14
2026
-
01
Is removing the front brake safer? Beware of the 3 major hidden risks behind it
“Should the front brakes of the tractor be removed or not?” A few days ago, while accompanying a fellow trucker to look at some vehicles, we talked about this rather old topic. A couple of years ago, removing brakes wasn’t unusual, but nowadays, with vehicle braking technology being very advanced, a small number of people still choose to remove the front brakes. Is this safe? The answer is simply: definitely not safe.
● Removing the front brakes? What's the purpose?
The braking system is one of the essential components to ensure a vehicle can decelerate and stop. In previous years, many 6x2 or 6x4 tractors would opt to remove two or four front wheel brakes. Besides ensuring the trailer doesn’t fishtail, there might also have been some intent to reduce weight.
Reducing Vehicle Weight: Once self-weighing charges were implemented, many people began racking their brains to find ways to reduce their vehicle's weight. Gradually, attention started focusing on the front wheels. People would remove the front wheel brake drums, brake shoes, brake chambers, and other parts to lighten the vehicle. Just imagine a front twin-steer 6X2 tractor—removing the braking system from the four front wheels could easily reduce the weight by a hundred to two hundred kilograms. However, this also sets the stage for serious safety hazards!
Ensure smooth braking: In the past, when vehicle braking technology was not very advanced, even with ABS anti-lock systems, the reliability of many cars' ABS was not strong, and uneven brake force distribution or locking still occurred. As a result, the vehicle could drift while braking, or there could be a significant difference in the timing of brake force synchronization between the tractor and trailer, causing the trailer to push the tractor. Examples will not be listed here.
For the above reasons, in the past couple of years, many tractor trucks chose to remove their front brakes. However, today, vehicle braking technology is very advanced. ABS has long been standard, and EBS (Electronic Braking System) along with its derivative safety technologies such as ESC and ASR have become mainstream. There is almost no need to worry about uneven brake force distribution or unsynchronized braking between the tractor and trailer. In this context, a small number of people still choose to remove the front brakes. While reducing weight can be beneficial, focusing on the front wheels in this way is definitely not a good idea.
● The long-term consequences of removing front brakes: these 3 dangers should not be ignored
Insufficient braking power: There is no doubt that after removing the front wheel brakes, the braking power will definitely be insufficient, and the braking distance will be much longer than that of regular brakes. When braking, it relies more on the braking of the main vehicle's drive wheels and the trailer's brakes, which poses a significant safety hazard.
Failing the annual inspection: During a vehicle's annual inspection, the braking performance of the whole vehicle and the braking system are tested. Without a doubt, a vehicle with the front wheel brakes removed will have a hard time passing the inspection. Even if you try to bribe someone, you're only fooling yourself.
Insurance Companies Won't Cover It: We must stay vigilant against the scenario we least want to see. In cases we've observed before, when a vehicle involved in a major traffic accident was inspected at the scene, if the vehicle had its front brakes removed, the insurance company would basically turn away without covering the claim. The reason is simple: removing the front brakes affects braking safety and is considered a deliberate action, giving the insurance company sufficient grounds to refuse compensation.
At a time when vehicles are charged by weight and overloading is strictly monitored, vehicle lightweighting is an inevitable trend. It's one thing for manufacturers to reduce vehicle weight through technical means to gain a competitive edge, and it's fine for users to find ways to reduce weight, but focusing on front brakes is far from a wise move. Safety is an unchanging principle for all of us in the trucking industry. Any modification should be based on the premise of safety; being responsible to society also means being responsible to yourself and your family!
Previous Page
Previous Page
Focus on the research and development of automotive brake systems and pneumatic brake valves to promote the development of the auto parts industry!
Contact Information
Telephone:86-575-87438928
Mobile:8613252110178
QQ：1185450863@qq.com
Address: No. 461, Advanced Village, Fengqiao Town, Zhuji, Zhejiang Province
Online message
Submit your information and we will contact you as soon as possible.