TRW Says Its Brake Calipers Offer High Performance, Lower Cost Across Broad Vehicle Range
LIVONIA, Mich., April 22 -- TRW Automotive, the world leader in foundation brakes and the number one supplier of calipers worldwide, is introducing an expanded lineup of brake calipers that offer outstanding performance at very competitive prices.
Among the new designs is the company's FBC caliper, which has already been chosen by a major European manufacturer for two passenger car model lineups beginning in 2007. The caliper can also be fitted to vehicles weighing up to 4.5 tons, and thus can be used across a range of car, light truck, sport utility and smaller commercial vehicles.
The FBC offers customers greater brake torque within a given wheel size. The lining area is up to 25 percent greater than competitive designs leading to greater durability and an appreciable increase in lining life. The design also incorporates an innovative pin to pad configuration that enables precise pad loading and contributes to reduced brake noise. TRW's innovative carrier design allows for an improved, fully sealed pad guiding system further improving NVH performance and leading to a more robust brake system.
"Feedback from customers has been very positive thus far," said Josef Pickenhahn, vice president, Braking Engineering for TRW Automotive. "Those who have tested the new caliper report a confident brake response with superior pedal feel, and a number of customers in North America and Europe are evaluating the caliper for new vehicle models."
"We feel the FBC and the even more cost effective FBN caliper design can be of great advantage to the light to medium duty commercial vehicle market. These vehicles are not easily reconfigured to larger wheel sizes, but in most scenarios, TRW's caliper range can accommodate the increased stopping requirements without the need to undergo a costly redesign of the chassis corner," Pickenhahn said.
The caliper designs can also incorporate lightweight materials such as aluminum in the caliper housing and the piston to offer weight savings leading to enhanced fuel economy. Additionally, there are twin piston versions under consideration for applications requiring more stopping power.
As a result of the wide bridge and increased lining area, rotor diameters can be maximized and the increased thermal capacity allows the brake system to run cooler with enhanced performance. The designs also yield a large visible facing that can incorporate customer logos, providing an excellent styling opportunity for open wheel designs.
"As the leader in caliper technology, TRW is constantly striving to improve on designs that have become world standards, such as the Colette, easily the most trusted design over the past 25 years. The addition of these new calipers will allow customers to choose the optimal solution for their needs, bring greater customer satisfaction and enhance the safety of the future vehicle fleet," according to Bill VanderRoest, technical director of Foundation Brakes for TRW Automotive.
About TRW
With 2003 sales of $11.3 billion, TRW Automotive ranks among the world's top 10 automotive suppliers. Headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, USA, the Company, through its subsidiaries, employs approximately 61,000 people in 22 countries. Its products include integrated vehicle control and driver assist systems, braking systems, steering systems, suspension systems, occupant safety systems (seat belts and airbags), electronics, engine components, fastening systems and aftermarket replacement parts and services. TRW Automotive news is available on the Internet at www.trwauto.com .