{"id":2105,"date":"2019-06-26T17:42:28","date_gmt":"2019-06-26T17:42:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quicktransportsolutions.com\/blog\/?p=2105"},"modified":"2019-06-26T17:42:31","modified_gmt":"2019-06-26T17:42:31","slug":"the-fleet-technicians-log-how-to-evaluate-brake-linings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quicktransportsolutions.com\/blog\/the-fleet-technicians-log-how-to-evaluate-brake-linings\/","title":{"rendered":"The Fleet Technician\u2019s Log: How to Evaluate Brake Linings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome to QuickTSI\u2019s latest blog series, The Technician\u2019s Log. In our Technician\u2019s Log posts, we are going to look at complex issues facing fleet technicians, day-in and day-out. Whether it be related to the latest engine technology, how to service an AMT, or the latest trends in big rig maintenance, we are speaking directly to the men and women in the shop that make sure a motor carrier\u2019s vital equipment stays road-ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In our first installment in the series, we are going to take\na deep dive into a real wonky topic: Brake liners. While it may seem like a dry\ntopic to most, for a shop technician, understanding edge markings on a brake\nlining material and knowing how to maintain linings are critical aspects of the\njob. Since edge markings indicate who made a brake liner, what it\u2019s made of,\nand its coefficient of friction, this information s vital to the proper\nfunctioning of a vehicle\u2019s brakes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s About More than\nStopping Distance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buying brake linings for a heavy-duty commercial motor\nvehicle involves a huge range of choice. From size to color, fit, material, and\nstyle, there is no shortage of considerations. It is also important that\nfront-line technicians evaluate the application in which the brakes will be\nused, the rig\u2019s configuration, and the trade-in timeline. To be short, there\nare a lot<\/em> of things to evaluate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, for many fleets the primary consideration is the\nbottom line. How high a piece of equipment costs is generally the first thing a\nfleet manager or procurement officer thinks about before making a bit\npurchasing decision. Yet, far too often motor carriers sacrifice performance to\nkeep costs low, a most unfortunate decision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider this: Eight years ago, the federal government\nchanged the stopping distance requirement for heavy-duty commercial motor\nvehicles. This change resulted in approximately 80 feet being shaved off the\nallowed stopping distance. While manufacturers were quick to change their build\nrequirements to accommodate this change, it is worth noting that the new\nregulations only apply to new vehicles off the line, not vehicles currently in\nservice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to existing vehicles, one need only look at 49 CSR 393.40<\/a>. If you\nread the text carefully, you will see that the only the thing the requirement\nstates is that vehicles must be maintained in compliance with the rules and\nstandards that were in effect at their build date. This regulation includes\nbrake linings and stopping distances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The problem? The rule exists, but how do authorities enforce\nit? Even during an audit, it is unlikely investigators will have a log handy\nhelping them determine stopping distances based on manufacturing date. This\nallows fleets to essentially do what they want, including buying cheap brake\nlinings and smiling as they save a few pennies doing so. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, this is a counter-intuitive strategy. When a\nmotor carrier invests in advanced safety technologies and systems, is it really\nwise to then outfit their vehicles with sub-par brake linings? If a motor\ncarrier changes out original friction to save a buck, they could see major\nproblems with electronic systems down the road. Investments in advanced\nsafety technologies<\/a> fly out the window when corners are cut in other areas.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If there is one area that should get any trucking company\u2019s\nattention, it is this: Litigation. Do you think plaintiff\u2019s attorneys won\u2019t be\naware of cheap brake linings result in a compromised safety system, which leads\nto a collision? The last thing any motor carrier wants is to find themselves in\ncourt trying to explain why their decision to outfit cheap, aftermarket brake\nlinings led to an avoidable accident, even if the brakes had nothing to do with\nthe accident. Good plaintiff\u2019s attorneys zero in on any obvious indiscretion they\ncan, and juries are inclined to listen. The motor carrier is always at a\ndisadvantage in court. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to Look for in a\nBrake Lining<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now that we have covered how important something as simple\nas a brake lining is, we want to offer some procurement advice. Brake linings\nare all about friction; they must have enough of it to effectively stop the\nvehicle. But they also must wear at a rate that makes them cost-effective.\nCheaper varieties also may inadvertently put strain on drums and rotors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although an aggressive lining might decrease the vehicle\u2019s\nstopping distance, it could cause damage to other brake parts. Not only do you\nneed to consider the cost of the lining, you need to consider the cost of your\ndrums and rotors, which are generally far more expensive. Yet, on the flipside,\nlinings that provide less friction or focus on a quieter ride may be more\nshort-lived or less effective. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sure, it is important that a brake pad lasts a long time, but rarely does a rotor salesperson talk about what kind of impact their product will have on the rest of the system. Instead, they will talk up the benefits of wear performance and stopping distance. Then, when the rubber hits the road, fleets wind up with excessive heat transfer and eventual stress cracks in the rotors. Too much stress could exceed allowable limits and take the vehicle out of service. At worst, the rotor could rupture while the vehicle is in use and result in an unfortunate situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As with any other procurement situation, it is critical that\nlinings and pads are purchased based on the desired application. Is your fleet\nrunning long-haul freight? There are specific brakes for that. Is your fleet\nrunning a refuse hauler or tanker? There are specific brake requirements for\nthose applications as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting the formula right for the application is not just a\nmatter of desire, it is a critical matter of safety and compliance. Brake\nlining formulas are designed for different purposes, whether it be for carrying\nsuper-heavy loads or accommodating frequent stops. Operators running in dense\nurban environments know this all too well, as pedestrian interaction requires\nquick stopping. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Making Procurement Decisions<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Procurement managers are not technicians, which is why it is\ncritical that the consult with the shop to determine what the appropriate\npurchasing decision is. Any technician worth their salt should know that lining\nand pad materials are marked with letters and numbers, which are referred to as\nedge codes. These codes signify:<\/p>\n\n\n\n