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Don't panic if the truck veers when braking; remember these few handy tips
Brake pull is a common vehicle malfunction. Many truck drivers pay close attention to it at first, but sometimes even after repairs the problem reoccurs. Repeated repairs, combined with the possibility that the misalignment is not severe, can lead to fatigue in maintenance, eventually causing accidents. Many truck drivers probably know real cases where brake pull has led to accidents.
▎Four major causes of failures: the main problem lies in torque
There are mainly four causes of brake pull. The first is a large difference in tire pressure between the two sides, which leads to imbalance on the left and right sides of the vehicle and causes brake pull due to the difference in friction.
The second reason may be that the wear levels of the left and right tires are inconsistent, resulting in a significant difference in friction and causing braking deviation.
The third reason is that for models without brake clearance self-adjusting arms, the brake clearance difference between the left and right wheels is too large, causing the braking times to differ from the very beginning. Different response times can lead to braking deviation.
The fourth reason is vehicle deviation caused by different braking torques. Large differences in braking torque are mainly due to variations in brake air pressure, uneven wear of brake linings, or oil contamination on brake shoes or discs (for disc brake vehicles).
▎ Increased probability of scraping and skidding - brake deviation is terrifyingAfter clarifying the possible factors causing brake deviation, let's talk about the potential dangers. Here's a true case involving someone I know.At that time, he was driving a 9.6-meter, small three-axle cargo truck. After unloading cargo in Pingliang, Gansu, he was returning empty to Tianshui, Gansu, in a hurry to pick up a load. He was driving a bit fast because there was no highway from Tianshui to Pingliang, only a national road. While taking a curve that required slowing down, he hit the brakes abruptly. The front brake deviated, causing the vehicle to skid, and he lost control, crashing into a hillside. Fortunately, there were no other vehicles nearby; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable. Ultimately, the cab was crushed, the front tire burst and got stuck in a drainage ditch, and repairing the truck cost a lot of money. Including the loss of work time, the total loss was at least 30,000-40,000 yuan.
In most cases, when the brakes pull to one side, people usually just adjust the brake clearance slightly and keep testing, without conducting thorough maintenance. Only when an accident occurs, or when the vehicle fails an inspection, do they think about repairing it. It would be better to check and maintain it earlier, as ensuring safety is more important.
▎How to Maintain and Repair: Remember a Few Handy Tips
First, when inflating the tires, pay attention to maintaining balanced tire pressure. Generally, the tire pressure of our trucks is around 12-13 psi. If there is braking deviation, you can check whether any tire is slowly losing air, leading to insufficient pressure, and it should be repaired or inflated in time.
After a truck has been in operation for a while, the tire wear should be checked. To save money, drivers often make full use of their tires, sometimes even using them when the tread is completely worn down. At this point, tire rotation should be carried out to ensure that the wear on the left and right sides is as even as possible, which helps balance braking. For example, if the rear tires are more worn, the front tires can be moved to the rear (assuming the front and rear tires are the same specification) to help balance the friction on both sides.
Driving a vehicle without an automatic slack adjuster requires us truck drivers to routinely adjust the brake clearance. If our brake response times vary, we need to adjust the brake clearance to balance the brake response times, ensuring the overall braking force is balanced. If repeatedly adjusting the brake clearance does not effectively alleviate this issue, it is necessary to go to a service station or repair shop promptly to have the vehicle inspected, checking whether the entire brake system is contaminated with oil, if there are faults in the brake air lines, or if the brake friction pads are excessively worn and uneven.
● Editor's NoteBrake pull issues may not seem very serious at first glance, but they shouldn't be underestimated. Even if nothing happens, it can be nerve-wracking, but once an incident occurs, it can easily lead to loss of vehicle control and cause incalculable damage. Therefore, as soon as a vehicle shows any abnormalities that affect safety or normal use, it should be taken for inspection and repair immediately—do not delay! A minor problem at first could eventually become a 'cancer' if neglected!
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