Brake Wear

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by Smellfunny, May 6, 2024.

  1. Smellfunny

    Smellfunny Road Train Member

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    I have a customer that goes through steer axle brake pads quickly. I put new drums and pads on in August of 2023 and then new pads on in Feb of 2024 and he just called and said they are cammed over May 2024. The passenger side has new spider, cam, and slack adjuster (Aug 2023). The rear pads are good and it has new brake valves on the rear (they were leaking air) Put on in Feb 2024 when the steer pads were replaced.
    This guy has a heavy foot and he hauls heavy as well, but even with that I would think the pads would last longer. 23K linings.
    2005 Peterbilt 379
     
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  3. JB7

    JB7 Road Train Member

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    "I put new drums and pads on..." Do you mean rotors? Pads and rotors go together and drums and shoes go together.
    "and said they are cammed over May 2024." How do disc brakes get cammed over as s-cam applies to drum brakes?
    Brakes may be dragging due to issue with calipers, hardware, sticking quick release valve. I would jack up the front, apply and release brakes, and see if the wheels spin freely.
     
  4. wichris

    wichris Road Train Member

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    Bobtail proportioning valve bad?
     
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  5. Goodysnap

    Goodysnap Road Train Member

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    Engine brakes much?

    Sounds like he’s just overdriving the truck.

    Check air pressure to drives? Are the rears wearing at even close to the same rate?
     
    Magoo1968 Thanks this.
  6. Smellfunny

    Smellfunny Road Train Member

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    Drums and shoes..
     
  7. Smellfunny

    Smellfunny Road Train Member

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    I am pretty sure this is the issue. When he got in here he had two wheels on the trailer that were worn down to the rivets and one had cammed over. A leaking wheel seal on the drive and another wheel cammed over on the other side of drives. So basically he is go go go and not looking his truck over.
    He did not even care when I showed him the other stuff. Said he would bring it back that he had to go.
    Some of these guys are drive it until it will not go and then wonder why it will not go.
     
  8. uncleal13

    uncleal13 Road Train Member

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    Does the truck have Q-Plus brakes?
    If they installed regular shoes, they could wear faster then cam over.
     
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  9. Magoo1968

    Magoo1968 Road Train Member

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    Years ago I had a slack adjuster changed during my annual safety inspection. I drove roughly 1000 miles going through a city I got cut off badly and did a hard braking 30 minutes later I stopped for fuel and the wheel was smoking . Turns out the adjuster they used wasn’t compatible with the slack and would tighten if you braked hard.. something to do with new style and old style .
     
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  10. Smellfunny

    Smellfunny Road Train Member

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    1443 Fronts
    4709E Rears
     
  11. BoxCarKidd

    BoxCarKidd Road Train Member

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    Years ago I worked at a fleet of 9370's and 3 similar 4300's were transferred in. They were steer axle brake eating monsters.
    Learned that there is a brake porporting valve for steer axles. I thank 3 different ones with different air ratios.
    They work something like this. At 30 PSI brake application it only allows 10 to the steer. At 90 PSI application they allow 50 to the steer. At a 120 application everything is at 120. Those trucks did not have a porportioning valve on the steer axle.
    I am sure someone will come and kick my stool out from under me for incorrectness but I am just sharing the basic idea. Check your steer axle valve.
     
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