5 Tips on Maintaining Air Brakes

Five Tips on Maintaining Air Brakes

It's wintertime, and there is nothing more important than making sure the brakes in your semi-truck are responsive and working properly. The air brake system is one of the most integral ways to ensure that your vehicle is safe on the road, especially during the winter months. You'll want to be sure that your air brake system is maintained and kept in perfect working order. That way, you can be sure you are driving a truck that's safe on the road. From the valves to the parking brake, there are a multitude of systems to check when you are making sure your brakes are well maintained.

What Are Air Brakes?

So, what exactly is the difference between hydraulic braking systems and air brakes? The answer is simpler than you might think. When the pedal is pressed, hydraulic brake systems in automobiles push a piston into a master cylinder which is filled with hydraulic brake fluid. The fluid moves through the brake lines and puts pressure on each of the four brakes, which in turn, uses friction energy to stop the vehicle. As more pressure is applied to the brake pedal, more pressure is applied to the discs, causing the vehicle to slow down and eventually stop.

Instead of hydraulic brake fluid, air brakes in semi-trucks use compressed air to stop the vehicle. Compressed air can be consistently produced, whereas hydraulic brake fluid can leak and cause failure in the brake system. As well, hydraulic brake fluid needs to be replaced every two years or every thirty thousand miles. This means that compressed air is a more effective way in which to ensure your braking system doesn't fail.

What should you look for when you're looking into your air brake system? Here is a helpful checklist of things to consider when maintaining your semi-truck.

Check the Valves

Brake valves are the conduit through which the compressed air flows throughout the braking system. Checking the air valves in the primary and secondary circuits is an important step in making sure your vehicle's brakes are working perfectly. Failure in either of these valves can compromise the brake system and leave you without a proper way to stop your truck.

Look for Wear and Tear

Next, you'll want to check for wear and tear on your truck's brake system. Driving on the highway and through cities causes dirt and debris in between the lining and braking surface to build up. Making sure your brakes are clean is the perfect way to keep them working properly.

Check the Push Rods and Slack Adjusters

When the brake pedal is pressed, pressurized air forces the push rods to activate the slack adjuster by way of the brake chamber. This means that your push rods and slack adjusters are an incredibly important to keep in mind when maintaining your semi-truck or fleet. You will also want to make sure your slack adjusters are not missing any components.

Inspect the Brake Lining

The next step is checking to make sure your brake lining is intact. First, you'll want to be sure that the lining is free of cracks. Then, as long as there are no lining blocks that are broken, the wear on your axle is even, there is no scoring, and the drums are round, your brake lining system should be good to go.

Check the Parking Brake

One of the last things you'll want to check is your parking brake. Leaks in the chamber and damaged components can cause your parking brake to fail, so you'll want to be sure it is inspected on a regular basis. That way, you can drive with the confidence that comes with knowing your brakes are working as smoothly as intended.

Shop Brake Parts Today!

If you are looking for brake parts to keep your fleet or semi-truck maintained, look no further! We have a full line of parts designed to help keep your brake system running smoothly. Whether you are looking for slack adjusters, brake chambers, or brake drums be sure to visit for everything you'll need to make sure your brake systems are in tip-top shape. Contact us if you have any questions! Our product experts are here to answer all of them.