Be prepared for roadside inspections happening on September 7, 2017 for Brake Safety Day. Brake Safety Day is an annual brake safety campaign put on by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) where CMV inspectors conduct brake system inspections on large trucks and buses throughout North America to identify out-of-adjustment brakes and brake-system violations.
For more information about Brake Safety Day, visit the CVSA website.
Over the next 3 weeks, we will be sharing tips and helpful resources so that you can be fully prepared for Brake Safety Day.
Here are five tips from Bendix on ensuring Brake Safety Day goes smoothly:
What to do with an out-of-adjustment brake stroke: Wheel-ends beyond the maximum allowable brake stroke are considered out of adjustment, and drivers can incur fines if 25% of a truck’s wheel-ends are out of adjustment. The most crucial advice for fleets and drivers operating vehicles with automatic slack adjusters is not to manually adjust the ASA if the brake is beyond the stroke limit. Several factors can cause a brake stroke to exceed the maximum allowable value, including improper lubrication of the camshaft, cam tube, and clevis pins; or excessive wear of the cam head, bushings, and rollers. None of these are fixed by manual readjustment of an automatic slack adjuster.
How to keep the air system clean: Contamination – and oil, in particular – can contribute to premature damage of key components such as brake modulating valves and brake chamber diaphragms. And oil-deteriorated seals can cause air system leaks, which are a target of Operation Airbrake inspections. Monthly checks for moisture in the air brake system, along with installation and regular replacement of oil-coalescing air dryer cartridges such as Bendix PuraGuard will help ensure proper operation of the air brake system.
How to read and address fault codes: A commercial vehicle’s dashboard ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) warning lamp conveys information on problems with the ABS system, such as wheel speed sensors, while the traction control/stability control lamp provides information regarding the traction control and stability systems (if the vehicle is equipped with these systems). The blinking light fault codes for both systems are accessed using the dashboard diagnostic switch or a remote diagnostic unit. By referring to the fault code information in the service data sheet, a driver or technician can pinpoint and repair specific sensor issues.
How to conduct effective visual inspections: Pre-trip inspections are the first level of vehicle maintenance and are essential to brake system safety and performance. Drivers should walk around the vehicle and look for obvious problems such as loose hoses and leaks, and check air disc brake rotors for cracks. For drum brakes without dust shields installed, this is a good opportunity to check the lining wear, which can be done without removing the wheel. It’s not necessary to get under the vehicle before every trip; once or twice a week should suffice.
The condition and quality of brake friction: Inspect brake linings for thickness, cracks, and wear – all of which affect stopping power and CSA scores.