I didn't say it wouldn't fail; I said it's unlikely that it will fail. There are levels of "likely to fail" - like airplanes. Air brakes and airplanes are built to the same high standard of unlikely to fail. And if they do fail, there are failsafes that will get you stopped in the unlikely event that the machine does fail. All the best, Cheers Rick
@@smartdrivetest IT SAYS IN THE TITLE OF YOUR VIDIO THAT 'Air breaks won't fail" NOT "Air breaks are unlikely to fail" but yes there are things that can stop runaway trucks on interstate highways
You're splitting hairs my friend. If air brakes were prone to failure, they wouldn't put this system on school buses. And almost all the time that there's a runaway truck on the highway, it's not a result of brake failure. It's a result of drivers that aren't trained properly, and they exceed the capabilities of the service brakes - the service brakes, not the "braking system." Because drivers weren't training on "downhill braking" they experienced brake fade. If you drove your car around at full throttle all the time, eventually you'd blow up the motor. Or if you tried to cut foot tall grass with your lawn mower, it wouldn't do it because it's beyond the machine's ability. Service brakes, in combination with engine brakes (jake brake), and the right gear going down a hill and the driver will get down the hill every time. Driver's in 140,000lbs trucks get down mountains all the time without every using the service brakes. All the best, Cheers Rick
@@johnsarab4500 If that was even a remote possibility they wouldn't put air brakes on school buses. Air lines--to say the least--are robust. All the best, Cheers Rick
Great video! It’s nice that someone with such a vast knowledge takes the time to share that with others WITHOUT ASKING FOR MONEY!!!! That’s huge and greatly appreciated by many I’m sure!!
You make Me super excited about getting my CDL'S reading the book had me so afraid. I was thinking my brakes could fail at any given moment but you sir have helped me a bunch thank you so much Rick I'm a true fan.
Hi Charmaine Jones - Thank you for your comment and compliment. And you are most welcome. Welcome to the smart driver tribe. If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick
I have a school bus converted into an RV and it has air brakes. It was a wheelchair bus. I was uncomfortable with the air brakes but that was because I knew nothing about them but with your videos and the videos of others, I understand how they work now.
Excellent! I just bought a 2000 Freightliner Argosy as a retirement hobby job. Cart a few apples in season maybe. This is a fantastic channel. Thanks. Your teaching style is perfect. Positive and humorous. I’m watching from New Zealand. 🤠
Hi Kevin Neal - And you are most welcome. We're happy to hear we could help out. If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick
Been watching your videos all week. doing my q air brake course tomorrow and my class 3 course next. reading threw the modules I understand what is being said but your point of view is much easier to understand and is giving me more confidence to take this course. keep up the great videos and from a noobie thank you!
Hi Gary Rudick - thank you for your comment and compliment. I'm happy to hear that the videos are helping out. Yes, those training manual are some times difficult to understand. If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick
Hi! Thx for the video. I am takin my air brakes and combination this up comin week. Passed my requi. and knowled. a week ago. Yes I agree w/ other comments that the class does say the training is for the older past trucks. But as new comer as me has hesitation when it comes 2 the confident in ones self. If the class doesnt exsplain were drivin modern trucks!!...SO THANK YOU!!!!!!
Hi Tina Cryer - And you are most welcome. We're happy to hear we could help out. If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick
thanks for making this video Rick it was very helpful on my test I got all my questions right on my air brake test excellent video for all CDL students
Hi Rashad Gray - that is a awesome news. Would you stop over at the Smart Drive Test and register your success with our 100K campaign - www.smartdrivetest.com/contact/donation Thank you for letting us know, and you are most welcome. We're happy to hear we could help out. I'm sure you are having a huge celebration, and it is well deserved owing to your study & practice. If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick 🏎 PS - where in the world did you do you have any job prospects lined up?
This video is GREAT! I'm a new CDL driver and I find listening to these videos alongside the reading has expanded my understanding. Grateful for his teachings!!!
Hi Evangelist Rhonda Perry - thank you for your comment and compliment. I'm happy to hear that the videos are providing good information. If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best with passing your CDL license. Cheers Rick
I failed my my air break test Oct 19 2019. i felt over confident and failed right away, I pass the core test and had two wrong. I really want to learn how to operate a CDL Class A in the future. it's a scary thought in a case of a break failure and theres no scape ramp. now you have to make a critical decision on what you are going to crash into, just make sure its NOT PEOPLE OR FUEL STATIONS! Monday I will start training for a school bus so we know what class I'm going for. great video on explaining how the air breaks work. I will sub, I really can use you video instructions. I was at DMV today and for the most part everyone keeps to them self.
