[vharihar]

Thane's TMT has been using some very nice rear-engined, automatic-transmission, non-AC, low-floor buses from Ashok Leyland. Very good build quality, excellent pulling power, and runs quite silent. Some pics below:







AL seems to have clearly beaten the similar Tata Marcopolos (but hopelessly bad) that used to run in Bangalore and elsewhere a few years ago.

[vharihar]

Originally Posted by directinjection

This is one of their export models. Tata had emerged as a major exporter of trucks by 1970s. Many of their export models were built according to the local requirements of foreign markets. They weren't sold in India. In early 1980s, at the Tata stall in a fair at Pragati Maidan, I even saw a poster of Tata semi forward control tractor!

Most probably, this pic is from Malaysia where Tata had set up a truck assembly plant in 1978 in partnership with Malaysian investors. The JV company was called Tatab Industries Sdn. It assembled Tata trucks from kits imported from India. It functioned till 1983.

Most Tata buses make a loud horn-like screeching/squealing sound when the brakes are pressed. Eg. The new BMTC Suvarna Tata buses in Bangalore. It's really very loud and constant in pitch. Why is that? Why do these brand new models make that sound when braking?

It's very irritating!

[turbospooler]

Vinod Dasari to step down as AL's MD & CEO!
He is the person who turned around AL by significant debt cutting, marketing plans and cost cutting.

Link to the news article: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-nation...tep-down-41300

[silversteed]

Originally Posted by vharihar

Most Tata buses make a loud horn-like screeching/squealing sound when the brakes are pressed. Eg. The new BMTC Suvarna Tata buses in Bangalore. It's really very loud and constant in pitch. Why is that? Why do these brand new models make that sound when braking?

That's the noise from the brake liners. It's something TML buses and lorries are notorious for, despite making strides in engines and chassis. Some workshops have managed to reduce the noise, but it doesn't work always

It's very irritating!

You bet!

[vharihar]

Originally Posted by silversteed

That's the noise from the brake liners. It's something TML buses and lorries are notorious for, despite making strides in engines and chassis. Some workshops have managed to reduce the noise, but it doesn't work always

But surely it can't be rocket science! Other mfr buses don't make that noise (well, Eicher maybe an exception). Indeed, in the past, TM buses never used to make that brake noise. So I think its either an intentional technology (as in, a second warning to vehicles behind you, besides brake lights), or its some different assembly/vendor in use in the brake system for whatever reason (cost, increased safety, whatever).

Regardless, its too damn annoying, and I don't quite follow why the honchos at TM don't realize it. Or are we missing something?

[peugeot96]

The captain 4923 appears to have disappeared from the AL website with only the u truck and the cowl showing as options in the 49t range. Is the model gone for any particular reason?