2012 volvo 780

Yeah the stopping power with disc brakes is quite sick. Even fully loaded with 110 000lbs you have to think about the load. They brake better than you are many times able to secure the load.

When the retarder came in the early 90s the cost on brake repairs dropped to close to nothing and the speed going down hills increased from say 15mph to 56mph. Only thing with the retarder is that you have to remember to keeps the revs close to 2000 so it get good cooling but that's just snapping down a gear or a half.

Your concerns about automatic on icy roads/yards you can trow away. A automatic is better, it pulls away so much smother directly when it's a bit uphill than you are able to do without burning the clutch.

 

Icee is right, the savings an brake repairs are too much to ignore when using the retarders, even approaching an intersection you won't need the service brakes until the last 15mph.

Disc brakes with the ebs system are pretty serious, if you don't have your seatbelt on you will be using the steering wheel to hold yourself on the seat under heavy braking, this is the only video I can find with disc brakes, it's for mercedes anti collision system but you can see the effectiveness of the discs: [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSQSueFrxzI&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/ame]

 

Thank you.
Impressive braking power. I have seen video from Bendix, what is proved the braking distance cut almost half with disc compared what I have right now. Sometimes one meter can make huge difference, and here we are talking about 50! The new high performance drum reduce the difference to 6 meter. What is not bad, but still one and half car. Or the length of my cab. I think I am sold.
For some reason they do not opt for EBS here on purpose. Instead they offer advanced ABS with full stability control system. There are two system compete here, Meritor-Wabco, if I know well they are present in Europe too, and Bendix, the bigger use Knorr developments. Yeah. With the globalization we are getting closer to each other. Do you know Scania use Cummins VGT turbo, and Cummins use Scania high pressure fuel system? And I guess because of these, they had to cooperate with the electrical system too.
The retarder sounds logical, I will look after. Although the 2000 rpm is scary for me. normally I use between 1200 and 1400, and never ever go over 1600. My engine even limited at 1800. The new engines limited at 2100, but it still sounds scary for me to rev there.
I am not sold yet on the automated, but I will take a closer look, and I will look for a chance to try it.
There are couple new thing here what maybe you know longer in the "adventurers " Europe. Sealed drive shaft U joints and grease free fifth wheel.

 

Lets continue on the retarder.
No need to rev to 2000rpm but you get best cooling there. As it uses the coolant system and the fan to cool down the oil. And I never said you should use the gas to get to 2000rpm. Just drop a gear or a half and let the clutch up.
Tried hard to find a good video how the retarder works.
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knHjUTFV75M[/ame]
This is me going down a 10% hill (with 47t), just 30km/h but a lot of ice on the road preferred to take it easy but the retarder is long way from full power. (one of the main roads to Norway)

Scania uses from what I know regular Holset VGT turbos-

Heard about the grease free fifth wheel but haven't looked in to it. Would be lovely in the winter if it works.

About the automatic. You should really give it a try, best in a icy condition so you real can see what it goes for but remember, it doesn't have eyes, it will need help. But it's just to pull to manual anytime and use the buttons. Also before you go, give the manual a look, there are a lot of tips there of special modes.

 

Yup I know about cummins-scania fuel system, very impressive! Operatates at something like 2700 bar I think but I may need to be corrected on that, scania are using it on a few models most notably the r730 which is returning figures like 11mpg's (about 9.6 American mpgs) @ 97,000lbs , not bad for a 730 hp motor. I think we will see more collaboration between companies not under the volvo banner to try stay ahead of the game, it can only mean good things to come!

Sealed drive shafts have been around a long time, they work fine , it just means you don't have to grease them ( impossible to find drivers here that will do it anyway) although for short shafts operating at extreme angles you are better off with the grease version but normal shafts are fine.

Greaseless fifth wheels are ok as long as you're pulling a dedicated trailer, they are nylon pads that are fixed on top of the fifth wheel, problem with those is when you gotta pull a different trailer that is covered in grease then they are pointless as well as that those pads wear and need replacing so you can imagine they're not popular here!

Let me explain the retarder this way, after I bought my first truck with one I never bought another without one! I could decend down from the top of the alps going to or coming back from Italy at over 90,000lbs and only use the service brakes to stop or to take a really sharp bend, to me after the actual brakes it's the no1 safety system on a truck, since their introduction here the amount of truck crashes coming down the mont blanc route has fallen to virtually 0, but for saving on maintenance alone they are a must!

 

Icee; you've great taste in music!!

 

Actually in Spain it's illegal not to have a retarder, I've even seen them on trailers there !

 

Anyone know if retarders are an option on the us volvos?

 

Thank you Guys for the advises.
I am doing my research right now in every topic, and I will get back on the weekend. I will be a retarder specialist too.

 

Made a small video just how easy it's to use.
Skip to 30s
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tkBRrh8wlg[/ame]
Just set the speed you want going downhill and it keeps you there