What Are Air Brakes?
Air brakes aren't typically the stopping force in your family van, commuter car or personal pickup truck. However, air brake systems are fundamental in moving people and cargo around the country and the world, or in other words, ground transportation. For example, public and private buses, heavy-duty industrial trucks, long-haul semi-trailers and even cross-country trains use air brakes, which provide several advantages that these large vehicles absolutely require.
Air brakes use compressed air instead of hydraulic fluid. Which means, they have an unlimited supply of air, and can still operate during a minor leak. Two fundamental air brake system parts are the air disc brake and the air brake drum. And before you run out of steam, let us make sure to tell you: NAPA Auto Parts is your one-stop-shop for all aftermarket air brake parts. Shop heavy-duty air brake components for work trucks (from dump trucks to tow trucks) from top brands like Bendix and Ranger Brakes.
Constantly operating in demanding conditions or putting in an exhausting amount of miles per trip, these large HD vehicles rely on frequent maintenance to their replacement air brake parts and components. For instance, air brake dryers remove water and contaminants from the air brake system to prevent rust and corrosion to prolong the life of air brake components. You can also install high-quality air brake fittings, including gladhands that are used to wrap around air coils. These connector plates provide extra strength and protection against corrosion.
How Do Air Brakes Work?
Air brake systems use an air brake compressor that is driven by the engine to build up and store air in air brake tanks at a predetermined and regulated pressure. When the brake pedal is pressed, air travels through the air brake chamber to apply pressure to the air brake drums or air brake calipers to slow or stop the vehicle. In simple terms, when you step on the brake pedal, pressure in the system is released, deploying the brakes gradually.
The high pressure actively holds back large springs that enable the emergency brake. So it is critical that this pressure is maintained. Which is why the air brake pressure switch monitors the air pressure in the brake system, and activates alarms if the pressure drops below a certain level. The air brake valve is responsible for controlling and regulating the flow of compressed air to the vehicle's brakes. An air brake relay valve speeds up the responsiveness of the back brakes on a long tractor trailer.
How To Adjust Air Brakes?
To make adjustments to air brakes, start with the air brake slack adjuster on the side of the brake chamber. For manual slack adjusters, tighten until you feel resistance, and then turn back one or two notches. This will ensure that the brake shoes are in the correct position.
The air brake part that gets the most hands-on attention is the air brake line, which is composed of tubing called the air brake hose. Keep in mind, this part is not the same as the air hose you would find in a shop connected to an air tool. The air brake hose is designed with special fittings and durable material for the rigors of the road. Replacing an air hose is fairly simple, but will require bleeding the system with an air brake bleeder.
Although air brakes operate under a lot of pressure and heat, the air brake line can still be susceptible to freezing. So truckers, don't forget about purchasing anti-freeze for winterized protection in your air brake system, which you can find at any NAPA Auto Parts.
