By Lucas Deal, Editor
lucasdeal@randallreilly.com
Brake Shop
Safety
first
Helpful tips
for conducting
brake inspections
Y
ou're driving on the interstate
in a major city. There's some
open road in front of you, and
a Class 8 unit creeping up in
your rearview mirror.
Both of you are moving at safe speeds,
slightly below the posted speed limit, but
traffic is heavy and other motorists aren't
as responsible.
Without warning, a car cuts in front
you. No turn signal, no wave, just right
past your front left fender and into your
lane. If that's not enough, as soon as
they cut you off traffic stalls and they're
forced to slow down.
You hit the brakes. You have to.
Through no fault of your own, you've
made the brakes in the truck behind you
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TPS0513PG023-26_Brake Inspection.indd 23
the most important thing in your world.
If they work, you never notice them.
The truck stops, the car in front of you
speeds up again and you're on your way.
But what if they don't?
In situations like this, the importance
of maintaining a truck's braking system
is obvious. For service facilities that
perform braking system maintenance
and repairs, scenarios like this are important reminders of what's at stake every
time they work on a vehicle.
The braking system doesn't just stop
the truck — it keeps all of us safe.
"I think there is a lot of awareness
right now about braking systems, and
Helpful brake inspection
Recommended Practices
RP 604B - Brake Chambers for
Air-Braked Vehicles
RP 607B - Service and
Inspection of S-Cam Brake
Systems
RP 608A - Brake Drums and
Rotors
RP 609B - Manual and Automatic
Slack Adjuster Removal,
Installation and Maintenance
RP 622A - Wheel Seal and
Bearing Removal, Installation
and Maintenance
RP 627 - Brake Lining
Structural Defects
To read each RP, go to www.tmc.truckline.com.
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4/23/13 1:00 PM
