Webb Wheel Products Inc. recently unveiled its new brake drum technology at the 2008 Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky. The Webb Vortex, a new idea in lightweight brake drum design utilizing full cast iron metallurgy, was displayed.
The drum profile results in a lighter-weight drum that does not compromise the structural integrity, reliability or braking capabilities expected in heavier drums, the company says. Additionally, the patent-pending Webb Vortex, with a repositioned squealer band and reinforced exterior ribs, is designed to produce a cooler running drum by pulling the heat away from the braking surface, maximizing lining life without sacrificing strength.
Webb Wheel, based in Cullman, Ala., says its representatives will work with major equipment OEMs to determine availability of the Webb Vortex on new trucks and trailers.