Hi Mariovo5 - Thank you for your comment. Have a look at this video my friend: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-c1ldt8qK-HM.html If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick
@@friedchicken1 But overheating absolutely leads to brake failure. This is intellectually dishonest to call it anything but brake failure! If you're flying down a hill and the brakes don't work, that's brake failure! Saying otherwise is being disingenuous. Teaching new drivers that failure cannot happen when it can is malpractice!
Hey Rick I hear ICBC will be doing a revamp of the air brake course. Rumour has it that class 2,3 and 5 will be one day, and the class 1 students will stay for the second day. While it’s still a lot of information drivers don’t really need, it is a start. In my opinion, there are still some necessary lessons to learn during this course ie: how and why we check the system daily. Also, logging trucks are still sporting manual slack adjusters last time I checked.
Hi Chip Jackson - That has been a rumour for a number of years. They're not revamping the course; they're simply following Ontario. Ontario has broken the course up into single units and trailers for a number of years now. ICBC is simply doing what Ontario's already done. As you said, yes, the course still has way too much redundant information. No, most logging trucks are all automatic slack adjusters. A couple of years ago when I did the manual slack video, I couldn't find a logging truck at the Kenworth dealership that was fitted with manual slack adjusters. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-knbgfudCZC8.html There might be some owner/operators with manual slacks, but for the most part these are gone. All the best, Cheers Rick
yes took my CDL test in 2010 was told they had a lot of problems to watch for, but I am glad they told me that because I have been driving farm trucks and it has helped me be wary of bad maintenance on them. GLAD TO KNOW Modernized WELL CARED FOR TRUCKS ARE WORRY FREE! WHEW!
Hi Ladonna - yes, older trucks are a little bit less reliable. But newer trucks with air brakes are more or less bullet proof. As I mentioned, a little bit of knowledge about downhill braking will keep you safe! Thanks Cheers Rik
Excelent I didn´t know about the springs are going to expand when low pressure, now I understand because is so safe this air break system, and here the importance to check often the air pressure on the display, your videos are very interesting and I approach to practice and improve my English, I´m studying diesel mechanic because I want to move to Canada, I´m from Colombia. have a nice day Sir. and thank you again.
So happy to hear we could help. And all the best with your dream of moving to 🇨🇦 Canada. Drop us a note if we can help further. All the best, Cheers Rick
Hi TRY to HELP you - Thank you for your comment. And you are most welcome. If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Let us know if you get it repaired. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick
Hi Crismon Ceasar Rygor Caro - Thank you for your comment. And you are most welcome. If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick
Hi TM “theasphaltgambler” - And you are most welcome. We're happy to hear we could help out. If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick
Well, the training film during my national service didn't actually say they were unreliable, just that they required due care and attention by the driver to keep functioning reliably. So the message was: 'if you use 'm like we tell you to, they won't crap out on you'. That training film was made in 1959, though, and the learner trucks were built in 1961 (12 road gears, with range and split as a seperate levers... fun, once you got the hang of it). A bit brutal to actually use on the road in Germany, in 1993, but when one was 23 and indestructable, one took it in one's stride.
Hi Jan Verschueren - Thank you for your comment. And you are correct my friend. Truck and air brake technology have come a long way and are much easier to use, and much more reliable. It is different here in North America - every course leaves you with the impression that air brakes could fail at any time. All the best, Cheers Rick
@@realTomJones435 All wheels will eventually lock up. The air pressure is what keeps the brakes off. Without it a very strong spring presses the shoes into drum slowing down/stopping the truck. You need a special jig to open an airbrake actuator. If you just undo the bolts the spring suddenly decompressing might seriously injure you.
Hi Delvis espinal - Thank you for your comment. And you are most welcome. If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick
I replaced my trailer slack adjusters but once a week I have to manually adjust them because they go out of stroke length. Ill have to try that 6pack method to make them self adjust.
I would counsel you against manually adjusting your automatic slacks my friend. First, if they're going out of adjustment that much, I suspect there's something wrong. Second, in the unlikely event that something goes wrong--a crash for example--and they find out you're adjusting your automatic slacks, it wouldn't come off well for you. I would suggest that you take it into a mechanic because something is definitely wrong. All the best, Cheers Rick
I think there's an exception to the automatic slack adjuster (in BC at least) for logging trucks, they were having a lot of problems with the exceptionally dirty conditions that made the automatic slack adjusters unreliable.
