“The advantages of air disc brakes are well-recognized across the industry, but the trailer market brings a different set of challenges and demands than tractor applications,” says Keith McComsey, director, marketing and customer solutions at BSFB. “The ability of the ADB22X-LT to meet those needs – and deliver dependability to fleets and drivers across North America – reflects our commitment to safety while lowering total cost of ownership.”
Engineered exclusively for trailers and unveiled in September 2016, the ADB22X-LT advances the design of Bendix’s ADB22X, which is spec’d on more than 85 percent of Class 6-8 wheel-ends in North America that are equipped with air disc brakes. BSFB says the ADB22X-LT’s design weighs in at 40 lb. lighter per tandem axle, making it the lightest air disc brake available in the market, and helping deliver increased payload capacity and value in trailer applications that are particularly sensitive to brake weight. Lighter weight trailer wheel-ends can also help fleets and drivers improve their overall fuel efficiency and offset the weight of trailer systems used to improve fuel efficiencies, such as aerodynamics, the company says.
Trailer customers who spec the LT will enjoy the same advantages, and more, as ADB22X customers, the company claims. Like its predecessor, the Bendix ADB22X-LT offers a pad replacement time approximately one-quarter that of foundation drum brakes, once the wheel is removed, improving uptime and boosting productivity in the garage. Air disc brakes virtually eliminate brake fade. BSFB says the brake pad’s design eliminates the possibility of rust jacking, and the system features an internal self-adjustment mechanism that can help lower the risk of brakes being found out of adjustment during inspection, which can affect Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) scoring.
Additionally, the ADB22X-LT features a new brake pad, the Bendix BX276, which delivers 8 percent more wearable volume and up to a 40 percent improvement in wear rate compared to previous pads, combining to extend the service life beyond current air disc brake pad standards. Bendix Spicer says BX276 is an effective replacement to its predecessor, BX275, for both tractor and trailer applications. Fleets that pair the ADB22X-LT with tractor units using the ADB22X can expect streamlining in the shop, since the two brakes share replacement wear items, such as pads, tappets, and boots, and utilize the same training and maintenance practices, the company says.
Engineered with a new adjustment mechanism that reduces the risk of brake drag, the ADB22X-LT offers improved overall pad life and extended service intervals.
Bendix Spicer says the ADB22X-LT offers a reliable, robust, and optimal braking solution capable of meeting a wide range of needs, at up to a 23,000-pound brake rating. Improved side-to-side brake balance – a hallmark of air disc brakes – helps keep the trailer behind the tractor during heavy braking.
