There’s no stopping the advancements being made in braking technology, with the segment’s engineering achievements showing no signs of slowing down. Also on-the-go are aftermarket purchases of brake components and do-it-for-me installations as befitting four assemblies of wear parts that every motorist needs to replace with some regularity.
In 2018 the global braking marketplace was valued at $20.9 billion, and (applying pre-pandemic predictions) it is expected to annually expand by 5.8 percent to approach $33 billion by 2026.
Manufacturers in this segment are consistently engineering product innovations for improved braking performance while simultaneously adding more fitments for increased coverage of individual vehicle models – a strategy that encourages brand loyalty by making it easier for repairers and end-users to pick products from their preferred label of choice.
Keeping pace with a widespread manufacturer-induced pattern of enhanced worldwide availability, Delphi Technologies has added to its European aftermarket braking program by recently introducing more than 130 new brake pads and discs for popular new models.
These add-ons include a growing lineup of Asian applications along with an upswing in hybrids and all-electric vehicles. Already fitted to 19 million cars and trucks across Europe’s roadways, the company is now offering more than 97 percent coverage on brake discs and 98.5 percent coverage for pads.
The traditional good-better-best purchasing pattern for component selection parameters across the segment may face future complexities as evidenced by the increasingly sophisticated manufacturer-developed enhancements being applied by automakers at the assembly line.
This year at least eight OEM vehicle platforms are already using ZF’s inaugural Integrated Brake Control (IBC), an electro-hydraulic system that replaces the vacuum booster and pump while integrating electronic stability control in a single module.
The previously associated collections of cables, sensors, switches and controllers are no longer needed, with IBC offering regenerative braking in a single integrated unit that serves fuel-efficient powertrains without needing supplemental vacuum pumps.
“It helps deliver advanced safety in the form of rapid building of brake pressure for high-dynamic demands such as automatic emergency braking. It will also support the gamut of brake vehicle control and stopping requirements for partially to fully automated driving functions,” reports Manfred Meyer, ZF’s senior vice president of braking systems.
“The Integrated Brake Control system represents the future of braking technology and helps to satisfy the global industry trends of CO2 efficiency, safety and automated driving,” he says.
Choosing only high-quality brake components should be an overriding priority throughout the automotive maintenance and repair industry, according to John Carney, vice president of sales at FDP Friction Science.
“Whatever the braking hazard or road conditions, when you need to stop you need brake pads that meet OEM specs. That’s especially true for today’s vehicles with ABS systems, which place heavy demands on brake pads,” he says. As a supplier for a wide range of OEM makes and models since 1969, the product lines meet or exceed all the relevant standards, he says.
Temperature swings matter
Proper pad selection is critical for ensuring that the correct components are matched to a vehicle’s designated deployment status.
“Braking applications in tow trucks require a great deal of force and generate a lot of friction, but only do so sporadically,” Carney notes. “Think sudden, unexpected stops, or extended, sharp downhill descents.”
High-performance applications bring their own sorts of stresses. “Braking in racing generates short periods of extremely intense heat. And seasonal temperature swings matter -- a track with ambient temperatures low enough to keep the brake pads cool in March may be hot enough to fry them in July,” according to Carney. “FDP compounds for racing applications can handle the highest temperature spikes.”
Specialized fitments such police cars, ambulances, fire trucks and other heavy-duty fleet vehicles endure forces akin to both towing and racing demands. “Periods of spirited driving, with high speeds and sudden stops can combine with very heavy loads,” Carney points out.
“FDP’s combination of compounds, design, assembly, quality control and validation enables an extremely high quality range of brake pads and shoes for a range of braking applications,” he contends.
The company’s laboratory equipment puts any potential braking part through a multitude of tough tasks. “Rigorous road testing follows, and even involves drivers from FDP management who test the products on their own vehicles for several months,” says Carney.
Doing business within the braking segment can generate competitive friction as numerous manufacturers vie for market share.
