Bendix brake shoe reman facility reaches production milestone

ELYRIA, Ohio — At its Brake Shoe Remanufacturing Center in Huntington, Indiana, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems has assembled more than 3 million remanufactured brake shoes, reaching the milestone less than three years after beginning serial production of reman shoes at the facility.

Bendix, a North American provider in the development and manufacture of active safety and braking solutions for commercial vehicles, handles the complete salvage, coining, and assembly processes that make up start-to-finish brake shoe remanufacturing in Huntington.

“Remanufactured parts aid fleets and owner-operators in putting safe, reliable vehicles on the road, while creating value by extending their life cycle,” said Henry Foxx, Bendix director of remanufacturing. “And with Bendix shoes, they’re getting a product from an original equipment (OE) manufacturer with the capability and expertise to ensure that the reman component is capable of the performance levels expected in today’s environment. In fact, Bendix offers the same warranty on our OE and genuine Bendix OE remanufactured products, because we have that level of confidence.”

At the Huntington plant, Bendix’s nearly 40 years of experience in remanufacturing are combined with Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake’s acknowledged leadership in wheel-end solutions and brake shoe manufacturing, enabling the production of reman brake shoes that offer the durability, reliability, performance, and extended lining life expected of original equipment.

Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLC (BSFB) is a joint venture between Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC and Dana Commercial Vehicle Products, LLC.

To reproduce original manufacturing methods, Bendix’s coining process uses a 1,000-ton coining press to apply the full tonnage needed to return a shoe to its proper shape and OE specifications. Without this crucial step of correcting the deformities caused by force and temperature changes during its life cycle, a recycled brake shoe no longer has the correct geometry to provide full drum contact and stopping power — even if it is relined with new friction.

Similarly, the Bendix assembly line uses the same riveting procedure used by OE manufacturers, ensuring correct lining attachment for maximum lining service.

Bendix reman brake shoes also feature an exclusive premium coating paired with high flexural strength friction, virtually eliminating rust jacking and cracking. “We remain focused on maximizing our brake shoes’ safety and performance,” said Earl Brown, product manager, remanufactured brake shoes, Bendix. “Our customers want a reman brake shoe that provides full service life and is not susceptible to premature lining wear or rust jacking, and our shoes are engineered to deliver. In addition, we’ll continue to add new friction materials to our portfolio, which includes options ranging from economy and extreme duty offerings to OE friction, and includes the industry’s first RSD-certified aftermarket friction.”

Refining a reman process that produces brake shoes meeting OE specifications is crucial to maintaining brake safety and performance in the era of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Reduced Stopping Distance (RSD) mandate and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program.

U.S. Xpress Enterprises, the nation’s second largest privately owned truckload carrier, uses Bendix remanufactured brake shoes for the brake replacement needs of its fleet of 8,000 over-the-road tractors and 22,000 trailers. U.S. Xpress is primarily using Bendix Advanced BA202R, the industry’s first aftermarket friction certified to maintain compliance with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) mandate for Reduced Stopping Distance (RSD).

Opened in 2012 and significantly expanded in 2014, the 74,000-square-foot Bendix Brake Shoe Remanufacturing Center is part of the multisite Bendix manufacturing campus in Huntington. One of the largest employers in Huntington, Bendix maintains a total roster of over 460 people.

At Bendix’s engineering center in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in-house research and development, along with ongoing comprehensive friction testing, supports and advances the company’s remanufactured brake shoe product portfolio. Bendix remanufactured shoes are further supported by field-tested sales and service professionals; a 100 percent ASE-certified field technical support team; and the Bendix Tech Team (at 1-800-AIR-BRAKE), an expert technical support group providing service advice, brake system troubleshooting, and product training. Customers can also log on and learn from the Bendix experts at www.brake-school.com.

Bendix remanufactured brake shoes are part of the company’s ever-growing portfolio of wheel-end technology that delivers on safety, plus other areas critical to fleets’ success. By delivering complete braking solutions and robust post-sales support, Bendix helps improve vehicle performance and efficiency, lowering ownership costs and increasing highway safety. For more information, call (800) AIR-BRAKE or visit foundationbrakes.com.