3 Tips For Maintaining Your Brakes

Brakes are one of the most vital features for any vehicle, but even more so for big rigs and trailers. Your safety, and the safety of others traveling on the same road depend on having a working and maintained brake system. Having old, worn-out brakes that aren’t properly maintained can put everyone risk at risk. Follow these three basic tips year-round and you’ll be sure that you can count on your brakes when the situation calls.

  1. Slack Adjusters
    Make sure you constantly check that the slack adjusters, which need to be greased with a good lithium grease often. Many truck drivers and owners forget just how important they are, as they are instrumental to turning the shaft that leads to your truck actually stopping when you press on the brakes. Forgetting to maintain them will lead to your brakes failing sooner rather than later.
  1. Replace Components
    Brake pads, shoes, drums, rotors, and other brake components should be replaced every 40,000 miles, according to all of the industry experts. While that specifically applies to the pads, it is generally recommended that you service all of the other components at the same time, as it will cost uneven wear and tear if you mix new and used ones.
  2. ABS
    Monitor your Anti-Lock Breaking System to ensure that it is working properly. Your dashboard should show if you there are any ABS errors ongoing. If so, it is vital to get it inspected by an expert (such as the ones at J&M Truck & Trailer Repair) immediately. It’s often the result of a sensor or another faulty component, but it is vital to have checked out.

If you follow these tips on a regular basis, you will certainly have functional brakes every time you hit the road. While they may not mean much 99% of the time, it’s that 1% where you are required to make a hard stop when you will be thankful you did follow the tips.

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