Meritor EX+L Air Disc Brakes Offered on International LT

Photo: International

Meritor's EX+L air disc brakes became available on International LT series trucks starting in February, the company has announced.

The EX+L is designed to deliver better braking power that meets federal FMVSS 121 reduced stopping distance regulations. The brakes are also made for better in-line braking stability for safer, smoother stops and feature reduced brake fade resistance.

"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," said T.J. Reed, general manager, front drivetrain for Meritor. "EX+ will offer Navistar's customers superior performance and easier serviceability."

EX+ air disc brakes are engineered from the ELSA line of European air disc brakes. EX+L brakes feature a gear-synchronized twin piston design that transfers torque to both brakes simultaneously, resulting in better performance and uniform pad wear, according to Meritor.

The entire assembly is designed 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.

Related: Meritor Launches "Most Efficient" Drive Axle Ever

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Stemco Qwiktie Fits Majority of Straight Tie Rod Lengths and Styles

Stemco has launched the Qwiktie tie rod assembly, designed to fit more than 80% of the straight tie rod lengths and styles in the market.

The Qwiktie's compatibility reduces the number of parts dealers need to stock and can shorten downtime for fleets if the style or size needed isn't in stock.

The Qwiktie tie rod assembly includes several key features, like finer threads that enable more precise adjustment, and increased clamping and tube strength to hold alignment longer and reduce stress.

“Many of our customers said that due to a lack of stocked tie rod cross-tubes for their vehicles, mechanics would often improvise and struggle to rebuild them rather than take the truck out of service, due to the time it would take for a replacement part to arrive,” explained Alejandro Ayala, segment business leader, suspension. “When we heard this, we knew there would be a strong demand for a nearly universal tie rod assembly that would allow dealers to reduce their overhead stock and eliminate the need for maintenance personnel to improvise repairs. The Qwiktie assembly is a performance solution that meets this need.”

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Prestolite Expands IdlePro Heavy Duty Alternator Offering

Prestolite Electric has announced the expansion of the Leece-Neville IdlePro series of heavy-duty alternators designed to deliver excellent output at low engine speeds.

The new products feature a 24-volt 120- and 180-amp output with dual internal fan design. The new IdlePro 24V 120- and 180-amp high-efficiency/high-output alternators are made for high-heat, high-performance heavy-duty applications including construction, agriculture, coach, bus, and industrial vehicles.

Other key features of the new alternators are heavy-duty bearings for high belt loads and intelligent multifunction regulators with load share capability for multiple alternator use. The new 24-volt alternators were designed for CAT, Cummins, Volvo, and many other original equipment manufacturers' engines.

“This is an exciting addition to our IdlePro product line,” said Jonathan Smith, assistant director, aftermarket sales and marketing, Prestolite Electric. “The new 24-volt IdlePro alternators have the potential to extend service life, increase vehicle uptime and improve performance by enhancing the electrical system.”

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Purkeys Liftgate Double Check tests the 7-way

Purkeys announced it has developed a product for technicians to check cords and trucks to make sure they are capable of delivering enough power to the liftgate charging system.

Purkeys Liftgate Double Check (LDC) is capable of testing the 7-way and the truck while current, or a load, is flowing through the system, the company noted. This gives technicians the ability to determine how much voltage drop is occurring, which is used to determine if the liftgate charging system is getting adequate power.

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ATRO launches Torque-Rod.com

ATRO Polyurethane•Solutions announced a new micro-site designed to help heavy-duty truck mechanics, fleet owners and parts distributors identify and confirm the proper replacement torque rods and bushings.

The Torque Rod Finder, designed by ATRO, is available at Torque-Rod.com. According to the company, customers can identify and select the proper parts from a database of torque rods.

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Rush Enterprises names vice president, service operations

Rush Enterprises announced it has appointed Victor Cummings as vice president of service operations. In this role, Cummings will be responsible for leading the company's Service, Collision Center, RushCare and Telematics/Technology business units.

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Your move: The first step to propane autogas

With a slow rise in gasoline and diesel prices beginning last year, and the federal government enacting stricter environmental controls, the total ownership cost of diesel vehicles is heading upward.

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