As the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s Brake Safety Week is scheduled for Aug. 23-29, inspectors are putting a special focus on drums and rotors during this year’s event. Brake drum and rotor issues may affect a vehicle’s brake efficiency. Broken pieces of drums and rotors may become dislodged from the vehicle during travel and damage other vehicles or result in injuries or fatalities to the motoring public.
HERE’S TIPS TO HELP ESNURE YOUR DRUMS AND ROTORS ARE READY TO PASS INSPECTION:
drum inspection tips
- Check for cracks. Small hairline cracks caused by normal heating and cooling is common, but structural cracks typically require replacement.
- Measure drum diameter. Drums worn beyond their maximum allowable diameter need to be replaced, as excessive diameter reduces effectiveness and contribute to out-of-service violations.
- Look for heat damage. Be vigilant of blue/dark discoloration, hot spots, heat checking focused in one area, scoring or gouging.
- Check for contamination. Inspect drums for oil, grease, and wheel-seal leakage. Contamination can significantly reduce brake performance.
Rotor Inspection Tips
- Check rotor thickness. Measure rotor thickness at multiple locations, as uneven thickness can cause vibration and poor braking performance.
- Inspect for surface cracks. Be on the lookout for heat and structural cracks, as well as cracks extending to cooling vanes or edges.
- Look for excessive scoring or grooving. Deep grooves may indicate metal-to-metal contact, work pads, or foreign material trapped in the brake assembly.
- Check for heat damage. Bluing, heat spots or warping can lead to reduced braking efficiency.
- Verify the rotor mounting condition. Look for loose mounting hardware, corrosion and rotor runout concerns, as improper mounting can lead to uneven wear and brake pulsation.