Bus trial reveals PFC pads last longer and cut disc wear 05 February 2014

Nottingham City Transport (NCT) is specifying PFC Brakes' products across its bus fleet, after trials to monitor brake disc and pad wear revealed twice the lifespan, delivering a potential saving of £60,000.

Two trials took place with two Scania double-decker buses, used daily around the city.

In the first, 21mm PFC pads and new 44mm discs were fitted to the rear axle of one vehicle. They were then monitored by both PFC and NCT regularly. After 11 months and 52,000km, the discs remained at 44mm and the pads had worn by 5mm.

A second trial on another bus resulted in 4mm of wear after 40,000km and a potential lifespan of up to four years.

NCT calculated it could save £60,000 in reduced workshop time by using PFC pads, as Graham Smith, NCT's engineering manager, explains.

"NCT now fits these as standard across the fleet of double-deckers. This has also included the vehicles in the network fleet at Parliament Street depot, which now totals 220 vehicles.

"The fleet is made up of Scania double-deckers ranging from 2003 up to 2014 models. This also makes standardising on one pad type much simpler to control and gives the company a possible saving of over £60,000."

US-based PFC Brakes uses patented carbon metallic compounds – which are claimed to be less abrasive – and is targeting its products at commercial vehicle fleets in the UK and Europe

Author
Laura Cork

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