Braking safely with Diesel Technic
CV components provider Diesel Technic has emphasised the importance of ensuring the quality and safety of replacement parts for braking systems.
“Quality and safety doesn’t just happen – it evolves over many hours of testing and research,” said Mark Todd, general manager, Diesel Technic UK & Ireland (pictured, right).
“For Diesel Technic and its brands DT Spare Parts and Siegel Automotive, high quality standards are guaranteed thanks to its rigorous Diesel Technic Quality System (DTQS).
“At the company’s headquarters in Germany, over 50 employees work at the DTQS test centre. Here, performance and lifetime tests are conducted under laboratory conditions and in the field to evaluate environmental and real installation situations.”
When it comes to brake safety, says Mark, there can be no compromise.
“The braking system is the most important safety component in your vehicle and, as many brake parts are subject to exceptionally high stresses and wear, only quality components can ensure optimum performance and reliability,” he said.
“Following a regular preventative maintenance schedule is key. Brake hoses, for example, are safety-relevant components and should be tested during any vehicle maintenance. They are used as flexible connections at moving points between the body and chassis and serve to transfer the brake fluid.
“DT Spare Parts brake hoses comply with DIN SAE J1401 and therefore meet huge requirements in terms of compressive strength, load capacity and durability.”
DT Spare Parts brake hoses feature a special rubber compound and an internal braiding which serves as a significant reinforcement, says Mark, while mounting brackets and precisely-fitting connecting pieces enable optimal installation.
Lars Mesloh, of Diesel Technic’s Parts Specialists team, recommends that before the hose is replaced, technicians should first check for contamination, water content and, if necessary, rinse.
“The new brake hose is screwed manually into the thread on the side with the external thread and mounted with the torque specified by the manufacturer,” Lars said.
“Then the brake hose with the three holders must be aligned tension-free and care must be taken that no chafe marks can occur on the brake hose. After the other side has been fitted and the brake system vented, a final leak and function test must be carried out.”
As one of the most safety critical wear parts in a vehicle, brake drums are subject to extreme mechanical and thermal stresses, says Mark Todd.
“They provide a friction surface for the brake pads and convert kinetic energy into heat, whereby the vehicle is braked.
“DT Spare Parts brake drums are made of high-quality cast iron, which delivers outstanding thermal properties, as well as good damping properties and resistance to deformation.
“A uniform wall thickness helps to ensure an even distribution of the brake load, and is achieved thanks to a precisely controlled casting process. Precision machining of the brake track ensures the prevention of vibrations and brake judder during the braking process.”
Furthermore, DT Spare Parts brake drums are cooled at a controlled temperature after casting and automatically balanced, Mark adds, in order to guarantee a long service life.
Lars Mesloh added: “Brake drums may only be machined down by maximum 2mm in the inner diameter, and should always be replaced together with the linings and always axle-wise. An upwards and downwards movement when braking can be due to an out-of-round form of the brake drum. In this case, replacement of the brake drum is recommended.”
The DT Spare Parts brand comprises over 40,000 parts including braking system components for trucks, trailers and buses, with DTQS underwriting a 24-month guarantee.
The company’s international Parts Specialists team is dedicated to supporting workshops and fleets with practical help and advice, offering videos (at www.ps-web.tv), assembly instructions and product training across the DT Spare Parts and Siegel Automotive parts and accessories brands.
