Brake failure is a scary experience, not just for the driver of the failing vehicle, but for everyone around them as well. And if you are a semi truck driver, losing your brakes is more than scary—in some situations, it can be heart stopping. You are well aware of how big your rig is, how much damage it could cause to property and how much injury it could inflict on people, which is why you are trained to remain in control in the event of a truck failure.
When to service your truck brakes
Owning or being responsible for a semi truck is different from owning a daily driver, although they do have one important thing in common: they both require regular preventative maintenance to ensure the safety of the drivers, their vehicles and everyone else on the road with them.
As a general rule, truckers should get their brakes checked more often, or simply make a schedule with a professional semi truck service for all needed routine maintenance. Remember, each truck has its limits for how far it can travel between brake services, and is dependent on the driver’s driving habits, brake system age and the type of surface the truck encounters. Need an easy way to remember to perform brake maintenance? Just plan to have your brakes checked and serviced every time you get an oil change.
Let’s look at some important brake maintenance tasks that can help you avoid costly semi truck repair in Flagstaff, AZ:
- Replace brake pads: Brake pads see a lot of wear and tear. For semi trucks pulling trailers, there’s even greater force placed on the brake pads to come to a smooth and complete stop. They need replacing on a regular basis to keep the brakes going strong.
- Replace other brake parts: While you’re getting the brake pads replaced, change other brake parts—including springs, bushings and pins. You might also want to replace the drums when the brake shoes are replaced to avoid wear and prevent heat crack formation.
- Grease the slack adjusters: Manual or automatic, a truck’s slack adjusters need to be greased; otherwise, they won’t work well. In fact, they can seize up and cause brake failure.
- Inspect the S cams: S cams are what push the brake shoe into the drum so the truck can stop, and the slack adjusters turn a shaft that turns the S cams. Check the condition of the bushings and make sure they are greased.
- Check the pressure gauge: An important part of stopping a moving semi is application pressure. The air compression pressure gauge should read between 100 psi and 125 psi. Fall below 60 psi and you need immediate service.
- Look over hoses and linings: You need to check linings and hoses and replace any that are damaged with cracks or general wear. Linings should not be drenched in lubricant.
At Maclin Truck & Trailer, we offer a wide range of services that focus on semi truck repair in Flagstaff, AZ. Got a blowout? Experiencing brake failure? Need commercial roadside assistance? Whatever your truck problem may be, our team can handle it. Contact us for help anytime!