Hi Rx7man - thanks for your comment. Nope, no exception for logging trucks in BC. And as I stated in the video, automatic slack adjusters are reliable. In this video, I went to 2 or 3 yards here in Vernon, and finally had to go to the salvage yard to find a vehicle fitted with manual slack adjusters: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-knbgfudCZC8.html&list=PL0x-bChcUvwG2bSWReQWnk9Tm92L7WN_O&index=5 If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick
@@smartdrivetest I actually had slack adjuster failure on a kenworth t800 dump truck rear brakes here in Canada. Essentially, a light brake applications would slowly take the pushrods out of adjustment because of slack adjusters, However, a six pack brake check adjustment would ratchet them into an acceptable limit. Fyi: Truck was inspected by a mechanic for safety less than two months before the truck was in an accident caused by brake failure Truck was put back on road without proper inspection from MTO, police, etc. and a second incident happened at which point a full brake system inspection was done and found defective/faulty slack adjusters, defective brake shoes, (cause by manufacturer defect- wrong size airlines to rear brakes) and a defective S cam. Slack adjusters were said the be defective to due wear and tear caused by manufacturers mounting position
nice work on video. I was looking for some diagnostic help in locating leaks. this didn't help but not your fault, still good refresher! gotta ask about manual slack adjusters being essentially outlawed, by what you said. Q: if they are to be replaced on annual inspection, why would a truck and trailer parts house even still carry any ? and please don't reply by saying in case you wanted to replace one before your next annual inspection. That wouldn't make sense, would it?
Hi Greg Goslin - Thank you for your comment and query. And yes, that would be a silly reply. Believe it or not, there is still some equipment that is fitted with manual slacks, and is allowed to be fitted with manuals - quarry equipment comes to mind. Some mechanical setups don't allow automatic slacks because these are physically bigger, but not that much bigger. As part of the air brake requirement here in British Columbia, students have to know how to adjust a manual slack for the test. If s/he doesn't know, it's an automatic fail on a test. So training trucks have manual slack adjusters - but usually just on the front. Did you locate the leaks? If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick
Saw one of your videos "How to Test Tractor Protection System for CDL Air Brake Inspection" In it you mentioned the dash red and yellow knobs will pop out when air psi drops anywhere between 20 psi and 40 psi. I have a truck that pops out a 20 psi but would you know how to increase that pressure to 40 psi so my red and yellow knobs pop out sooner rather than later? Or are these pressures controlled by springs pressure already set at the factory Thanks.
Hi Ricky G. - Thank you for your comment. Those pressures are set in the factory; yes, these aren't something that you can change. Saying that, if you have a loss of pressure in the system, you're going to hear it long before the low-air warning light comes on before 60psi (414kPa). And if the pressure does drop to causing the low-air warning light to activate, you are going to be looking for a place to pull over ASAP, because it "freaks you out a bit" when you don't have enough air to the system. And the other things is, the pressure protection valve is going to shut off air to the accessories before the low-air warning activates. So you're going to know. Your system is all good so longs as the Parking Control Valve and the Trailer Air Supply Valves "pop out" between 20 & 45psi. If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick
What if the air tank itself fails, for example someone shoots a hole in it ? Trains need high air pressure in order to release the brakes. If a carriage should decouple, breaking the connected air pipe, that high pressure is lost and brakes are applied. Is the same in trucks ? If not, then the air brakes in trucks are nowhere near as safe as those in trains. >
Hi Bodragon - Thank you for your question. If someone shoots a hole in the tank, the compressor will keep up. If the thank falls off, the emergency brakes will apply. If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick
If say a rock shot though your air tank. Your air level would drop. This will engage your brakes. You must have "X" amount of air to keep the S Cam brakes off of the drums.
@@smartdrivetest have you heard of foot valve/ plungers in the foot plate of the brake pedals in kenworths failing/ malfunctioning due to corrosion and/or blockage?
Air brakes in trucks are much safer than trains and they don't work the same you can't possibly have maxis on a train because it would be almost impossible to build up enough air to keep the maxis off to move the train .If someone shoots a hole in an air tank all the safety feature will do what they are supposed to do you will lose air which will show on your gauge and you will be able to heat air leak etc.
