Press Releases

Snap-on Equipment Introduces The John Bean 401 and 201 Brake Lathes

April 14, 2009 -- Snap-on Equipment announces the introduction of two new brake lathes, the John Bean 401 and 201, to compliment our product line of automotive wheel service equipment. These lathes provide a fast, "One-Cut" finish and are designed to handle a large range of rotor and drum sizes. Both the 401 and 201 Brake Lathes are UL/CSA listed.

The John Bean 401 Brake Lathe is designed to service a broad variety of car and truck rotors and drums. It is capable of resurfacing up to 5" rotor/flywheel faces and 30" diameter drums with a 9" drum face, a capability not found on most competitor’s units. The advanced design enables a quick changeover from disc to drum tools, and its drive shaft and arbor are supported by extra/large tapered roller bearings. Two gear motors drive drum and rotor tool carriages and maintain a constant feed speed, providing an even finish across large surface variations. The John Bean 401 Brake Lathe allows the technician to choose from 4 different arbor speeds to optimize performance and deliver a like/new result, while also reducing wear on the carbide cutter. The John Bean 401 Brake Lathe offers a complement of optional tooling and accessories available to guarantee that your shop can handle any special applications.

The John Bean 201 Brake Lathe is designed to handle automobile and light truck drums and rotors and is an affordable alternative for today’s shops. It offers a quick changeover from disk to drum tools and a "One-Cut" finish. With its efficient, belt-driven system, it is smooth running and powerful.

Both the John Bean 401 and 201 Brake Lathes include standard tooling packages that cover most applications. Optional accessories, such as an 11/16" diameter arbor for use on some import models and 1 7/8" diameter arbor for heavy-duty applications, expand the service capabilities of both lathes.

Mike Alusick, John Bean’s Brake Lathe Product Manager, states "We pride ourselves on delivering valued productivity solutions to our customers, and the John Bean 201 and 401 Brake Lathes will do this. The 401 allows shops to handle a larger variety of vehicles for the same price as competitor’s units that have less capability. The 201 is a great entry-level lathe and will provide accurate, One-Cut finishes."

Snap-on Equipment is the world’s leading automotive service equipment company and is a division of Snap-on Inc., a leading global innovator, manufacturer and marketer of tools, diagnostic and equipment solutions for professional tool users. Founded in 1920, Snap-on Inc. is a $2.8 billion S&P 500 Company headquartered in Kenosha, Wisconsin.