ArvinMeritor, Inc. announced that its Commercial Vehicle Systems (CVS) business group has been awarded a major three-year supply contract to supply its Meritor Q Plus cam brakes to Volvo Trucks North America, Inc.
Meritor Q Plus brakes will continue to be standard equipment on all Volvo trucks in North America. Introduced in 1991, the Q Plus is the industry's most popular air brake, and is standard equipment on more North American heavy- and medium-duty trucks than any other brand. The standard brake offering is designed to reduce brake system maintenance and downtime, and features linings with extra thickness at the maximum wear point; heavy-duty shoe return springs; and parts commonality between steer, drive and trailer brakes.
The High-Performance Q Plus cam brake offering consists of larger 16.5" x 5" brakes on the front steer axle, coupled with standard 16.5" x 7" brakes on the rear axle. The package was designed to provide 30 percent to 60 percent more brake torque than conventional cam brakes, which translates into 20 percent to 25 percent shorter stopping distances on typical tractor-trailer combinations. The front steer axle brake is also designed with 65 percent more wearable lining volume than the standard 15" x 4" brakes, which extends service life.
Standard and High-Performance Q Plus brakes for the Volvo contract will be provided through the company's Manning, S.C., and Tilbury, Ont., Canada, facilities.