As a market leading supplier of spare parts for excavators to the plant hire and construction industry, we often get asked by customers as to the benefits of rubber tracks versus rubber pads.
More and more manufacturers are offering their diggers on Steel tracks and rubber pads rather than on rubber tracks which is the more traditional option. This is particularly the case on excavators from 7 ton upwards.
Rubber tracked excavators first made their debut in the early 80’s and became popular due to their compact size and adaptability. As machines became more popular, the rubber track industry was also developed. Buy your rubber tracks here
Early rubber tracks were made in a long length, then the ends were overlapped and joined. This initially caused issues with the rubber track pulling apart under extreme tension.
More recent advances have led to the tracks being manufactured as a continuous loop (Sometimes known as Jointless Track Technology or J-track), which eliminated the risk of the tracks pulling apart. Our latest designed rubber tracks also encompass smooth ride technology bringing you upto date with modern advances.
Some advantages to consider
Some of the benefits of machines fitted with rubber tracks are as follows:
- Relative low cost
- Quick to change
- Lighter weight for situations where weight is a constraint
- Smoother tracking, particularly on smaller excavators
Some of the disadvantages of rubber tracks are as follows:
- Once a rubber track snaps, it cannot be repaired like a steel track can
- Rubber tracks can be difficult to dispose of due to environmental legislation
Some benefits of rubber pads
- Steel tracks with Rubber pads can last longer than rubber tracks on larger machines
- Rubber pads can be fitted to bigger machines to offer the option to track on finished surfaces
- purchase your rubber pads here
