Air Brake Manual
Air Brake Manual
Air Brake Manual
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Disc <strong>Brake</strong>s<br />
The air-activated heavy truck disc brake is similar in<br />
principle to that used on passenger vehicles. <strong>Air</strong><br />
pressure acts on a brake chamber and slack<br />
adjuster, activating the brakes. Instead of the cam or<br />
wedge used in conventional heavy truck drum<br />
brakes, a “power screw” is used. A power screw<br />
works like a C-clamp, so that the lining pads exert<br />
equal force to both sides of the disc or rotor. Some<br />
types of disc brakes have a built-in automatic<br />
adjuster. Disc brakes that require manual<br />
adjustment have adjustment specifications that<br />
differ from conventional S-cam braking systems.<br />
Always check the manufacturer’s specifications<br />
before adjusting. Disc brake assemblies may have a<br />
spring parking brake unit attached to the service<br />
brake chamber.<br />
Disc <strong>Brake</strong><br />
<strong>Air</strong>-Over-Hydraulic <strong>Brake</strong> Systems<br />
<strong>Air</strong> over hydraulic brake systems were developed<br />
for medium weight vehicles because:<br />
· diesel engines do not have a source for vacuum<br />
boosting unless they are equipped with a vacuum<br />
pump.<br />
· medium weight vehicles do not require a full air<br />
brake system.<br />
· it gives the option of pulling an air brake equipped<br />
trailer.<br />
These systems combine the best features of an air<br />
and hydraulic brake system. They use hydraulic<br />
brakes at each wheel with their reliable self<br />
adjusters and limited maintenance. On these<br />
systems the air is used to either actuate the<br />
hydraulic brakes or boost the hydraulic brake<br />
pressure as explained in the following.<br />
<strong>Air</strong> Actuated Hydraulic <strong>Brake</strong> System<br />
(<strong>Air</strong> <strong>Brake</strong> Endorsement Required)<br />
An air actuated system usually has the same<br />
components of a standard air supply system<br />
including a warning buzzer and light, compressor,<br />
governor, wet and dry reservoirs, and a foot valve<br />
that could be a single or dual type. These<br />
components are found usually in the same places as<br />
on a full air brake system. Also there are one or two<br />
air actuated hydraulic pressure converters<br />
depending on if the system is a single or a dual<br />
system. This system consists of an air chamber or<br />
cylinder attached to a hydraulic master cylinder.<br />
When the foot valve is depressed, the air pressure<br />
actuates the pushrod from the air unit that pushes<br />
against the master cylinder piston, producing<br />
hydraulic pressure directed through tubing to the<br />
wheel cylinders actuating the front and rear axle<br />
service brakes.<br />
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