What happens of an air compressor is faulty…will air brakes work and for how long . Will air brakes be fail safe on a highway with a faulty air compressor
Hi Bubba Hyde - on modern systems it's the air dryer and the safety valve. See this vid: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-yBi-6eUch0w.html All the best, Cheers Rick
Hi Ladonna - glad this helped! Unfortunately, too many air brake students are led to believe that air brake systems are fallible. That is simply not true. With a few bits of knowledge for downhill braking, drivers can stay safe! Thanks Cheers Rick
Just had a truck with air breaks have break failure. brake pedal went to the floor and the truck rolled onto a curb and broke a water meter. So I know air breaks do fail first hand.
Hi Bubba Hyde - The brakes only begin to come on - they're not fully on at 60psi. 60 is the absolute minimum pressure to hold the brakes off. All the best, Cheers Rick
Hi Bubba Hyde - And you are most welcome. We're happy to hear we could help out. If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick
You made some good points, but the most demanding air accessory on a truck are in fact the brakes. Secondly, a better title for this video is “Air Brakes won’t fail in the same way as hydraulic brakes”. Brake fade from slicking of the pad, is extremely dangerous, and leads to a completely useless brake pedal. You can almost never hear an air leak from in the drivers seat on most new trucks. This is why you shut your truck off when you exit your truck and get coffee, use the restroom, etc. You watch your gauges closely. You listen for how often the air compressor engages. Finally, especially when driving in inclement weather, losing air pressure to the point where your yellow and red supply valves pop out, can cause a serious wreck when they put your brakes on full force. Again, different problems, but still very serious issues nonetheless.
Hi Riley Mccarthy - Thank you for your comment. You are misinformed my friend. Saying you can't hear an air leak in the the cab of a modern truck is like saying you can't hear the water run in a new house. And the air suspension system uses way more air than the brakes every will on a modern vehicle. See this video for downhill braking: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tKCyg2ln_1E.html&list=PL0x-bChcUvwG2bSWReQWnk9Tm92L7WN_O See this video for brake fade: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-26AFYfz14Ec.html And if a driver allows the emergency brakes to apply s/he has a serious issue because the low air warning activates at 60psi - well above when the emergency brakes come on between 45-20psi. All the best, Cheers Rick
Maybe it’s just my truck, but it would need to be a very serious air leak in order for me to hear it from the seat over normal operating noise. I had an air line get a hole in it, and began losing several psi per second, and I could not hear the leak inside the truck until I turned the truck off. My truck kept up with the loss enough to get off the roadway. My point is that you should always do a thorough pretrip, and keep a close eye on your gauges. If a driver loses air fast enough to hear the leak in modern trucks like mine, then you’re on the clock to pull over safely, because it’s only a matter of time before your parking brake buttons pop out. As for brake fade, not every driver will decend a hill the right way. This is more prevalent with newer drivers, but even the most experienced drivers can mess up. When that happens and a driver relies on his brake pedal to slow him down, those brakes can become slick and will smoke with the chance that they catch fire. This isn’t an issue with 99% of cars unless they’re towing. Reduced speed, engine braking, and a lower gear, along with braking as needed, are the way you stay safe, and handle hill descents without issues. I want to see all my fellow truckers and prospective truckers go home safe and sound. I stand by my original point; air brakes can be just as problematic as standard hydraulic brakes. There is a reason that there is a whole test section devoted to air brakes.
