When should you inspect your brake chambers?
During an inspection of the braking system, be sure to look carefully at the two mounting nuts that hold every chamber onto the axle. Any signs of uneven wear, loose or missing nuts, or road damage require immediate attention to prevent the type of severe damage shown in the illustration.
How often should brake chambers be replaced?
In cars and light trucks, brakes can last anywhere from 50,000 to 70,000 miles. It probably won’t surprise you, but this doesn’t apply to semis. There is no industry-wide schedule guideline for a brake replacement because the life cycles of brake systems used in semis vary widely from one truck to the other.
What is the most common flaw found in roadside inspections of air brake systems?
Out-of-adjustment brakes are the most common problem found in roadside inspections.
What’s inside a brake chamber?
A service brake chamber contains a flexible rubber disc called a diaphragm, a metal rod called a pushrod and a return spring. When you press the brake pedal, compressed air fills the service brake chamber, causing the diaphragm to move and push out the pushrod to apply the brakes (Diagram 3-1).
What important safety measure must be taken before you service a brake chamber?
Make sure there are no air leaks from the brake chamber during the operation. If you witness the overstroke indicator on the push rod when the chamber has reached the end of its travel, you have a brake overstroke issue that must be inspected further to determine the cause and repair.
Why must air tanks be drained?
Explanation Compressed air in an air brake system usually contains a certain amount of water and compressor oil. The water and oil can damage the brakes if left to accumulate in the system. Tanks must be drained regularly to remove this build-up.
How do you maintain air brakes?
Proper Air Brake Maintenance Reduces Downtime
- Check for valve failure in primary or secondary circuit.
- Look for accelerated wear.
- Fractures and leaks.
- Proper operation of the push rods and slack adjusters.
- Check push rod actuation out of the brake chambers.
- Check slack adjusters for broken or missing parts.