Trailer discs from
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• From January 1997 MercedesBenz will start series production of its own disc-braked trailer axles with the intention of selling 60,000 units a year across Europe.
The nine-tonne capacity NR5/10DCL9 axles are designed for use with 22.5in wheels and 315/80 R22.5 t3I-es. They will be produced at M-B's Kassel truck axle plant and have Wabco brake chambers and controls, a Gran_ disc and a modified straight tube axle based on its 6x2 truck tag axle. They will also have sealed-for-life bearings and unitary hubs. The brake chambers on the directly activated discs can he mounted in a variety of positions.
Following the adoption of an electronically activated brake system (EBS) on its latest Actros range (CM 29 Aug-4 Sept) Mercedes will offer its trailer axles with or without EBS fitted. Although the suspension supplier has yet to be confirmed, operators will be able to specify either air or steel.
Mercedes officially launched its new trailer axle at last week's Hanover show although prototype units have already been supplied to trailer builders in Germany, Holland and Belgium for trials.
According to M-B's vice president of product marketing trucks, Norbert Veit, the company has had to make "practically nil investment, because it's basically the same axle as for our 6x2. All we've had to do is adapt the bracketry for trailer suspensions".As a result, he says Mercedes will be able to offer its axles at very competitive prices.
Veit reports that the decision to build trailer axles was partly due to the reluctance of existing trailer axle suppliers to abandon drum braking for discs. The Actros truck has disc brakes as standard.
By offering its own trailer axles with EBS, Mercedes is also hoping to encourage the use of its electronically controlled braking system across an entire combination and not just on the tractor or prime mover.