Hi Pierre Menard - Thank you for your comment and feedback.If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick
I suspect it was just your service brakes that failed. Once the air pressure dropped below 45psi, the emergency brakes engaged!? Or I suspect you got the truck pulled over to a safe place before the emergency brakes engaged? All the best, Cheers Rick
Hi Aman Jha - Thank you for your excellent question. One of the differences between fluid and air is that fluid can't be compressed. And a lot of the power generated by air pressure is through the use of levers. Hydraulic pressure doesn't require the use of levers. As well, in excavators, the distance out to the boom and whatnot is relatively short. Air pressure works well over large distances. All the best, Cheers Rick
Hi Chris. Harfoot - Thank you for your comment. And do you have a reference for that bus in Thailand? I had someone send me a bus crash in the Alp which was reported to be brake failure too, but it turned out to be brake fade. If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick
It was in Pattaya One I think of possibly Pattaya News. They usually print in all, but they reported the driver claimed 'brake failure' it crashed into a Massage Parlour. There is a hill into Jontiem where I think it crashed but not long or steep enough to cause brake fade
Another great explanation of how the CDL Manuals confuse people rather than teach. The books make Air Brake Systems appear to have many faults when in fact it's the opposite. I am gearing up to take the CDL A Combination with Air Brake Endorsement soon. Thank You Rick!!👍👍👍
Hi Toby Dulanski - And you are most welcome. We're happy to hear we could help out. If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick
Hi Kelly - what is it you need to know about the diaphragm my friend?The simplest way to think of the diaphragm is to think of it as balloon. When the balloon is inflated, it presses against a plate that is attached to a rod. This action creates back and forth motion, as the balloon is inflated and deflated. This isn't a video about diaphragms, but will give you the basic information about the system: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dMxilatT0qw.html Drop us a note if you have further questions. All the best, Cheers Rick
Hi realest conorado - Thank you for your comment. The purpose of pumping the accelerator is to bring the transmission speed up to synchronize the gears in the transmission so that you can downshift. Have a look at this video for the theory of shifting a non-synchromesh transmission: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LzB9vZ71v08.html If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick
Hi Chayan Bau - sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Train brakes are powered by air pressure, but work differently, and have a number of different fail-safe. From my understanding, trains don't have spring brakes, but a different system that prevents the cars and locomotive from moving. All the best, Cheers Rick
actually, with a catastrophic air loss, the vehicle will NOT come to a screeching halt. I allow my drivers to pull the park brake at around 35 -40 mph and the bus comes to a stop gradually. A driver (bus) should know this and explain it to passengers in case the driver is incapacitated.
Hi stacy vaughn - thank you for your valuable comment. Apparently the parking brake on a bus works different than it does on a truck or tractor, which leads me to think that there is a modulating valve on the parking brake that gradually releases the air and allows the spring brake to act like a service brake. I'll look into that. When I say catastrophic air loss, I'm talking about the air line to the spring brake chamber being ripped off and the air that cages the spring being dumped instantaneously, which would cause the brakes to apply immediately. What kind of reaction do you get from the passengers when you give them the information about the driver being incapacitated? Thanks again, all the best, Cheers Rick
Air brakes apply when there is a lack of compressed air, not the other way around. If an air supply system fails and there is no air in the tank, the brakes will lock up
Hi there,my name is Anthony lucas I'm a truck driver in Seychelles island the cinder of truck is man,so my air brake fail when I was going down Cliff road,so there's nothing I can do,i almost lost my life.
If air brakes cannot fail, then why are runaway truck ramps now common? And if air brakes don't fail, why did the Colorado truck driver plow into a bunch of cars, killing four and injuring a bunch more? He said his brakes failed. He couldn't stop. And if air brakes don't fail, why do I see trucks with burning brakes on I-80 in the Sierra all the time? I think what you're saying is that air brakes are unlikely to suddenly suffer catastrophic failure due to a part breaking or other circumstance. However, if a truck driver rides the brakes the entire way down a long descent, he will certainly overheat the brakes, wear through the pads and then suffer what you say can't happen: brake failure. Care to clarify?
He clarified in the very first part of the video. Brake fade is when they are ridden, heat up basically melt the pads and drums and stop producing friction.
Hi Kyle Hill - Thank you for your for letting us know. Sorry to hear about your unsuccessful attempt. This video is only one of the many on the topic of air brakes. I'm certain that looking at the other in this playlist will help you be successful: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dMxilatT0qw.html If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick PS - you'll have a different examiner on the next attempt.
This is very wrong to say air brakes won't fail , i can show anyone anyday how you can make them fail , the only solution is a differential pressure guage on the red line and yellow line , its the only way to detect a low trailer air problem
Little deceiving at the end as not all school buses have air brakes. Lots of them are still purchased new with hydraulic brakes. For company’s it is just one less endorsement they need for their drivers and one less thing a shitty mechanic that has no knowledge of the air system has to work on.
Hi Emmers - Thank you for your information. Despite the extra training required for employees, hydraulic brakes are falling out of favour for bus companies. And this is due to the fact that buses sit for two months in the summer months. Mechanics that I've talked to said that pistons and seal fail when the buses sit in the summer, whereas air brakes tend not to fail. All the best, Cheers Rick
air brakes CAN FAIL if you don't regularly drain water from air tanks and temperatures get below freezing your air valve can plug and slack adjusters Will not function.
