ArvinMeritor Offers New Air Disc Brake for North American Trucks and Trailers

LOUISVILLE, Ky., March 19 -- ArvinMeritor's Commercial Vehicle Systems business today announced here at the Mid-America Trucking Show that it has expanded its DiscPlus air disc brakes family to include two EX225 models -- available October 2003 throughout North America -- for a wide variety of heavy-duty truck, specialty vehicles, and trailer applications.

The new air disc brake will be offered in two configurations, designated the EX225L, a significantly lighter air disc brake over previous designs for linehaul applications, and the EX225H for heavier duty applications, such as coaches and fire trucks.

"The EX225 series air disc brake offers a significant advantage for North American OEMs and end-users' braking needs," said Rakesh Sachdev, vice president and general manager, Worldwide Braking Systems. "We see this brake as an evolutionary new product that offers our customers better stopping power, lighter weight, and longer life."

The EX225 series air disc brakes feature a modular sliding caliper design, which installs in 22.5-inch wheel envelopes. The EX225L offers a 35 percent increase in torque, a 15 percent increase in wearable lining volume, and is 12 percent lighter compared to its predecessor, the DX225. The EX225H offers further increases in wearable lining volume and torque.

The brakes also feature internal automatic adjustment for pad wear, sealed synchronized twin pistons and robust sealing of slide pins for environmental protection. The brake can be supplied with an optional electronic pad wear sensor, an electrical pad wear warning indicator or a simple visual wear indicator.

"The EX225 further supports the technological advances that ArvinMeritor has been proud of since pioneering the development of air disc brakes and releasing the DuraMaster in 1982," said Sachdev. "Today, we maintain our unique position of being the only manufacturer of a complete drivetrain system -- axles, wheel-ends, foundation brakes, ride control, and suspension components -- all designed and produced by ArvinMeritor to provide an integrated system."

The new brakes to be assembled at the company's Cwmbran, South Wales, UK, facility are based on the well-proven ELSA 2 series brake currently supplied to truck and trailer manufacturers throughout Europe and configured for North American applications.

ArvinMeritor, Inc. is a premier $7-billion global supplier of a broad range of integrated systems, modules and components to the motor vehicle industry. The company serves light vehicle, commercial truck, trailer and specialty original equipment manufacturers and related aftermarkets. In addition, ArvinMeritor is a leader in coil coating applications. The company is headquartered in Troy, Mich., and employs 32,000 people at more than 150 manufacturing facilities in 27 countries. ArvinMeritor common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ARM. For more information, visit the company's Web site at: www.arvinmeritor.com .

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