Caster Wheel Brakes

Caster wheel brakes are an important component of heavy-duty caster wheels.

Caster wheel brakes can slow and stop a cart as a backup to operator strength and to reduce strain. And they can help prevent carts or racks from moving unexpectedly, preventing product damage and employee injury.

For heavy-duty applications, there are several different caster wheel brake types with their own set of benefits. A quick review will help you determine which would be the best for your application.

Single Side Wheel Brakes and Dual Side Caster Wheel Brakes

These brakes utilize a foot pedal on the side of the caster, so the operator doesn’t have to constantly bend over to apply the brake.

Single Side Caster Brakes

•     A single-side wheel brake is the best option for medium-sized heavy-duty casters with wheels ranging in size from six to 12 inches. These brakes offer some of the most ergonomic brake operations in the industry.

When all the casters attached to a cart or rack are equipped with single side wheel brakes, they do an exceptional job at keeping a load stationary. This brake can be applied to a variety of caster styles, as well.

Dual Side Wheel Brakes

•     Ideal for creating heavy-duty locking casters. Dual Side Wheel Brakes are some of the most cost-effective for companies on tight budgets. With this operation, the user manually engages the caster wheel brake on both sides to provide reliable and effective holding power. Like single-side wheel brakes, these work best for loads on the lighter end of the heavy-duty spectrum.

Face Contact Brakes

•     Face Contact Caster Brakes are very good when working with heavy loads. These caster wheel brakes provide an expanded holding force. This force is achieved through a threaded rod that pushes a plate into the running surface of the industrial caster wheel.

This wheel brake requires the user to tighten the brake shoe against the caster tread. While it does offer robust stopping power, it is not as ergonomic as the other options. This type of caster wheel brake is good for preventing motion for caster wheels with heavier tread, but it is not the best solution for certain types of shock-absorbing wheels or those made from softer, more flexible materials.

Poly Lock and Poly Cam Brakes

Caster Brakes provide excellent stopping power for heavy-duty loads.

Poly Lock Brakes

•     Poly lock brakes utilize a polyurethane lock roller that engages with a steel brake shoe against the wheel’s tread. This friction prevents skidding and slipping.

These foot-activated brakes are designed for heavy-duty loads. They can be installed in two ways – toe out and toe in – to best suit your unique application. The levers are easy to engage either way and provide excellent, reliable stopping power.

Pneumatic Poly Cam  Brakes

•     The poly cam brake offers the advantage of adjusting pressure placed on the tread to any desired level. These brakes employ a polyurethane cam that — when engaged, puts direct pressure against the running surface of the wheel, providing holding force against extreme loads.

Poly cam brakes are much like traditional poly lock brakes, but the brake shoe offers more (and more fluid) movement to compensate for thicker pneumatic tires. An advantage is like the standard poly lock brake, this one is also foot-operated and is relatively easy to engage and release. This works very well for heavy loads that require plenty of shock absorption but still rely on good brakes to keep loads stationary.

Wrap Around (W) Brakes

If you rely on pivoting heavy-duty casters to move loads, then you might understand the difficulty involved in properly lining up your casters for access to the foot-activated brake. Wrap-around brakes solve this problem. They give operators brake access from all angles, no matter how the caster is oriented. This can save time and keep employees safer, all while reducing frustration.

Investing in locking casters with brakes enhances safety and control and contributes to increased ROI by reducing ergonomic injuries. Explore our collection of locking casters today and experience the reliability and performance they offer in your material handling operations. If you are still unsure of the best option, contact the experts at Caster Concepts today. With some information about your needs and your application, you can easily discover the best casters and brakes for your individual projects and facility.

What is the difference in a Caster Brake and a Caster Lock? Check out this video: