Why do American trucks still use drum brakes?

I see many Combo trucks with EBS and EBS trailer, like Mercedes Actros/Axor, MAN TGA, Volvo FM and other.

There is trailer EBS for draw bar trailers by Knorr and Wabco, the only difference that it is 4S/3M system with one solenoid for steer axe

 

You are right, man. In Russia Volvo trucks builds new FH trucks (Euro3 and Euro 5) but with drum brakes and Wabco ABS D.

 

I just bought new 8" drums for 120 euros, new discs would have been 85 euros. New linings 75 euros, new pads 55 euros. They both last about the same so which one is more cost effective?

 

we drive trucks on rought roads and we usually have caliper wear issue, especially bad ajusting mechanism

 

know for a truck make almost 600 000km on same discs i dont think that any drum last this

 

This says other wise. "But another problem dogging air-disc brake technology is the "non-compatibility" issue that exists between tractors with disc brakes that are matched with trailers with drum brakes. When you couple a disc-braked tractor that has new tires, with a drum-braked trailer with worn tires, there is a greater potential for jackknifes. At the very least, the disc brakes in such a situation tend to wear out more quickly than they should, because they're handling more than their share of the stopping power."
http://www.trucknews.com/issues/story.aspx?aid=1000110940&type=Print%20Archives

I could careless about the date of the article. I am still driving the same POS that I was when this article was published. An the trailers are older than me.

 

I think so. With drum brakes trailer starts slowing down after 0.2-0.4 s, disk brakes with EBS are very fast and every time you press brake pedal trailer pushes you.

There is a company in Luzk, they operate US made Utility Refer trailers with Mercedes Actros trucktors. The only way was to solve this problem to convert trailers to EBS-D by wabco. It works with drum brakes too and EBS is faster. Anyway EBS with Disk brakes works bettter.

But EBS trailer with Disk brakes work very well with US trucktors. The only conversion is to add 12 -24 v voltage doubler. Newer EBS-E2 units may be configurated for 12 ore for 24V. So for better safety I'd start with trailer with EBS and disk brakes

 

sorry for caps lock i was at mobile phone with touch screen during driving and i still dont know use it ......


i know for ebs but i am interested in esp ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLLeE615cI4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ydqNqtjeOU

 

ESP - is a function of EBS. To add i you need Acceleration sensor and steering wheel sensor, after that reprogramming

 

They plan to order our new tractors with disc. They have a couple in the fleet now to see how they work.