Brake Beam Strut Protector

Problem:

1/8" Or More Wear On The Brake Beam Strut Necessitates The Costly Replacement Of The Brake Beam Assembly

Rule 6 of the AAR Interchange Rules requires that brake beam struts that exhibit 1/8″ or greater lever slot wear must be replaced. Wear results from a combination of lever movement during brake operation and vibrational impacts at the point of contact between the lever and the strut.

Typically when a strut is found to be worn, the entire brake beam and strut assembly is replaced as a unit – a repair that costs over $200* in labor and materials plus the cost for transport and out-of-service time for the rail car.

Solution:

Pennsy's Brake Beam Strut Protector

The Pennsy Brake Beam Strut Protector is a specially-designed product that is installed between the brake lever and the strut, thus eliminating direct contact between the lever and the bearing surface on the strut.

Testing has shown the Pennsy Brake Beam Strut Protector to have a wear potential that is approximately double that of an unprotected strut slot. In the event the Strut Protector becomes worn or damaged, it can be quickly and easily replaced without special tools and at a fraction of the cost to replace a brake beam.
The Pennsy Brake Beam Strut Protector can be installed on both new and existing brake struts, effectively eliminating slot wear on new brake beam struts and preventing further wear on partially worn struts.**

Results:

• Low cost preventive maintenance on new brake beam struts
• Low cost repair on partially worn struts
• Can be replaced an indefinite number of times on the same strut
• No special tools required for installation