Brake drums help tell the critical story of overall brake performance, which is important since an overwhelming portion of violations — 45 percent during last year’s Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) Inspection Blitz — were owed to bad brakes.
In the age of ‘hurry up and get it done’ simply replacing a brake drum and shoes is not an effective way to maximize brake life, safety and productivity. Nor is it the best way to avoid costly violations and irate drivers.
“This is the second time they’ve done this to me,” said a driver recently to a Florida Highway Patrol trooper who grounded his truck for bad brakes.
The ‘they’ in this case would be the fleet that failed to ensure that the driver’s trailer had sound brakes before hitting the road. But the driver also shares responsibility since the trailer should pass his own inspection prior to hauling.
The grounded truck and its driver sat and waited at an inspection station along Interstate 10 for a tech to show up to fix the brakes. Both were still there when the trooper’s shift ended, and with a load that was going nowhere fast.
Avoiding violations not only comes from keeping brakes in adjustment it also comes from taking a close look at brake drums, which can reveal how the overall system is performing. Tossing out a drum without closely inspecting it for wear patterns and damage may mean missing vital clues that can point to issues with hardware, shoes and the smallest of road hazards like dirt and sand.
