Brake Lathes & Accessories

What is in this category, and what is not

• Combination bench lathes (2): Ranger RL-8500 and RL-8500XLT. "Combination" means one machine handles both drums and rotors, with a quick changeover instead of two separate machines.
• Brake handling equipment (1): Mahle Commercial Brake Dolly Disk, for moving commercial rotors and calipers.
• Adapters and tooling (11): four Ranger items for the RL-8500 family, and seven QSP replacement parts, only three of which name the lathe platform they fit.

Note what is not here: neither lathe on this page is an on-vehicle machine. Both are bench-mounted, with spindle height measured from the floor with the lathe on its bench.

RL-8500 vs RL-8500XLT: what actually changes

The two Ranger lathes share one published specification table: same 62 in. height on the bench, same 49 in. by 36 in. floor space, same 115/230 VAC single-phase 20 amp requirement, same 17 in. maximum rotor diameter, same 6 in. to 28 in. drum range, same 685 lb. shipping weight.

What the RL-8500XLT listing adds is an extended-capacity spindle and a relocated rear bushing that, per Ranger, gives the arbor extra support so the machine can true the heaviest drums, rotors and flywheels. Its description states the extended spindle works on brake drums 10 in. deep.

One caution: the XLT description claims that 10 in. drum depth, but the spec table on the XLT page lists the same 6-7/8 in. spindle travel as the RL-8500 and is otherwise identical to it. If drum depth is why you are buying the XLT, confirm the working depth with us against your heaviest drum rather than reading it off the shared table.

Shared mechanical design

Both models use independent DC servo motors for the cross-feed and spindle-feed drives instead of mechanical gear boxes. That matters for maintenance: an independent cross-feed motor removes the plastic or bronze shear gear that is expensive to replace on geared lathes. Other shared points from the listings:

• 450 lb. cast iron body on a solid work bench, to damp transient vibration and hold a clean finish through the pass.
• Hardened, precision ground spindle that resists grooving, on massive tapered bearings fed by a "splash-lube" constant oil-flow system.
• Serpentine belts, which Ranger credits with quieter running and less chatter and vibration.
• Quick-Change Adapter-Plus system with built-in springs, which the listings say removes the need for conventional bell clamps and cones.
• Precision twin cutter tools and a positive rake cutter tip angle, for what Ranger describes as a one-pass finish virtually every time.

Capacity: what these lathes can hold

Read these against the largest parts you service:

• Brake rotor: up to 17 in. diameter (432 mm), up to 2-1/2 in. thick (63.5 mm).
• Brake drum diameter: 6 in. to 28 in. (152 mm to 711 mm).
• Maximum load: up to 150 lb. (68 kg) on the standard 1 in. arbor; up to 250 lb. (113 kg) on the 1-7/8 in. truck arbor.
• Center hole: 2-5/32 in. to 4 in. on hubless drums and rotors; 4 in. to 6.25 in. on composite rotors.

That 150 lb. versus 250 lb. split is the key line for anyone searching for a heavy-duty brake lathe. The higher figure is tied to the 1-7/8 in. truck arbor, which is not part of the standard machine: it arrives with the Ranger Truck Adapter Package, which both lathe listings call optional and sold separately. If your work includes light and medium truck drums, budget it with the lathe, not after it.

Drive, feed rates and finish quality

Arbor speed is switchable in seconds between 150 RPM (inner groove) and 200 RPM (outer groove). Both feeds are infinitely variable: cross feed 0 to .010 in. per revolution (0 to 0.25 mm/rev), spindle feed 0 to .020 in. per revolution (0 to 0.55 mm/rev). Rough cuts and finish passes are a dial setting, not a gear change.

Cutting tips are a consumable. The Ranger carbide tip pack here holds 10 positive rake tips with 2 screws, each insert carrying 6 cutting edges, for resurfacing cast iron drums and rotors, and fits both lathes. The warranty published on the two lathes lists cutting tips among the general wear parts it does not cover, unless the failure traces to a manufacturing defect. The tip pack itself publishes a different warranty document, which does not name cutting tips - ask us which one applies before you claim.

Space, power and freight

Check these before the machine ships, from both spec tables:

• Floor space: 49 in. wide (1245 mm) by 36 in. deep (914 mm).
• Overall height mounted on bench: 62 in. (1575 mm).
• Spindle to floor, on bench: 39-1/2 in. (1003 mm) - the working height your technician stands at all day.
• Electrical: 115/230 VAC, 50/60 Hz, single-phase, 20 amps - so most shops will not need a three-phase drop. Have the circuit wired to the listed 115/230 VAC, single-phase, 20 A: the warranty excludes damage due to incorrect voltage or improper wiring.
• Shipping weight with bench and standard tools: 685 lb. (310 kg).

Two logistics notes appear on every Ranger listing here: Ranger charges sales tax in California, and unloading the freight at your location is the buyer's responsibility. At 685 lb. on a pallet, that means a forklift or liftgate arranged in advance. No compressed air requirement is listed for either lathe; if your install depends on shop air, check the model's spec sheet.