In 2019 Motorcar Parts of America Inc. introduced calipers to its aftermarket brake offerings, anchored by a new state-of-the-art 410,000-square-foot distribution facility plus an added 370,000 square feet at its factory in Tijuana, Mexico.
“This category represents a significant growth opportunity, leveraging our more than 50-year history in the aftermarket industry and the company’s highly regarded competency in remanufacturing,” says Selwyn Joffe, chairman, president and CEO.
“Equally important, the launch of this product line solidifies our position as a full-line brake supplier, which provides the company with solid growth opportunities and favorable financial metrics,” he adds.
"We have made significant investments to support our initiatives to become a leading multi-product line supplier and this launch further strengthens our position,” Joffe says, noting that the American aftermarket’s retail caliper category presents an estimated value of $1.1 billion.
Complimenting Goodyear’s existing array of more than 2,400 service centers offering brake installations, in September the first Goodyear-branded brake line was introduced. Products include bundles, pads, rotors and calipers for passenger cars, SUVs and light trucks.
The selection is being marketed directly to consumers via an online portal, and is designed for both do-it-yourself and do-it-for-me customers; line-extensions will be available early next year.
Full-function lookups
NUCAP, producer of the NRS line of galvanized steel pads, announced in August a new merchandising pact with Canadian Tire’s network of more than 500 retail locations. The pads, marketed as being free from rusting or delamination, can be installed at a Canadian Tire service center or purchased on a do-it-yourself basis.
According to NUCAP CEO Montu Khokhar, the company’s technology mechanically fuses the backing plate to the friction material to create an indestructible bond and a more reliable, longer-lasting and safer brake product.
A recently rolled-out website from ADVICS – introducing a domain now separate from the company’s OE operations — features intuitive navigation, a custom-built catalog and a parts lookup tool complimented by updated individual product pages. Searches can be conducted via application, part number or a differing cross-reference number.
The site’s design delivers a consistent and device-friendly viewing experience on desktop computers and mobile devices, according to Gil Pulliam, senior manager of aftermarket sales, noting that the improvements “reinforce our position as innovators of leading-edge technology in the brake industry.”
Akebono Brake Corp. also has a new online product site designed for an improved user experience on desktops, laptops, tablets and mobile devices. “Our web catalog has a full-function application lookup, as well as direct or wildcard part number and cross-reference searches, making it easier than ever to find the right parts,” says Edward Gerhardt, marketing & data services manager. “The platform is designed for minimal data usage, meaning fast page loads and quick return of results.”
With a focus on commercial truck, trailer, off-highway, defense, specialty and aftermarket braking applications, Meritor has adopted additional features for its MeritorPartsXpress.com site for streamlining the ordering process and improving its lineup of self-service tools.
“Meritor is incorporating features that many customers are familiar with – and now expect – as part of their online shopping experiences,” observes Christy Westrich, director of customer loyalty, referring to the benefits rendered to OEMs, warehouse distributors, dealers, fleets and independent shops.
“These enhancements not only help Meritor differentiate itself in the industry,” she points out, “but are also one of the ways that we are continually improving the customer experience.”
Meritor’s trainers have been able to support the needs of its customers during the global health emergency with dedicated “WebEx” training sessions on the company’s EX+ air disc brake.
Dozens of technicians have attended the internet classes. “In these times of social distancing and still trying to manage a business and educate our techs, this worked well -- and feedback from all participants has been very good,” says a satisfied Jerry Garlitz, fleet maintenance manager at Republic Services.
Meritor has been steadily enhancing its aftermarket product training program for dealers, distributors, fleets and service centers to include live instructor-led interactive distance training (IDT), 12 new regional training events, and options for French and Spanish instruction, through its BullPen online training site.
Last year’s instructional portfolio, for example, encompassed close to 260 web-based, classroom and onsite programs. Since the online portal Bullpen launched in 2004, more than 350,000 courses have been completed online. In 2018, 1,500 customers attended more than 60 instructor-led sessions.
