The Gear Box

Rollover Prevention from Meritor WABCO Meritor WABCO Vehicle Control Systems has announced the availability of its new Roll Stability Control (RSC) and Roll Stability Support (RSS) systems designed for linehaul tractor-trailer combinations. The systems will intervene to prevent or at least sharply reduce the likelihood of a rollover. The RSC tractor control will be available next month through OEMs. The trailer system, RSS, will be available through trailer OEMs in mid-2003. For a driver, impending rollovers are tough to deal with. Typically, by the time you realize your trailer is turning turtle it's too late to do anything but curse and hold on - your trailer is well on its way and the tractor is next to go. If the trailer's going, it's already too late because you won't feel anything to warn you that it's begun. The RSC system focuses on a vehicle's center of gravity and its lateral acceleration limit or rollover threshold. Meritor WABCO engineers studied the dynamics of a rollover and developed a way to calculate the critical lateral acceleration limit. When that limit is exceeded, RSC intervenes to take charge of deceleration and keep the rig upright. Extensive development work on both test tracks and in the field demonstrated the system's ability to slow the vehicle, giving the driver better control and maneuverability. We've seen it demonstrated on the test track at the Transportation Research Centre in Ohio and can tell you that it works. Intervention by the system occurs in three forms - engine, retarder and brake control. An accelerometer mounted directly to the anti-lock braking system (ABS) electronic control unit (ECU) monitors the vehicle's lateral acceleration. RSC constantly monitors driving conditions and intervenes if critical lateral acceleration is detected. The system provides control of engine and retarder torque as well as automatically activating the drive axle and trailer brakes as needed. RSS is an independent system for trailers and offers electronic assistance to reduce the likelihood of rollover. The technology is integrated in the trailer ABS, requiring no additional hardware. Similar to the tractor's RSC system, the RSS focuses on lateral acceleration and wheel speed, monitoring the critical acceleration limit. If this limit is exceeded, the trailer brakes are automatically applied, helping to reduce the vehicle's speed. The achievement here is significant. Similar systems are being developed by WABCO and other European companies (we reported on them in our November issue), but they depend on a rig's electronic braking system (EBS) to make the very precise, split-second, wheel-by-wheel braking adjustments necessary to prevent a rollover. EBS is not yet available on this side of the Atlantic, so these new Meritor WABCO systems don't have that electronic advantage. Call 1-800/535-5560 or see www.arvinmeritor.com.

Retread Guide

The Tire Retread Information Bureau's Retread Tire Buyers Guide has been updated and is now available free both on-line and in a printed version. It contains the names, addresses and telephone numbers of hundreds of retreaders in North America and many other countries. The type of tires retreaded is also shown in the guide. Call TRIB toll-free at 888-473-8732 or by e-mail: info@retread.org. See also www.retread.org.

Mack DayCab Conversion

Mack has introduced a new retrofit kit to convert its sleeper tractors into day cabs. Designed for all the company's Vision models, as well as its CH walkthroughs, the kit allows a truck originally used for long or regional haul applications to have a productive second life as a local hauler. The conversion kit, available through any Mack dealer, consists of three components: a welded subassembly, or structural kit, which is essentially a new rear wall for the cab complete with bolt-on reinforcements; a suspension kit; and an interior trim kit. The structural kit bolts into the same holes as the original sleeper, making it easy to install, while the trim kit is said to make the interior look as good as new. Once a sleeper section is removed and other minor prep work is accomplished, Mack says the entire kit can be installed without special tools in less than eight hours. When complete, the retrofitted sleeper has all the structural integrity and features of a standard-production day cab. See your Mack dealer or visit www.macktrucks.com.

Kenworth Calendar

The 2003 Kenworth Calendar is now available from participating Kenworth dealers. The full-color, 6-page, 26-x-25-in. calendar shows Kenworth trucks in various applications. It features a red T2000 75-in. Aerodyne, aqua W900L Studio AeroCab, green T800 log truck, blue T600B with 72-in. AeroCab Aerodyne, a yellow T800 dump truck, and red T300 dry van. See your local Kenworth dealer.

Q Plus Brake

Calling it a "win-win situation for North America's truck operators," ArvinMeritor has announced improvements to its Q Plus drum brakes that result in stopping distances that rival those associated with disc brakes. The new Q Plus package consists of larger 16.5x5-in. brakes on the front steering axle coupled with standard size 16.5x7-in. brakes on the rear axles. Both brakes use proprietary Meritor MA210 lining material. The change in front brake size and friction material provides significantly improved stopping performance for heavy-duty vehicles, the company says. According to company engineers, testing performed to U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS-121) procedures show the torque generated by the enhanced brakes "greatly reduce" stopping distances when compared to similar vehicles equipped with conventional front brakes. The Q Plus brake is standard on more North American heavy- and medium-duty trucks than any other brand. Call 1-800/535-5560 or see www.arvinmeritor.com.

Currently Online @ highwaySTAR

Our Driving Forces Truckers Pull Together Safety Blitz