in touch with people you’d never get the chance to talk to,” said Holecek. He also cited the importance of camaraderie between group members. “It’s valuable to meet other business owners who are in similar situations. You can pick up the phone and bounce ideas off them,” Holecek said.

Power Heavy Duty also gives back to the industry through a scholarship program it supports at Northwood University. “We’re trying to give back to the industry,” said Upton. “If we can donate a little money and give someone a scholarship, he or she will focus on the industry and become a part of it, whether as a technician or a salesperson or in another facet.”

Upton recognized the importance of establishing purchasing support structures for the independent distributor and repair shop so that these business owners can continue to be a thriving part of the aftermarket. But in order for these businesses to remain relevant, he also understands that small independents must support participating manufacturers as well as the industry as a whole. If no one works together, everyone, small and large, will suffer.

People in the News
Following are personnel changes that recently occurred in the trucking industry.

• Nicholas K. Petek, an engineering supervisor for Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC, has been elected to serve a three-year term as one of the 18 members of the national board of directors of the Society of Automotive Engineers. The company also announced that it promoted John Allgaier to director of corporate accounts.

• DENSO Corporation announced changes to its board of directors and managing officers: Akihiko Saito, chairman; Nobuaki Katoh, senior managing director; Kenji Ohya, senior managing director; Koji Kobayashi, senior managing director; Kazuo Hironaka, senior managing director; and Sojiro Tsuchiya, senior managing director.
• BP Lubricants announced that Paul Waterman has been promoted to chief executive for BP Lubricants Americas, assuming full responsibility for the company’s lubricants business across North and South America.
• John Brooks joined IPD as purchasing manager. Roger Spooner also has returned to the company in the product development and the tech support department.
• Matt Boler assumed duties as vice president of corporate development for The Boler Company. Kurt Kern succeeded Boler as general manager of Hendrickson Bumper and Trim Division.
• Mitchell International named Erez Nir senior vice president of technology.
• Horton Inc. appointed Joe Herzog vice president of engineering for all company products.
• STEMCO named Jim Reis as vice president business development. The company also named Donnie Wells as vice president, engineering.
• Silver Eagle Manufacturing Company hired Jerry Goodwin as president and chief operating officer.
• Webb Wheel Products promoted Rick Gaulrapp to the newly-created position
  of national sales manager for the OEM business unit.

• AIM announced that Becky Burciaga joined the company as marketing coordinator.

CVSN, HDAW ORGANIZERS TO DISCUSS UNIFIED AFTERMARKET SHOW
The Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network (CVSN) and organizers of Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW) will meet to discuss joint participation in future aftermarket industry events.

CVSN, one of the largest independent aftermarket distributor associations, has not previously supported HDAW, which had its second annual event in January. HDAW is North America’s largest show for independent parts distributors and service providers, and includes new product exhibitions and educational seminars.

The meetings between organizers of the show and a CVSN negotiating team were expected to take place in late May or early June.

In a statement released by CVSN, Incoming President and Chairman of the Negotiating Team Ken Duval said, “Incorporating some aspects of both CVSN and HDAW meetings may be the best solution for the industry and we are willing to explore the opportunity for the benefit of our members and the industry as a whole.”

According to Tim Krause, executive director of the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA) which co-organizes HDAW, CVSN’s support will benefit the independent aftermarket by helping define issues to be discussed during seminars as well as bring the influence of CVSN’s membership to the event.

“We’re very, very hopeful that they join,” said Krause. “And I’m speaking for my association, HDMA, and the other associations on the joint operating committee who have universally applauded the idea of CVSN coming in.

“We just need to talk through our issues and that’s what this group of leaders intends to do.”

Lift Company Recognized
For the second consecutive year, Rotary Lift was recognized with the Top 5 Tools award for excellence in the automotive service and repair industry.

The recipients of the award are selected by more than 100,000 repair shop owners and technicians based on product quality, performance and reliability.

Safety Milestone Celebrated
Penray reached the safety milestone of 1000 days or 600,000 hours without a recordable lost-time injury at either of its manufacturing plants located in Elk Grove Village, Ill., and Wheeling, Ill.