“The breadth of our multiplatform offerings demonstrates our commitment to meet industry needs for training wherever and whenever customers need help expanding their knowledge base,” says Doug Dole, Meritor’s director of technical products and training.
“We’ll continuously expand our programs,” he adds, owing to high instructional demand from a customer base that last year averaged more than 9,000 online courses per month.
Each 30-minute seminar focuses on a different monthly topic addressing timely messages of importance along with updates to key systems and components.
“Live interaction with an instructor during sessions where participants see, hear and receive direct feedback improves the customer experience with Meritor products,” notes training manager Joe Baumer.
IDT seminars offer live, online contact with instructors, reducing the expense and travel time to remote training locations. Maintaining social distancing in this time of global unease over communicable disease, Baumer points out that the instructors provide the same level of interpersonal communication the students would experience in a physical classroom, including the ability to obtain direct answers to questions they raise about specific technical issues.
Traveling training trailer
Serving the Wagner and Monroe brands, in August DRiV’s Garage Gurus instructional initiative reopened all of its in-person, hands-on training locations throughout the U.S., including its on-the-road Mobile Automotive Training Center (MATC).
Offering in-class and hands-on training experiences, the trailer, along with all the other in-person training locations, is configured to meet stringent corporate and local safety guidelines for social distancing standards and other health guidelines.
Attendees and trainers will be equipped with the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE), while total class capacity has been reduced to a maximum of 12 students. Other safety improvements include the addition of interior dividers between workstations, an upgraded ventilation system and a UV lighting package to aid sanitization practices.
The unit is also equipped with an accompanying vehicle lift so that the students can experience applied learning outside the trailer during each training class.
“Since inception, Garage Gurus has made it its mission to address the technician shortage and growing skills gap in the automotive aftermarket repair industry,” reports program director Dennis Sheran. “We’ve been the go-to place for training since 2015, and with this mobile trailer, we are able to reach our customers who may not otherwise be able to take advantage of our training courses, whether it be due to distance or time constraints.”
Online brake courses cover subjects such as “Brake Symptom Diagnostics” and “Fundamentals of Automotive Brake Systems,” joining webinar topics that include “Preventing Brake Comebacks” and “Servicing Brake Systems with Vehicle Stability Control.”
Garage Gurus technical education centers are located in 12 U.S. markets: Atlanta; Baltimore; Boston; Chicago; Dallas/Fort Worth; Houston; New Hyde Park, N.Y.; Rancho Dominguez, Calif.; South Florida; St. Louis; Suburban Detroit; and Van Nuys, Calif. They additionally will visit repair facilities and educate technicians on the latest repair tools, replacement part solutions and technology using its fleet of product technology vans.
Raybestos also offers training resources that repair professionals and auto enthusiasts can access free-of-charge, including how-to videos, technical bulletins, braking news and tech tips.
“Customers can visit when it’s most convenient for them to learn about product advancements, learn brake repair techniques and view technical bulletins,” says Kristin Grons, marketing manager at Brake Parts Inc.
With a library of more than 75 videos, technicians can watch brief how-to sessions with Raybestos trainers discussing a wide variety of topics, including “How Electronic Parking Brakes Work,” “How to Repair a Brake Hose” and “Adjusting Parking Brakes,” to name a few of the available titles.
A selection of free training videos from Dorman Products Inc. are specifically designed for technicians, service managers and counter people, conveying “a great way to keep up with the latest technologies,” complimenting the company’s lineup of nine technician-training courses taught by ASE-certified instructors at classes conducted evenings and weekends at onsite locations.
A virtual tour of Dorman’s headquarters is available at DormanProducts.com/tour. “While we’re more than a century old and have long been leaders in growing the automotive aftermarket, we still feel that much of the amazing work our people do has been something of a best-kept secret,” says Jeff Darby, senior vice president of sales and marketing. “We of course can’t expect every customer to visit our facilities in person, so we decided to bring the tour to our customers.”
