Juratek offers brake inspection advice
Braking brand Juratek has issued guidance on some factors to consider when conducting post-winter commercial vehicle brake checks, including indicators that components may need replacing.
“The most obvious signs of faulty or tired brakes on your vehicles are reduced stopping performance, either perceived by the regular driver of the vehicle, or measured on routine brake performance tests relative to the results obtained on previous tests on the vehicle,” said Juratek.
“Other indicators that all may not be well, and that workshop investigation is necessary, is persistent noise (squeak / squeal) when braking or a ‘shudder’ when the brakes are applied.
“Periods of heavy brake use can cause accelerated brake wear and denature the resin binder of the brake pads / linings, reducing their structural strength as well as reducing their performance and stopping power.”
Brake lining materials are hygroscopic, so absorb moisture and thus can be negatively affected by water immersion or prolonged water splash; this can be particularly problematic in winter when roads are heavily salted, says Juratek.
“The consequence can be corrosion of the braking components reducing braking performance, brake binding and, in some more extreme cases, lead to crumbling and structural failure of brake pads,” said the company.
“Thus, Juratek strongly advises regular inspection of brakes during the winter period.
“Workshop inspection of the brakes is also advised after a vehicle has been stood for extended periods prior to its return to service. In addition to the risk of corrosion the brakes can ‘go to sleep’ and have a lower level of performance due to a glazed surface of the brake pads and consequently may need servicing (or replacement) to return them to their normal level of output.”
Juratek provides three different friction levels to suit all types of applications and environments: the Juratek range for all light commercial and light duty commercial applications; Synergy Red (Premium Grade), suitable for most truck and trailer applications; and Synergy Yellow (Premium Plus Grade), offering enhanced performance and pad life under more extreme operating conditions especially for bus and coach applications.
All Juratek braking products are approved to ECE R90:02 standards, and tested beyond the scope of the regulation to ensure optimum quality and performance.
For more information on common pad issues, a troubleshooting guide is available from Juratek, which can be accessed via the URL below.
