Disc brakes 'essential'
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A PLEA for disc brakes as soon as possible on heavy commercial vehicles was made by Terry Ball, technical director of Norfolk Line, at the European Truck Maintenance Conference in Brussels last week.
"In my opinion, the vehicle manufacturers and the axle manufacturers are dragging their respective feet over the introduction of discs" he claimed.
Mr Ball said that disc brakes should be less prone to fade and cheaper to service and suggested that "we, as users, should get the manufacturers involved."
He emphasised that operators will pay for disc brakes if it will give them a return in lower weight or lower maintenance costs.
Backing up Mr Ball's enthusiasm for disc brakes, Ken Penalune, vice president of engineering and purchasing at Ruan Leasing in the USA, said that he has over 400 units running very satisfactorily on discs.
"1 can't understand why you people in Europe have so much trouble persuading manufacturers to supply them" he said.