Technically speaking, the winter solstice hasn’t arrived. But for all intents and purposes, with plummeting temperatures, snow and ice are already impacting large parts of North America, so it’s time to make sure trucks and fleets are prepared. We’ve talked in generalities about safety reminders and ways to be prepared for storms. This week we offer specific ways to focus on air systems, electric and controls, and wheel ends.
These ideas come from the expertise of Richard Nagel, Bendix director of marketing and customer solutions, Fred Andersky, Bendix director of marketing and customer solutions, and Keith McComsey, Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake director of marketing and customer solutions.
1. Why you need to keep it dry. Moisture in the air system can condense and freeze, increasing the odds of brake and valve malfunctions. If the air dryer cartridge hasn’t been replaced in time out of mind, there’s no time like the present. Oil-coalescing cartridges are generally recommended over oil aerosols because the aerosol can be harmful to the system.
2. Check the dryer’s purge valve for corrosion or grit accumulation and replace it if necessary. Corrosive road chemicals can damage the purge valve, and putting in a new one as a safeguard is a relatively quick and simple bit of preventive maintenance.
3. Manually drain the air tanks to start the season. Today’s vehicles use compressed air for more non-braking functions, including automated manual transmissions (AMTs), advanced safety systems, and emissions controls. Draining every three months is generally sufficient for typical line haul trucks, but more often – monthly or even weekly – is recommended for vehicles with high air demand, like vocational trucks.
4. Unless it’s an emergency, avoid using de-icing solutions on an air system: They can corrode O-rings and valve seals. If one must be used, limit the exposure to as small an area as possible and keep an eye on the affected parts.
5. Remember that driver assistance technologies, like stability and collision mitigation, rely on maintenance of lower level systems like tires and the brakes to ensure performance in the field. Maintaining these systems is especially critical in winter when electronic systems may be called on more often to help mitigate crashes. Check tires for adequate tread depth and proper wear, and wheel-ends for tight bolts and cracks.
6. Run a diagnostic check to make sure tire pressure monitoring systems are operating properly. Internal and external temperature swings, along with slick road conditions, make running on the right tire pressure exceedingly important in the winter.
7. Keep external cameras and radar sensors, forward-mounted collision mitigation units, for instance, clear of snow and ice by checking them immediately prior to getting on the road.
8. Check connections to ensure they are secure and watertight. Salt and other road chemicals can cause corrosion, which can ruin connectors and components.
9. Check air brake chamber housings for corrosion or damage that could allow corrosive materials to take hold and ensure that dust plugs are properly installed.
10. On drum-braked wheel-ends, lubricate the automatic slack adjusters, clevis pin connections, cam tubes, shafts, and bushings. Lubrication is an effective tool for combatting corrosion, since it keeps moisture at bay.
11. On wheel-ends with air disc brakes, check the guide pins and inspect the boots for tears or punctures that could permit corrosion of the caliper within. Replace any pins or boots as needed. Verify that the shear adaptor cover is in place and fully seated.
12. Ensure free movement of air disc brake pads in the carrier by removing them and cleaning the carrier surface with a wire brush, if necessary, and make sure that the brake moves freely on its guidance system.
Winter hazards can ruin a driver’s or fleet’s day, and they don’t always take the form of things like blizzards or icy roads. Maintenance and upkeep efforts in the shop and on the road can keep vehicles running smoothly and safely. Hammer down, and be careful out there!