The company attributes its achievement to its internal safety precautions, extended training and employees’ positive attitude about safety.

TPS Wins Awards
The Truck Writers Of North America held its industry awards banquet at this year’s Mid-America Trucking Show. Now in its fourth year, the communications award program generated more than 100 entries ranging from newspaper and magazine articles, covers and layouts, to press kits.

Truck Parts & Service received the following awards in magazine writing: A bronze award in the company profile category went to Denise Rondini and Jim Moss; a bronze award in the environmental/regulatory category went to Erin Sund; a bronze award in the category of interview went to Jessica Erickson; a silver award in the technical how-to category went to Peggy Wehrle; a gold award in the feature category went to Peggy Wehrle; a gold award in the feature category and this year’s best in magazine writing award went to Denise Rondini.

Portable Brake Training Unit Developed
Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake developed a portable training unit to demonstrate foundation brake assembly, disassembly and proper maintenance practices. The unit was created to eliminate the need for the company’s customers to tear down their own vehicles or use partial brake hardware to conduct foundation brake training.

It will be available to fleets, distributors, dealers and vocational schools across North America. Training can be scheduled by contacting a company representative.

Product Built Around Technicians’ Needs
Raybestos launched its brand 1-2-3 strategy as a program that addresses the proliferation of both parts and vendors, said the company.

The product offering for the company’s brakes was re-engineered based on research with repair technicians. According to the company, the research showed that technicians require a single line of hydraulics, two grades of rotors and three grades of friction.

The company’s friction line is segmented into three grades: The core offering, Professional Grade friction, comes with all required hardware. The core offering is augmented by the Advanced Technology friction, designed for specific severe-duty and performance applications and Service Grade friction, priced to help meet budgets.

Study Shows Increased Demand For Diesel Engines
According to Diesel Engines, a study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., the U.S. demand for diesel engines and related aftermarket parts is forecast to increase 3.8 percent annually through 2011 to $20 billion.

The study also found that the motor vehicle market accounts for more than 70 percent of diesel engine demand. Heavy-duty trucks comprise the largest segment in the market. Demand for diesel engines and parts in light-duty trucks will expand at a 9.6 percent annual rate, according to the study.

The group also found that off-highway diesel engines will experience slowing, but still robust demand through 2011 as new Tier-4 off-highway diesel emissions regulations phase in between 2008 and 2015.

Finally, the study concluded that shipments of diesel engine products from U.S. manufacturing sites will grow 2.3 percent annually through 2011 to $18.8 billion, driven by rising exports, which will benefit from the weakness of the dollar.

New Member Announced
VIPAR Heavy Duty announced that Jack Lyons Truck Parts, Inc., has joined its North American network of distributors. Marking the 114th stockholder company for VIPAR Heavy Duty, Jack Lyons Truck Parts is headquartered in Medley, Fla., with a branch location in Fort Meyers, Fla.

Warehouse Opened
Interstate-McBee LLC opened a new inventory warehouse in Montebello, Calif. The warehouse is five times larger than the former warehouse in Lodi, Calif., allowing the company to better serve its West Coast customers.

Free Online Training Course
Chevron’s Lubricants University, an online training resource offering information on technologies and trends in the lubrication and maintenance industry, announced that it will offer its “Fundamentals of Lubrication” training course in Spanish for free.

The course is geared toward Spanish speaking industrial maintenance professionals and maintenance departments interested in gaining an understanding of lubrication and its role in preventing wear and friction in mechanical equipment.

The course is divided into five sections: An introduction, friction, viscosity, viscosity grades and wear. For more information, visit this site.

Web Site Redevelops Job Board
Truckjobs.com announced that it will concentrate a major part of its job board and site on placing truck technicians, sales, parts, leasing and logistics personnel positions. The revised site features videos explaining requirements as well as job descriptions to introduce new candidates to the opportunities and compensation offered by this industry.

