Home » Training » Trailer Glossary » Air Brake System Typical Tractor and Trailer Air Brake System Illustrated by Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems Air Brake System An Air Brake system is a critical component used in heavy-duty trailers to ensure safe and effective braking. This system uses air as a medium for transmitting pressure or force from the driver control to a trailer’s brake components. Key Trailer Air Brake Components Air Compressor: Generates compressed air.Air Tank (Reservoir): Stores compressed air.Brake Pedal: Activates the braking mechanism.Valves: Controls the flow of compressed air.Brake Chambers: Converts compressed air into mechanical force.Brake Drums: Generates braking force to slow or stop the vehicle.Brake Shoes or Pads: Applies pressure to the drums or rotors to create friction and stop the trailer.Camshaft: Spreads brake shoes apart to apply pressure to the drums.Slack Adjusters: Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on X (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)