Types of equipment track shoes

The track shoes are components of the undercarriage whose function is the transmission of the load to the ground. Multiple designs provide specific characteristics to the equipment that can modify the performance of the vehicle in several job environments.

Track Shoes have a direct influence on the equipment’s steering, control, travel, and maintenance system because parts replacement costs in an excavator and bulldozer typically involve up to 50% undercarriage elements.

Its general classification involves the number of grousers, the most common being:

-Smooth equipment track shoes: Their distinctive feature is the absence of grouser, employed on vehicles that move on asphalt or surfaces or where is desired to minimize the damage caused by the vehicle’s footprint.

-Single-grouser track shoes: As their name mentions, they only have one grouser and provide the best traction of all the grousers designed due to their high level of penetration on the ground; their use is for abrasive environments in equipment such as excavators, bulldozers, and track tractors. The main disadvantage is the reduction of maneuverability when executing turns in the vehicle.

-Double grouser shoes: Its design gives the machine the second-best traction of all available configurations reducing penetration on the ground compared to single grouser shoes; this turns into smoother turns, better maneuverability, and less resistance against the floor.

-Multi-grouser shoes: Provides the third-best traction of the conventional configurations; they are used mainly on soft or soft surfaces to maximize the maneuverability of the equipment and in the execution of turns thanks to its low level of penetration. Also, within the three configurations with grousers, it is the one that causes the least damage on the surface.

There are alternative shoe designs that favor operation in complex environments, such as center hole shoes for application on swampy or rubber-coated surfaces to avoid the damage that a conventional shoe would cause on the pavement.

Generally, the track shoe designs, as well as their dimensions, will vary the pressure that the equipment exerts on the ground. If your decision is on two or more track shoes with the same apparent benefits, experts recommend purchasing the narrowest possible for excavation equipment.