how to physically check your brake pads and drums?

Go underneath and make sure neither is cracked and that you have enough brake pads left

 

Look on the inside of the wheel, should be pretty obvious. Do you have a cdl? This should be covered in training

 

I've always went under the truck and and look at them under the wheel, and check for at least a quarter thick inch brake pads, make they are snug to the drum. And also see if the drum is not cracked or broken...

 

When press brake no stop need new brakes.

 

Your going to open up a big can of worms. If you can see the bottom of brake shoe it should be about 9/16 thick. Use a 9/16 open end as a reference. That's a rough estimate
Good luck

 

I am not sure if this will answer your question.

 

Like everyone said, look at them, no cracks, nothing missing, and make sure there is enough pad left, 1/4" legal min. Your company should replace them sooner

 

What a lot of BS and misinformation in this thread. Apparently many just read the title without reading the post.

First thing, the brake pads need to be at least 1/4" thick measured at the center of the shoe. That means the top and the bottom of the drum.

As far as the dust covers are concerned, some will have inspection holes in the top and bottom while others will be removable. I have not run into the removable type and most of our trailers do not have them anyhow.