Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems has released its newest issue of Bendix Tech Tips, addressing common misconceptions found in the service industry regarding wheel-end maintenance.
“Long-held maintenance practices aren’t always best practices. Some are myths – around inspections, adjustments, and spec’ing replacement parts – and following them can cause problems in a vehicle’s most critical safety system,” says Keith McComsey, BSFB director of marketing and customer solutions.
“During this year’s Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) International Roadcheck, nearly 25 percent of the vehicles inspected were placed out of service, and more than four out of 10 of those vehicles placed out of service were attributed to brake-related violations. That number can be reduced by recognizing and rethinking misconceptions around wheel-end maintenance.”
Bendix outlines five of the most common misconceptions as follows:
MYTH: Air Disc Brakes Need to Be Inspected Only Once Yearly
Fact: Air disc brakes (ADB) should be inspected at every preventive maintenance (PM) inspection.
“Among their benefits, air disc brakes have extended service intervals for friction or rotor replacement when compared to drum brakes, but this does not mean that ADB maintenance intervals get extended too,” McComsey says. “Inspecting at every preventive maintenance inspection is still required to make sure everything is in good working order – it’s this regular activity that contributes to the brake’s longevity. Most of these PM inspections do not even require removal of the wheel, making it a quick, easy process.”
