Wheels and brakes form part of an aircraft landing gear system. They both serve vital functions for safe and reliable ground operations during takeoff, landing and taxiing.They are subject to extreme forces, stress, as well as wear and tear from general operation and the environment. 

Wheels, used in conjunction with tires, provide support for the tires and weight of the aircraft. Combined with brakes, they assist in directional and stopping control during aircraft ground maneuvers, taxi, takeoff, and landing. 

The primary purpose of aircraft wheel brakes and disc combinations is to decelerate and stop an aircraft by transforming the kinetic energy into heat energy via friction and dissipation of heat to the surroundings. Their secondary function is to hold the aircraft stationary during the engine’s run-up and, in many cases, steer the aircraft during taxi. Brake assemblies consist of one or more pistons depending upon the aircraft requirements.

Commercial aircraft brakes are arranged in multiple disk pairs commonly referred to as Heat Sinks or Heat Packs (as they convert the kinetic energy of the moving airplane to heat energy).
Steel brakes were used for years as standard in the aviation sector. Since the 1980s, they are replaced by carbon brakes. Steel brakes are relatively heavy and can only withstand temperatures up to 2,000°C (3,600°F). In addition, they must be replaced after an average of 1,000 landings. Carbon brakes consist an alternative to steel brakes. In carbon brakes, the friction is produced by carbon fibre discs resulting in a higher energy absorption capability than the conventional metal (steel) brakes.
Originally used in high-performance military aircraft, carbon brakes are today used on many commercial airplanes (particularly on larger, long-haul commercial ones). They are considerably lighter than steel brakes (resulting in less fuel consumption and lower CO2 emission by the engines), they exhibit a higher energy absorption capability, have a longer life span, lower maintenance costs and an improved performance (withstanding temperatures of up to 3,000°C (5,400°F) while their service life is longer, 2,000 landings on average). All these positively affect aircraft operating economics and thus they are increasingly used in newer aircraft and retrofits justifying their higher cost compared to those of steel or powder metallurgy brakes.

Made by different manufacturers in different materials, an extensive range of aircraft wheels, brakes, and wheel and brake assemblies are offered for aircraft nose and main wheels to meet a variety of aircraft specifications and brake assembly interfaces. Product lines of these manufacturers are listed in our Web Platform for Supplies and briefly presented below.

Although most units are supplied in New Condition, in some cases they can also be offered in Used Condition (mostly Serviceable/Overhauled with proper certification). FAA 8130-3 Release Certification can be provided at additional cost.

Parker Hannifin (Cleveland Wheels & Brakes)

Cleveland Aircraft Wheel & Brake Division, a Parker Hannifin business unit,  designs and manufactures wheel assemblies for worldwide aircraft markets. Cleveland brand products are used on more than 80 percent of general aviation aircraft while their wheel assemblies are now offered for military and business aviation applications. Their product lines include both TSO'd aircraft wheels, brakes, and wheel and brake assemblies for nose and main wheels of different aicraft. Other products and parts are also offered as part of Cleveland product lines including brake master cylinders, parking brake valves, brake linings, bearings, snap rings or grease seals for wheel assemblies.

Cleveland main and nose wheels are made from either aluminum castings, magnesium castings, or aluminum forgings. The main wheels are of the divided type, incorporating inner wheel half and outer wheel half, plus a disc, which are fastened together with tie bolts, washers, and nuts. They are offered in different models to work with different tire sizes. For example, their main wheel assemblies are designed for 6.00-6 tube tires while their #40-87 nose wheel assemblies are designed for 5.00-5 tube tires. Both are intended for use in general and business aviation, turboprop passenger, and helicopter applications. 

Key features of Cleveland main and nose wheels include:
- Low maintenance for tubeless or tube-type
- Tapered roller bearings for dimensional stability and long life
- Molded grease seals for superior bearing bore sealing properties
- Split-rim design to allow ease of tire mounting
- High-strength through-bolts
- Sand castings and forgings

Cleveland nose wheel assemblies are made of magnesium or aluminum. Their key features include:
- Load Capacity: Static load from 500 to 8600 lbs
- Tapered roller bearings,
- Size: 4 to 16 inch bead seat diameter,
- Nut torque rating 90 to 150 in-lb dry; from 105 to 300 lube torque lb-inch,
- Weight: 3 to 18 lbs

Matco Aircraft Landing Systems

Matco Aircraft Landing Systems is a manufacturer of master brake cylinders, master cylinder parts, brake assemblies, and more systems that meet the demands of the aerospace industry.

