Keeping The Brakes On Your Truck In Good Working Order
Posted on: 21 September 2018
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No matter what you drive, brakes are one of the most important systems in your vehicle. When you drive a heavy truck that hauls heavy loads or pulls a trailer, the brakes are put under a lot more stress so it is important to take care of them and keep everything maintained properly. Where you take your truck and what the service is important when you are dealing with heavy-duty brake systems.
When Should I Have My Brakes Serviced?
While there are some recommendations about brake service from the manufacturer of your heavy-duty truck, it is impossible to know when the brakes will wear to the point that they need to be replaced. The rate at which the brakes will wear is heavily affected by the way you drive, the weight of the loads you move, or the trailer you pull. The best solution is to have the brakes checked every time you have the oil changed. If you have the tires rotated with your oil change, the brakes are easy to inspect visually while the tires are off and most technicians don't mind quickly looking at them for you.
What Needs To Be Serviced?
The brake system is complex in some ways but keeping them working right is not. The parts of the system that will wear over time are the brake pads and shoes because they do all the work to stop the vehicle. The brake pads are found on the front of the truck and consists of pads with backing plates made of metal that have a friction material on them. When you press the brake pedal, they squeeze the brake rotor and slow the wheels of the truck. In the rear is a similar system but often it uses shoes and a drum that they are inside rather than a rotor. The pads, shoes, rotors, and drums are all going to need to replaced at some point in the life of your truck.
Other Parts To Check
When the brake system is being serviced, it is a good idea to check the brake lines, (especially the flexible high-pressure lines at the wheels), the master cylinder, the wheel cylinders, and the calipers for any signs of leaking. If you have a leak, the pressure in the system will drop and air can enter the lines causing brake fade or failure. If brake fluid gets on the pads or shoes, it will damage the friction material and cause them to break down. The result could be a failure of the pads or shoe and could make the truck hard to stop. Have the system checked front to back, a couple times a year and if you feel like the brakes are not working properly, take it in for service as soon as possible.
Contact a shop, like Godfrey Brake Service & Supply, for more help.