Filter Earns Five Awards
Cummins Filtration received five honors for its Fleetguard filters. The spin-on fuel and lube filters use no paint, steel or adhesives and are designed to reduce service time and maintenance costs while protecting the environment from harmful chemicals and disposal issues, said the company.

The filter was recognized in several industry magazines’ best products lists. It also received the Technician Achievement Award for 2006 from the Truck Writers of North America organization. To receive this award, a product or service has to exhibit technical innovation, have a wide applicability in the trucking industry and offer significant benefits along with broad availability.

Enhanced Online Order Process Announced
Luber-finer, a division of Champion Laboratories, Inc., introduced an upgrade to its online ordering process.

Found at this site under the “catalog” link, the online ordering page is expanded to include a “contact” link. When the link is accessed, the visitor can register general account information as well as ask specific questions about the company’s products. When the form is submitted, a customer service representative facilitates the set-up of an account for the visitor or supplies the responses to the questions.

To help you find aftermarket products and services online from leading suppliers in the heavy-duty industry, Truck Parts & Service offers this listing of companies that have web sites.

ArvinMeritor, Inc.
www.meritorhvs.com
www.XPresswayPlus.com

Av-Tekk/Diesel Injection Service
www.av-tekk.com

Bee Line Co. Inc.
www.beeline-co.com

Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems
www.bendix.com

BorgWarner Turbo Systems
www.turbos.bwauto.com

Chevron Products Company
www.chevron.com

CITGO Petroleum Corp.
www.citgo.com

Clevite Engine Parts
www.engineparts.com

Cummins, Inc.
www.everytime.cummins.com

Donaldson
www.donaldson-filters.com

Federal Process Corp.
www.federalprocess.com

FPPF Chemical Company
www.fppf.com

Freightliner LLC
Alliance Brand Parts
www.alliancebrandparts.com

Garret Independent Aftermarket
www.TurboByGarrett.com

Haldex
www.hbsna.com

Hendrickson
www.hendrickson-intl.com

Horton, Inc.
www.hortoninc.com

Hunter Engineering Co.
www.hunter.com

Interstate-McBee
www.interstate-mcbee.com

Karmak, Inc.
www.karmak.com

PDC
www.e-pdc.com

Peterson Mfg. Co.
www.pmlights.com

Power Heavy Duty
www.powerheavyduty.net

SAF-Holland
www.thehollandgroupinc.com

Shell Lubricants
www.shell-lubricants.com

The Timken Company
www.timken.com

Tracer Products
www.tracerline.com

Truck-Lite Company Inc.
www.truck-lite.com

VIPAR Heavy Duty
www.vipar.com

VIS
www.vischeck.com

Wescon Products Company
www.wesconproducts.com

Don’t forget to log on to the Truck Parts & Service web site at www.truckpartsandservice.com.

Chrome Accessories Catalog
New from ArvinMeritor, Inc. is the Euclid Chrome And Stainless Steel Accessories catalog. This full-color catalog features bumper hardware, exhaust products, exterior accessories, front wheel products, lighting products, simulators and more.

Included is an index by part number for easy reference. Detailed descriptions and pictures accompany each product, and charts illustrate product selection information.
ArvinMeritor, Inc.

Filtration Catalog
Engine Lube/Oil, Coolant, Hydraulic and Transmission Filtration now is available from Donaldson. This catalog is complete with colored, labeled pictures of the engine that show how the company’s components operate.

Filter media technology and lube filters are highlighted and explained in detail, and pictures accompany each description.

Coolant filters and filtration for hydraulic-powered equipment also are featured, and charts detail how each filter operates.
Donaldson

Pit Rack Catalog
Hunter has released a brochure that illustrates the features of its heavy-duty pit racks.

The Model PT, a heavy-duty alignment system, is highlighted. The Model PF and the Model PE also are featured. Jack options such as the HD Pit Jack and the Rolling Jack Support are described in detail, as are a variety of turnplate options.

The back of the full-color catalog features site requirements for each pit rack.
Hunter Engineering Company

Lights, Mirrors & Accessories Catalog
Lights/Mirrors Chrome & Accessories from Power Products explains the company’s LED technology, which allows for utilization of standard industry plug connections.

