Brake Maintenance
Best Practices to Keep Your Brakes in Good Condition
-
- Air Systems
-
- Ensure your brake system is well-balanced.
-
- Chambers
-
- Make sure your push rod is even on all chambers. To help, cut the push rod to the appropriate length.
-
- Slack Adjuster
-
- First, set your thorn up properly. 90 degree rules for manual apply. Also, use templates for automatic slacks (Exception: Haldex).
-
- S-Cams
-
- Make sure no grease is on your S-cam head. Aim for free play movement in and out, and up and down. Also, seal your installation.
-
- Hardware Kits
-
- Replace these completely, not only the springs.
-
- Shoes
-
- Do a complete replacement, not only one wheel. The minimum should be a complete axle if it's not possible to do an entire unit.
-
- Drums
-
- Make sure to use heavy drums for severe applications.
-
- Lining Wear Patterns
-
- To begin, after removing drums look at the brake shoes and lining before you remove them off the wheel - it will tell you a story.
-
- Brake Adjustment
-
- Jack up axles and snub up brakes, then back off ¼ to ½ turn on manuals and use templates on automatics.
-
- Brake Lining Burnishings
-
- Heat up the brakes until you are able to smell them. Then, allow them to cool. Do this procedure within ¼ to 1 mile. Check wheel temperature with a heat gun.