Bendix launches PermaGuard, a protective coating for its remanufactured brake shoes that is engineered to improve resistance to rust jacking, while offering fleets increased brake life and contributing to lower total cost of ownership, the company says. In creating PermaGuard, Bendix reformulated the coating and wash process, improving its ability to adhere to the metal shoe, the company says. Bendix offers an extended, three-year warranty against rust jacking for the coating.

Rust jacking, a combination of brake shoe corrosion and lining failure, occurs when rust builds up on the steel beneath the brake lining, exerts upward pressure on the friction material, and eventually causes cracks in the friction material. Although rust jacking can occur year-round, the combination of wet roads, temperature swings, and chemical de-icers—such as road salt or chemical compounds (for example, magnesium chloride and calcium chloride)—makes winter conditions ideal for corrosion to take hold on a brake shoe. For this reason, rust jacking is most prevalent in regions with cold-weather climates.

In addition to tractor wheel-ends, trailer brakes are susceptible to rust jacking as well, particularly trailers sitting idle for long periods. While idle, trailer brakes can continue to have moisture linger beneath the brake friction material, where it can continue to attack the brake shoe coating. The damaging moisture builds up in the brakes and doesn’t get burned off during brake applications as on a tractor in regular use.

“It’s important for fleets to choose a reman brake shoe with an effective brake shoe coating, because that’s the first line of defense against rust jacking. Our new PermaGuard coating advances our successful coating technology to provide improved protection from the harsh environments that contribute to rust jacking,” said Keith McComsey, Bendix director of wheel-end marketing and customer solutions. “And our confidence in PermaGuard is reflected in our new three-year warranty.”