The HP4 pin square diodes give maximum light output and use 88 percent less amps than incandescent, allowing additional power for other vehicle demands, the company said. Epoxyed circuit boards for corrosion protection and polycarbonate material for impact resistance are said to meet or exceed all photometric, mechanical and vibration testing.
Power Products/PDC

Robotic Aluminum Rim Polisher Brochure
Available literature and brochures describe the aluminum rim polishing machine and business program that has been developed by Vehicle Inspection Systems, Inc.

Materials provided detail the VIS-Polish business system that is inclusive of equipment, consumables, installation, training, pricing guidelines and marketing support materials.

System owners benefit by becoming part of the national advertising program complete with a toll-free 24-hour phone number that drives new customers and new revenue, according to the company.
Vehicle Inspection Systems, Inc.

Roller Bushings & Fan Drives Brochures
New literature is available from Horton. A full-color piece of literature highlights the benefits of the company’s roller bushings, including special ribbed casing, patented needle bearings and dual lip seals that are designed to keep out dirt.

A brochure explaining the VMaster viscous air sensing fan drives, the VMaster viscous directly controlled fan drives and the VMaster Ultra viscous fan drives also is available.

Each product’s details and specifications are provided in easy-to-read charts, and pictures also are included.
Horton, Inc.

Technology Brochure
Karmak, Inc. has introduced a new, full-color corporate publication, Heavy Duty Technology Solutions.

This brochure provides an overview of the company’s 25-year history serving the heavy-duty industry, its corporate partners, technology and customer services, as well as its complete heavy-duty business management systems.

Detailed information describes the company’s software solutions for unit sales, parts sales, inventory control, service management, accounting, lease and rental management and factory communications.
Karmak, Inc.

Wheel Bearing Brochure
A brochure from Timken, MileMate, describes wheel bearing sets. Information on the benefits of using matched cup and cone sets is offered, including lengthening maintenance intervals, optimizing the bearing’s performance, allowing bearings to carry evenly-distributed loads and providing lower cost compared to the cost of unscheduled downtime. A specification chart highlights sets for popular component manufacturers.
The Timken Company

Parts Catalog
A parts catalog now is available from Fleetline, featuring tandem fenders and mounts, quarter fenders and mounts and mud flap hanger brackets.

Each part is described in detail and is accompanied by pictures with dimensions of the products. Each product’s part number and weight also are highlighted in the brochure.

You’ll also find that ordering policies and contact information are included in the full-color brochure as well.
Fleetline Products

Master Parts Reference Guide
SAF-HOLLAND, Inc. has announced the release of its new Holland Master Parts Reference Guide. The company’s updated Parts Reference Guides now can be found in one complete printed volume containing detailed parts information for fifth wheels; landing gear; trailer air and mechanical suspensions; and truck, bus and motorhome suspensions.

Parts lists, as well as suspension service repair kits, fifth wheel rebuild kits and parts identification information have been included for all of the company’s current products, as well as many of its legacy Neway suspensions.
Holland

Alignment Brochure
BeeLine has introduced a catalog highlighting its heavy-duty wheel alignment equipment. This full-color brochure features the company’s LC7000 series laser guided computer alignment gauging system, the 21000 rear axle aligner and the Smart Balancer.

Also highlighted are the on-the-floor alignment configuration and the mobile alignment system as well as alignment accessories.

Action photos show how each product is used, and detailed information accompany each.
BeeLine

New Brake Catalog
A new Meritor Brake, Trailer Axle and Wheel Attaching Parts catalog now is available from ArvinMeritor, Inc. It includes information to support recent product launches such as the Price Point Brake Hardware Kits and Clearance Sensing Automatic Slack Adjusters.

Twenty-six pages of reference material have been added, and a quick-reference guide for brake hardware kits and unlined brake shoes enables you to find what you’re looking for. Labeled, exploded views of various components also are featured.
ArvinMeritor, Inc.