Meritor and International announced Monday that Meritor’s EX+L air disc brakes will be available on International LT Series tractors beginning in February.
“Demand for air disc brakes is growing among North America fleets that are increasingly concerned about safety and reliability, and our market-leading brake products address these issues,” says T.J. Reed, general manager, Front Drivetrain for Meritor. “EX+ will offer Navistar’s customers superior performance and easier serviceability.”
Meritor says the EX+L delivers exceptional braking power that meets federal FMVSS 121 reduced stopping distance regulations. In-line braking stability offers safer, smoother stops, and high-demand applications benefit from reduced brake fade resistance, the company says.
EX+ air disc brakes are engineered from the ELSA line, Meritor’s popular air disc brake solution in Europe with more than 2 million in service. EX+L brakes are built to maximize productivity by reducing maintenance time and costs.
A gear-synchronized twin piston design transfers torque to both brakes simultaneously, resulting in better performance and uniform pad wear, the company says. The entire assembly is engineered for faster pad changes and quicker inspection time. A standard mechanical visual wear indicator gives fleets quick-check capability of remaining pad life without taking the vehicle out of service to remove the wheel, the company adds.
In North America, 16 percent of new trucks were built with air disc brakes in 2016, up from less than 5 percent in 2011, according to Meritor. More than 300,000 new air disc brakes were sold in 2016.