Grove Aircraft Landing Gear Systems

Grove wheels and brakes by Grove Aircraft Landing Gear Systems are precision engineered and manufactured to provide the highest quality and performance in the aircraft industry. Grove wheels are manufactured in both aluminum and magnesium.  Aluminum wheels are more corrosion resistant than magnesium, are less expensive, but weigh more.  Both have the same strength and performance ratings. They are offered in sets (kits) in different sizes to comply with tire and axle sizes and static load ratings to match  the static aircraft gross weight on each wheel. Grove brakes are offered for different braking torques, a function of the hydraulic system pressure and total caliper piston area, and with different kinetic energy capabilities. Aircraft with oversized tires or with a larger than normal engine should consider brake calipers with more or larger pistons. Different brake discs offered absorb the heat energy developed during braking.

Beringer Aero

Beringer Aero manufactures a range of wheels, brakes and related parts for use on certfied and non-certified aircraft (LSAs, experimentals and gliders). Their product portfolio includes among others wheels,Certified (STC) and Non Certified wheel/brake assemblies, wheel and brake parts and related tools. Beringer wheels can be supplied with mounted tires and inner tire tubes, aluminum or steel axles and hardware in different options and wheel caps which are sold separately.

Beringer RA Series nose/tail wheels  are offered in  4" 5" 6" 12.5" diameters. Non- certified models are intended for use on Ultralights and LSAs. Features of RA Series wheels include:
• Wheel in 2 halves
• Made of high strength aluminum, machined from billet
• Sulfuric anodizing
• Tubeless for safety (O-ring and rigid valve)
• Waterproof bearings → no repack (stainless steel available in option)
• Steel or aluminum axles
• Tubeless tires
• Stainless steel bearings optional
• Wheel caps optional
• Available certification (STC/STC TSO) for models RA-001 | RA-005 | RA-013 | RA-014 | RA-015

Beringer 5" diameter standard wheel/brake assemblies are offered in 4.00" (PN RF-020) and 5.00" widths  (PN RF-019). They feature:
• Single brake caliper with Aerotec® patent : stainless steel piston - sintered pads,
• Stainless steel floating disc,
• Different tire options
• Aluminum or steel axle options.
• Matching wheel caps. Anodized caps from billet aluminum machined on CNC and offered as options for use in Beringer 5" - 6" wheels.

Airframes Alaska

Airframes Alaska designs and manufactures Alaskan Bushwheel (ABI) FAA/PMA approved wheels & brakes and tires (separately presented) made for flying and landing off-field in the most rugged backcountry conditions. 

ABI FAA/PMA approved wheels and brakes include assembly kits as direct replacements for respective Cleveland wheel & brake assemblies, wheel assemblies, brake assemblies, brake calipers and other replacement parts.

AVIATIONEU NEW ERA PMA Aircraft Steel-Carbon Brake Discs

Carbon and steel heat packs and parts are offered as part of our own labelled (AVIATIONEU NEW ERA) product lines. Sourced from quality suppliers these heat packs  feature high quality, safety, improved design, significant cost savings and fast deliveries. They can be used as  cost effective alternatives in many commercial aircraft platforms equalling or exceeding standards of  respective OEM products by leading manufacturers such as Honeywell Aerospace, Collins Aerospace/Goodrich Wheels & Brakes, Parker Meggitt Aircraft Braking Systems and Safran Landing Systems (formerly Messier-Bugatti-Dowty). They are  PMA approved (*) parts by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) for use on an extensive list of Western and Eastern commercial (civil ) aircraft platforms including Boeing, Airbus, McDonnell Douglas, Ilyushin and others and are currently installed in aircraft operating by different air transport operators in China and other countries in the Middle-East, South and Central Asia and Africa.
Typical Aircraft Applications for steel and carbon heat packs include Boeing 737 / 757, Airbus A318 / A319 / A320 / A330 , McDonnell Douglas: MD82 /MD90  Xian MA60 etc. 
(*)  Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) is a combined design and production approval granted by a competent Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to a manufacturer of aircraft parts for modification and replacement. Use of Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) approved parts in other countries depends on existing bilateral agreements between CAAC and respective competent authorities in these countries.

For additional information please refer to the respective product presentations at our Web Platform for Supplies (shop.aviationeu.supplies).