There’s nothing more important than being safe on the roads, especially when you are operating a heavy vehicle. Making sure you have working parts is crucial; this means regular maintenance and knowing how key features of your truck, like the brake system, work. Automatic slack adjuster tool
Drum Brakes
Drum brakes are one of the most common braking systems. Relatively inexpensive to manufacture and with emergency brake mechanisms able to be implemented with ease, they’re a preferred brake type for many larger vehicles. While they do offer lot of benefits, they have a lot of separate parts that can mean they require special attention.
Because of the drum brakes design, it can provide far more force than other brake mechanisms, making it perfect for large trucks and other heavy vehicles.
A drum brake is comprised of two brake shoes, a piston, an adjustor and emergency brake mechanism and springs. Working the piston with the pedal pushes the brake shoes against the drum, creating friction and bringing you to a stop.
An automatic adjuster keeps the shoes in place as they wear down, ensuring they are close enough to the drum without making contact when not in use. Modern drum brakes are even capable of self-adjusting based on the load that you are carrying. This means that trucks never need to worry about their brakes being ineffective because they’re hauling too much.
Checking Your Drum Brakes
Regular servicing is crucial to ensuring your vehicle is safe for operation on the road. The more you drive, the more worn down your brake shoes become – changing the brake shoes is the most common service required. Some drum brakes even often an inspection hole where you can check whether or not the shoes have to be replaced, but it’s always a good idea to have them checked every six months.
If you don’t replace the shoes frequently, braking becomes ineffective and the rivets that hold the shoe in place can damage the drum. When the drum becomes damaged by these rivets, it can often means a complete replacement as opposed to replacing just the shoes.
Keep your truck or heavy vehicle operating at its best by having your vehicle serviced regularly. Maintenance and the proper care for your vehicle and its components is the main thing keeping you and other road users safe. Look to work with an automotive company that can get you OEM parts so that you can ensure better and safer operation.