Adapters, arbors and tooling

Four Ranger accessories are built for the RL-8500 platform:

• Truck Adapter Package, part RG-5150161. Fits both lathes, and is the route to the 1-7/8 in. truck arbor and its 250 lb. load rating. Itemized contents: 1 truck arbor, 1 arbor nut, 2 spacers, 3 hubless adapters, 2 double taper adapters, 13 centering cones and 1 spring. The product name calls it a 32-piece package while that list adds to 23; confirm the count with us before ordering, since the two figures on the page do not agree.
• Light and Medium Truck Set, 3 pieces, part RG-5150171. A small truck cone 4.125 in. x 5.25 in. (104.77 x 133.35 mm), a large truck cone 5.125 in. x 6.25 in. (130.18 x 158.75 mm), and a truck plate 7.40 in. OD (187.96 mm), with neoprene rubber banded flange plates.
• Double End Collets, 2 pieces, part RG-5326330, and the 10-pack of carbide cutting tips, part RG-5150099, covered above.

Three of the seven QSP parts name the lathes they fit: QSP-1195, QSP-7101 (Ammco 9708) and QSP-97-442 (Hunter BL505). The other four - the spade adaptors, the 5-piece shaft kit and the two bell clamps - publish no fitment at all, so confirm the machine with us before ordering. The QSP-1195 tool holder set replaces triangle bits and is listed as fitting Ammco lathes with the 6900 and 6950 Twincutter, ALL Tool, Hofmann 660, Performance and Kwickway lathes, and the Hunter BL505. "Fits" means exactly that: parts for those machines, not those machines. Those machines are not sold in this category - only the parts that fit them. Two QSP arbors here, cross-referenced to Ammco 9708 and Hunter BL505 (OEM 97-422-2), cannot be ordered online right now even though a price is shown; call us for status.

Handling heavy rotors and calipers

The Mahle Commercial Brake Dolly Disk is the CBD-200 commercial brake dolly, and it solves a different problem: getting a heavy commercial rotor or caliper off the vehicle and to the bench without two people. Rated capacities from its spec table are 200 lb. (91 kg) overall, 175 lb. (79 kg) on the rotor adapter and 100 lb. (45 kg) on the caliper adapter. It travels from a 16 in. (41 cm) start height to a 44 in. (112 cm) maximum lift height at the top of the tool post, on a 35-7/8 in. by 29-1/4 in. footprint. It includes a rotor adapter and 3 caliper adapters, a tool tray, handles and 4 swivel casters, and is listed as made in the U.S.A. An adapter for commercial brake drums is listed as available - separately, not part of what ships.

Model and part comparison

The shaft ranges are reproduced as printed on the QSP-5030 listing, which states no unit of measure and shows overlapping ranges for shafts 5031 and 5032. Confirm unit and fit before ordering.

Warranty, documentation and compliance

The two Ranger lathes publish the BendPak/Ranger Wheel Service Equipment Warranty: 24 months on equipment structure, 12 months on operating components, 12 months labor on site or at the factory, and 12 months of ground freight related to warranty performance, limited to direct shipping points within the 48 continental United States, with a possible surcharge to rural addresses. It runs from the date of purchase by the original purchaser or the date of shipment, whichever comes first. The exclusions matter: wear parts such as cutting tips, damage from exceeding rated capacity, damage from incorrect voltage or improper wiring, and corrosion. Freight after 12 months is the purchaser's.

The Ranger accessories publish a different document, the Shop Equipment Warranty: 12 months on structure, 12 months on operating components and 12 months of ground freight, with no labor coverage stated. The Truck Adapter Package and the Light and Medium Truck Set show only the warranty logo, with no terms; the seven QSP parts publish no warranty at all. Ask us for the warranty document that applies to the exact part you are buying.

Both Ranger lathes carry a California Proposition 65 warning and link an operation manual and a flyer; the Mahle dolly links its own manual. None of the 14 listings declares an ALI, ETL, OSHA or ASME certification. If a certification is a purchasing requirement for your facility, ask us for the model's documentation rather than assuming it from the category.

Shipping treatment is not uniform: the two Ranger lathes, the four Ranger adapter and tooling items and the Mahle dolly are flagged for free shipping on their product pages; the seven QSP parts are not. Every item on this page except the two lathes shows "Call us up for details" for availability, so confirm lead time on anything you need by a date.

Frequently asked questions

Which of the two Ranger lathes should a truck-heavy shop buy?

Both publish the same 6 in. to 28 in. drum range and the same 250 lb. rating with the 1-7/8 in. truck arbor, so for load the arbor matters more than the model. Ranger positions the RL-8500XLT for the heaviest drums, rotors and flywheels, on its extended spindle and relocated rear bushing. Since the published spec tables are identical, call us with the depth and weight of your largest drum.

Do I need three-phase power?

No. Both lathes list 115/230 VAC, 50/60 Hz, single-phase at 20 amps. Have the circuit installed correctly: the warranty excludes damage from incorrect voltage or improper wiring.

How much room does the lathe need?

Plan on 49 in. of width by 36 in. of depth, with 62 in. of overall height once the lathe is on its bench. The spindle sits 39-1/2 in. off the floor in that configuration - the number to check against your technician's working height.

Are adapters included, or do I buy them separately?

Each lathe ships with what Ranger calls its deluxe standard adapter package, including the Quick-Change hubless adapter system for standard and composite rotors on foreign and domestic cars and light trucks. The truck adapter package, with the 1-7/8 in. arbor, is sold separately.

Can I buy parts for a lathe I already own?

In several cases, yes. Three of the seven QSP items here are cross-referenced to other lathe platforms: QSP-1195 to Ammco with the 6900 and 6950 Twincutter, ALL Tool, Hofmann 660, Performance, Kwickway and the Hunter BL505; QSP-7101 to the Ammco 9708; and QSP-97-442 to the Hunter BL505. The other four QSP parts name no machine at all. Match the cross-reference to your machine, and contact us if your model is not named.