![]() ![]() “Push rod length is something like voodoo,” he joked. This issue is caused by an incorrect push rod length, Mineault said. ‘ I received a DOT warning because my push rod lengths were greater than 6.4 mm or ¼ inch‘Īfter a brake chamber is replaced, fleets might find that brakes are not properly applying and releasing on the same axle. Some suppliers have addressed this issue by introducing larger holes and Teflon or plastic discs, Mineault said, but that still doesn’t ensure the optimal 90-degree angle, so the push rod will continue to rub against the diaphragm and service housing. The arm span of the slack adjuster is measured from the center of the camshaft to the clevis pin. In the case of the bracket holes, the top position would be for a five-inch slack adjuster, the bottom position is for a six-inch slack adjuster, and the holes are used diagonally in the case of a 5.5-inch slack adjuster. Signs of that issue can be found in the warranty bin, with chambers showing signs that the push rod filed a hole in the service housing. “Every time the push rod is extended out, because it’s not a perfect 90 degree (angle), it gets hung up in the hole,” Mineault said. The brake chamber was likely installed on the wrong axle bracket holes, or the slack adjuster is the wrong length. Have you even installed a new brake chamber only to find that the push rod moves out when air pressure is applied but doesn’t return all the way in when the air pressure is released? If it is sticking out by ¾ to 1 inch and can be pushed all the way in with a little bit of hand pressure, there’s likely a common cause. ![]() A distorted hole in the housing could be a sign that a brake chamber was installed using the wrong bracket holes. ![]() Here are five significant issues – and how to fix them. 5 common brake chamber issuesĪs far as the brake chambers have evolved, there are still maintenance issues to address. “Cutting a push rod was as significant an issue as the clocking was,” Mineault says. The Rapid Exchange Pushrod (REX), meanwhile, came in 2018 to ensure that all push rods are the proper length based on the suspension. Given that brake adjustment continues to be an ongoing issue during roadside inspections, MGM launched its E-Stroke brake chamber in 2001, converting activity in the chamber to an electronic signal which determined if brake stroke was within normal limits.įor its part, TSE Brakes launched its Variable Clocking Technology in 2016, preventing service side air leaks when orienting the brake chamber’s inlet ports. Haldex took things a step further in 1997 with internal breathing elements to allow filtered air to circulate between the service and parking chambers. MGM introduced a fully sealed brake chamber that same year, using external tubes to exchange air between the service and parking housings. Looking to address the threat of contaminants, Anchorlok introduced a breathable Gore-Tex dust plug. Integrated caging bolts came at the same time. Midland Brake followed in 1995 with long stroke brake chambers to help keep brakes adjusted for a longer periods of time and maintaining some level of braking if the drums expanded because of overheating. In 1961, MGM introduced a crimped parking side on the tandem chamber, making the parking side of the chamber tamper-proof, and ensuring nobody could disassemble the parking side of the brake and release more than 1,200 lb. This allowed heavy vehicles to stop if there were drops in the air system, and it also introduced a secure parking brake controlled by a dash valve.īut good things were made better. Looking to address issues with logging trucks that were losing control as they traveled down mountain grades, MGM introduced the first spring brake in 1956. George Westinghouse created the first air brake chambers in 1869 to address stopping challenges for locomotives. (Photo: TSE Brakes) How brake chambers have evolved Brake chambers have evolved to address many maintenance issues. “There are thousands of people who have contributed to whatever happens in a brake chamber,” said TSE Brakes Canadian sales manager Alain Mineault, during a presentation for the Canadian Transportation Equipment Association (CTEA). Many issues have been addressed over time with the rollout of related advances in the components themselves. But there are clear solutions to some common challenges. The components can seem like chambers of secrets. Problems with brake chambers can leave mechanics baffled. ![]()
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