July/August 2018

JULY/AUGUST 2018 AFTERMARKET 43 www.aftermarketonline.net Copper-free brake pads Delphi Technologies’ copper-free brake pads were recently tested against an OE equivalent and six other leading aftermarket brands, with results showing its parts stop quicker, are quieter and wear less. Delphi Technologies’ pads stopped more than four meters ahead of the second placed brand and over 17 meters ahead of the worst. The components also registered the lowest reduction in friction coefficient levels from dry to wet conditions, while also recording a near-silent 9.6 (of 10) on a noise index, and registering only 0.1 percent of all noise occurrences above the 70db where brake noise can be heard. www.delphiautoparts.com ABS rings from Apec The new range of ABS rings from Apec Braking is manufactured to be direct replacements for OE. Already covering front and rear applications for many popular applications including BMW, Chevrolet, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Renault, Vauxhall and Volvo, Apec’s range will continue to grow in line with demand. A frequent cause of ABS ring failure is corrosion, which creates an incorrect profile or splits the rings, preventing the ABS sensors from obtaining a correct reading. To tackle this issue, Apec ABS rings are made from high quality, durable materials and have anti-corrosion coating to provide long, reliable service. www.apecbraking.co.uk Further expansion of BRECK range LUMAG - the global OE manufacturer and aftermarket supplier of brake friction products – has further expanded its BRECK range for passenger vehicles. This latest extension covers in excess of 204 vehicle applications with just eight part numbers. Vehicles covered by the latest expansion include Ford Galaxy, S-Max and Edge models, the Mini Countryman and Paceman, Mazda CX3 and CX5, Peugeot 308, 308SW, 3008, and Citroen C4 Picasso and Grand Picasso models. These latest additions have further expanded LUMAG’s current catalogue, which now includes 460 part references. www.lumagltd.co.uk Textar Bi-Metallic Discs The bi-metallic disc from Textar helps to reduce vehicle weight and emissions, while utilising a range of innovative materials. The lightweight nature of the discs helps to reduce fuel consumption and is kinder to the environment as a result. The use of different materials ensures the best components are specified for the disc’s individual purposes. The top hat needs to be both light and strong with a robust interface between the friction surface and wheel hub. The friction ring on the other hand must resist high pressures and temperatures. Textar’s bi-metallic discs also fulfil ECE R90. Textar.com Practical tip: Putting a stop to NVH Comfort and refinement are major factors in car purchase decisions, which is why vehicle manufacturers spend millions on reducing NVH – noise, vibration and harshness – including minimising brake noise. Brake noise is caused by high frequency vibrations between the pads, caliper and brake disc. If there’s play between the pads and caliper, the pads can chatter and vibrate on the surface of the brake disc, resulting in a high-pitched squeal. Apec Braking’s Graeme Ryder comments: “In the workshop, you’ll often be fitting Apec pads to vehicles that are several years old and have covered thousands of miles, so their other braking components may be worn, corroded or even missing. To prevent noise, you should aim to restore the brakes to as-new condition, assessing the discs, calipers and hardware to see if they need replacing. “When you install new Apec pads, ensure you remove all corrosion from the pad/caliper abutment points, and replace worn brake hardware. Springs can lose their tension by up to 50%, causing the pad to oscillate and generate noise. Apec has a range of fitting kits to complement its pad range. “Use a suitable copper-free brake grease, such as Apec Brake Grease, to lubricate the abutment points to ensure free movement and efficient braking. Using copper grease can potentially affect ABS signals and encourages corrosion due to galvanic action. This prevents the pad moving freely and can be another cause of noise.” Graeme adds: “Heavily scored or lipped discs can also cause noise. When fitting new discs, ensure you clean the hubs and use a DTI to check for lateral runout. More than 0.08mm variation will lead to harshness in the form of brake judder.”