News: Business Environment
Events Calendar
2 Comments Share
Brake makers welcome copper-cutting laws

ELYRIA, Ohio -- State laws in California and Washington requiring a reduction of the amount of copper allowed in brake friction materials beginning in 2021 is being applauded by truck component manufacturers.

Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake says the laws protect waterways from the runoff of toxic copper brake dust.

The company, whose lineup of foundation drum brakes meets the new state mandates, says all its drum brake linings and most air disc brakes contain less than 5 percent copper.

The California law mandates that brakes contain no more than 5 percent copper beginning in 2021. By 2025, the limit will be reduced to 0.5 percent. Washington’s law is similar, with a 5 percent limit by 2021, and the establishment of an advisory committee to assess the feasibility of lowering the limit to 0.5 percent in subsequent years.

Bendix says it is working to reduce the copper content in the small percentage of its disc brake solutions that would not be compliant to the future 2021 regulation.

Disc brakes are semi-metallic and pose a greater compliance challenge for all manufacturers, the company says.  

 
Email Editor     Comment Below
Rate this Article!
We Recommend:
Popular this Week:
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Social Activity


(optional)

(optional)

(optional)

Notify me of other comments on this story (requires email and password)


* Please type the letters above exactly as they appear:  

Please Note:

While we value your feedback, please avoid profane or personal attacks. You should know that if your comment contains libelous, prejudicial or just plain wrong statements, it will be deleted.

Anonymous

Rating
0
21
21
The amusing thing here is that friction manufacturers have been working hard for several years to reduce the amount of copper in brake linings. Copper is an expensive raw material, but it does an excellent job of reducing brake noise and squeal. Customers are going to have to deal with either even more expensive brakes or ones that make a lot more noise.

G CURRIE

Rating
-1
22
23
THE GOVERNMENT WILL DO ANYTHING IT CAN TO DRIVE COSTS HIGHER FOR TRUCKERS EVEN WHEN IT IS A HIGHER RISK TO SAFETY. NOTICE the Government did not come up with a better alternative cause they really don't give a damn! It is all about appealing to the enviromentalists cause they figure that will get them the most Votes. One day the masses will wake up and realize they all got screwed with higher Taxes and business costs by the Suck-holing Polititions who where to rich to worry about the costs and inflation they were causing to the common people who earn less than $50,000 per year. Yours Truly, Gord Currie Chilliwack, BC

Report Abuse

Video Reel