BENDIX TECH TIPS: WINTER AND WHEEL-ENDS
Preventive Maintenance Helps Ensure Safe Braking Operation
ELYRIA, Ohio – (Trailer Technician) – Commercial vehicle braking systems are vital to driver and highway safety year-round – but even more so in winter, when road and weather conditions across North America make it even more imperative to have properly maintained components at the wheel-ends. This installment of the Bendix Tech Tips Series focuses on preventive maintenance practices to keep brakes in good working condition when cold, snow, and ice are the order of the day.
“Safety systems like full stability and collision mitigation can be valuable on winter roads, but they perform at their best only when the brakes at the wheel-ends are also in peak condition to deliver stopping power,” said Keith McComsey, director of marketing and customer solutions, Wheel-End, at Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake, a joint venture between Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC and Dana Commercial Vehicle Products, LLC. “The right preventive maintenance practices can make all the difference.”
Winter Wheel-End Maintenance – Take a Good Look
Inspect air brake chamber housings for damage or corrosion and ensure that dust plugs are properly installed and seated. On air-disc-braked wheel-ends, check for cuts or tears on the protective boots.
“What you’re looking for here is anything that could allow corrosive materials to take hold,” McComsey explained. “Not just water, but things like harsh chemicals used to treat winter roads. Excessive corrosion of the chamber can lead to failure of the housing, and ripped or punctured boots can allow contaminants and moisture to get into an air disc brake caliper, causing corrosion and long-term damage.”
Air disc brake guide pins should also be inspected for slidability, and the shear adaptor cover needs to be in place and fully seated. Preparing air disc brakes for winter weather also means checking that the pads move freely in the carrier – if not, remove them and clean the carrier surface with a wire brush – and making sure the brake moves freely on its guidance system, which should be replaced if movement is restricted.
Winter Wheel-End Maintenance – Lessons in Lubrication
Effective lubrication is key in combating winter corrosion, particularly when it comes to automatic slack adjusters (ASA), according to McComsey.
“When you force new lubricant into an ASA, you’re achieving two goals,” he said. “First, you’re purging the old grease, along with any water or contaminants that found their way in; and second, you’re protecting the adjuster’s internal gear sets, clutches, and other components from wear.”
Lubricating an ASA is simple, requiring a technician to just locate the adjuster’s grease fitting, attach the hose from a grease gun, and inject new grease until old grease is forced through the release opening. (The release location varies depending on the ASA make and model.) The process should take less than a minute per adjuster.
Slack adjusters that don’t receive regular greasing may not maintain the correct brake stroke and provide optimal stopping power – a direct impact on safety.
Clevis pin connections, cam tubes, shafts, and bushings should also be lubricated to keep winter moisture at bay and prevent corrosion.
“Truck drivers have a lot to watch out for when they’re out on the roads in winter,” McComsey said. “The right wheel-end practices in the shop can help deliver peace of mind when it comes to their brakes.”
Information in the Bendix Tech Tips series can be found in the Bendix multimedia center at knowledge-dock.com. Further instructional videos and interactive training on wheel-end technologies are available at the Bendix On-Line Brake School, www.brake-school.com. For more information on wheel-end maintenance, contact the Bendix Tech Team at 1-800-AIR-BRAKE.
About the Bendix Tech Tips Series
Bendix, the North American leader in the development and manufacture of leading-edge active safety, air management, and braking system technologies, is committed to helping keep commercial vehicles on the road and in good working condition. The Bendix Tech Tips series addresses common commercial vehicle maintenance questions and issues concerning the total range of components found within foundation and air brake systems, as well as advanced safety systems.
About Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, a member of the Knorr-Bremse Group, develops and supplies leading-edge active safety technologies, energy management solutions, and air brake charging and control systems and components under the Bendix® brand name for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, tractors, trailers, buses, and other commercial vehicles throughout North America. An industry pioneer, employing more than 3,200 people, Bendix is driven to deliver solutions for improved vehicle safety, performance, and overall operating cost. Contact us at 1-800-AIR-BRAKE (1-800-247-2725) or visit bendix.com. Stay connected and informed through Bendix expert podcasts, blog posts, videos, and other resources at knowledge-dock.com. Follow Bendix on Twitter at twitter.com/Bendix_CVS. Log on and learn from the Bendix experts at brake-school.com. And to learn more about career opportunities at Bendix, visit bendix.com/careers.
About Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLC
Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLC (BSFB) combines and expands the complementary wheel-end foundation brake technologies of two global leaders – Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC and Dana Commercial Vehicle Products, LLC. The joint venture, formed in July 2004, is a single, complete source for OEM brake system design, manufacturing, hardware, and support for all foundation brake components and actuation systems, as well as all-makes coverage of nearly 50,000 medium- and heavy-duty aftermarket parts. Contact us at 1-866-610-9709 or visit foundationbrakes.com. Stay connected and informed through Bendix expert podcasts, blog posts, videos, and other resources at knowledge-dock.com. Follow Bendix on Twitter at twitter.com/Bendix_CVS. Log on and learn from the Bendix experts at brake-school.com. And to learn more about career opportunities at Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake, visit bendix.com/careers.