HEAVY-DUTY BRAKES

Heavy-Duty Brakes

Premium vs. Economy Linings

Heavy-Duty Brake Fleets have wrestled with the trade-offs between specifying a premium grade heavy-duty brake lining versus saving money with an economy grade heavy-duty friction material. Today, a Heavy-Duty Brake kit with a top performing premium brand lining like Atlantic Friction HDP-23 can cost almost twice as much as an economy grade product. So, it’s got to be tough to justify going with that top-of-the-line product, right?

Wrong! You start with the lining’s performance features of brake fade, effectiveness and power that give you confidence in stopping power and recovery. Add in the lining’s durability and consistent wear characteristics and you become more comfortable that you’ll pass unexpected brake inspections. And of course there’s the often overlooked drum compatibility and wear factor. Ok, so the premium grade lining will perform better, but we still must deal with cost. And twice as much is hard to justify.

Or is it? Industry-leading friction materials like HDP-23 deliver a long lining life that can help you extend brake reline cycles. As an ROI analysis shows, a longer service life with a drum friendly lining like HDP-23 will actually save you significant money over a typical 3-year maintenance cycle. Before your fleet spec’s an economy grade lining, be sure they understand how to save REAL money by going with an industry leader like HDP-23! HDP-23 Higher Density Friction Materials have the ability to hold more heat energy and therefore more efficiently dissipate the heat, stronger structural integrity, making them less likely to crack in service, significantly better wear characteristics, especially at higher temperatures, and more resistance to brake fade and water fade.