Bendix Optimizes Pacesetting Air Disc Brake For Line Haul And Other Lighter-Duty Applications

AVON, OH…  The Bendix® ADB22X® air disc brake, fresh off next-generation improvements that significantly boosted uptime and lowered operating costs for fleets, has reached yet another milestone in its evolution: Bendix is poised to launch an optimized version of the ADB22X for tractors – the ADB22X®-LT – in the second half of 2024, tailored specifically to the needs of line haul and other lighter-duty applications, such as pickup and delivery.

Bendix redesigned the brake’s geometry to remove weight from the caliper and carrier, creating the lightest air disc brake (ADB) assembly – including the caliper, carrier, rotor, and pads – on the market. The brake achieves a torque rating comparable to the original ADB22X.

“To meet their lighter-duty needs, fleets and owner-operators wanted a lower-weight air disc brake with all the performance, safety, and maintenance advantages of the original ADB22X,” said Mark Holley, director of marketing and customer solutions, Wheel-End, at Bendix. “Our new, optimized version delivers a premium braking solution capable of meeting a wide range of these needs, including line haul. The lower weight – a reduction of 7.2 lbs. – per wheel end, or 28.8 lbs. for a 6 x 4 or 6 x 2 configuration, translates into increased payload capacity and improved fuel efficiency. When you add in the improvements, we’ve made to the ADB22X in the past few years, the result is a brake

Bendix is uniquely positioned to offer customers complete wheel-end solutions, from drum and air disc brakes, to sealed chambers and slack adjusters, to quality friction offerings. In addition, the company offers Bendix® Wingman® Fusion™, its industry-leading advanced driver assistance technology.

A Constantly Evolving Brake

The introduction of the newly optimized ADB22X®-LT brake is just the latest in a series of evolutionary steps for the Bendix® ADB22X®, North America’s leading air disc brake on Class 6-8 commercial vehicle wheel-ends.

In recent years, Bendix implemented improvements to the ADB22X that included a new adjustment mechanism engineered to increase robustness against vibration while improving the running clearance between the friction and rotor. The adjustment mechanism is a proven piece of technology the company introduced at another milestone point in the brake’s advancement – the debut of the trailer-specific Bendix® ADB22X®-LT in 2016.

The changes in 2019 also included coupling the ADB22X with Bendix’s longest-life air disc brake friction – the Bendix® BX276™ air disc brake pad – without sacrificing any performance. The BX276 pad includes an additional 2 millimeters of thickness compared to its predecessor and delivers an 8% increase in wearable volume. The BX276 pad also features a reformulated friction material that achieves a 40% reduction in wear rate than its predecessor.

In tandem with the launch of the ADB22X-LT tractor air disc brake optimized for lighter-duty applications, Bendix was the first in the North American commercial vehicle market to offer iSense™ and iSense™ Pro brake wear sensing, available for all versions of the ADB22X. The technology reduces maintenance costs by alerting fleets, via telematics, when ADB pads are nearing end of life. It also helps fleets avoid the risk of damaging costly rotors through early detection of worn pads while allowing the design of optimal friction replacement schedules. While iSense sends an alert when pads have reached “end of life” status, iSense Pro continuously offers remaining brake life data for all wheel-ends/axles.

The Case for Air Disc Brakes

The lightweight design of the Bendix ADB22X and its new ADB22X-LT tractor version significantly reduces stopping distance and extends brake system life, while quicker pad replacement and longer pad life contribute to greater uptime and lower maintenance costs when compared to drum brakes.

On the road, air disc brakes provide a car-like feel; straight, stable stops; and greater reliability due to virtually no brake fade or degradation of stopping power. In addition, they complement active safety technologies – such as Bendix® Wingman® Fusion™ and the Bendix® ESP®Electronic Stability Program full-stability system – by providing the consistent stopping power that helps these systems perform at their best.

Since 2005, Bendix has produced more than 6 million ADB22X® units. The company’s production numbers reflect an ever-increasing demand for air disc brakes in the commercial vehicle industry. Worldwide, Bendix and its parent company, Knorr-Bremse, are the clear global leader in air disc brake production at over 60 million and counting.

“Our focus, as ever, remains squarely on constantly evolving our products to meet the industry’s needs,” Holley said. “In the case of air disc brakes, that includes driving out weight and operating costs while increasing the options – such as the ADB22X engineered for lighter-duty applications – we make available to our fleet partners. We listen closely to these partners, as together we work to shape tomorrow’s transportation.”

For more information about Bendix air disc brakes, call 1-800-AIR-BRAKE or visit www.bendix.com.