When 80,000 pounds of truck and trailer are rolling down the highway, you need to know that they will be able to stop efficiently and quickly.
Brake failure is a common cause for accidents and are almost always avoidable.
Here are a few maintenance tips.
Replace more than just the pads
When you take your truck in to have the brake pads replaced, make sure to also replace the springs, pins and bushings. The drums should also be replaced when the shoes are replaced, because they can wear down and crack.
Grease it
Most newer trucks have automatic slack adjusters. Many drivers forget about greasing the automatic slack adjusters, because they do not regularly use these. Both manual and automatic slack adjusters need to be greased, preferably with lithium grease, so they don’t seize up.
Check the Air down there
Application pressure is a vital part of stopping a moving truck. Ideally, the pressure should run between 100 psi and 125 psi. If it drops below 60 psi you may have a problem.
Eye those Linings and Hoses
Before hitting the road, check all linings and hoses. Linings should not be soaked with lubricant and should be at least 1/4 of an inch thick. Air hoses must not have any cracks and should not appear smooth.
Mark your Calender
Finally, set up a routine plan for having a professional service the brakes on your rig. While the distance a truck travels between brake service is going to vary it’s best to have the brakes inspected and maintained every time you have the truck’s oil changed.
