ConMet (Consolidated Metco) announced it has added a new lightweight version of its TruTurn brake drum.Called TruTurn Lite, the new brake drum is designed and manufactured to be as much as 10% lighter than standard drums without sacrificing strength and performance, the company said. “All of the attributes that have made TruTurn one of the best brake drums on the market are built into TruTurn Lite,” explains Beto Dantas, ConMet’s VP of Marketing, Strategy, and Innovation. “And, just like TruTurn, these new drums are constructed using our own “turned-to-balance” process, which makes them run smoother, cooler and longer.”“Its ‘Turned-to-Balance’ machining process improves drum strength by eliminating the need for weld-on weights and balance cuts,” the company said. “Not only does this process make our drums stronger, but it creates other advantages such as uniform thermal expansion for reduced brake pulsing, and improved heat transfer, so the drum and its linings stay cool. Braking force is more evenly distributed, and occurrences of vibration and “judder” are minimized. With each stop, TruTurn brake drums maintain lower temperatures, improving both durability and brake performance.”According to ConMet, traditional cast brake drums are only machined on the inside, which can cause inconsistencies in the walls of the drum and lead to drum cracking from ‘hot spots’ and uneven heat distribution. TruTurn Lite brake drums are machined inside and out, so 95% of their surface area is precisely shaped to ensure dimensional consistency, the company added. The new brake drum will be available beginning May 1.
