How do you stop? Proper breaking help.

The problems start when all your training,is done with an Mt trailer.
Try stopping a loaded 47 k load,with just your service brakes.
Any questions?

 

Guys are probably pushing the clutch to thefloor thus wearing the clutch brake. Buddy of mine has ### 3 pedal auto shift and a driver took out the clutch brake in 3 weeks. He was pushing tyhe clutch to the floor rolling to as stop

 

While it's true, brakes generally cost less than a clutch, coasting, is not the preferred method. Besides, slowing down, you shouldn't even need the clutch. I always felt better in a gear, just in case, you have to accelerate, you're not fiddling around, trying to find a gear. I was told, years ago, it should take you no more than 10 lbs. of air ( application gauge) to stop the truck, loaded or empty( except in panic stops, of course). Engine brakes help ( got to be in a gear for that to work) and we have to remember, not everyone has engine brakes.Pulling RR trailers, I did use the "johnny bar" all the time, even though they were poor, that, and the engine brake, in 3 years, I never put a set of brakes on my Western Star, and that was Chicago traffic. Bosses frown on that, trailer brake thing, and always told me, just push the foot pedal. No coasting.

 

The Sterling I drove did not have a jake brake. And the little cat 13 engine would not slow you down loaded going downhill.....so all I had were the service brakes. I was always loaded at 80k hauling grain from the farm to the co-op.

The terrain was rolling hills...my favorite was coming over the top of a hill and having a stop sign at the bottom of the short hill at a tee intersection ....service brakes all the way...didn't matter if you had it in gear or not, the only way you were stopping was firmly stepping on the brakes.

 

Obviously you have a death wish.
I'm out here to make money,committing suicide is not a option.

 

The first few times I drove this hill I was very cautious and slowed down before I crested the hill, as I could not see the stop sign until I got to the top of the hill. Then as I got the feel of the road and the feel of the brakes I started to question the theory that you are safer being in gear than out of gear.....depends on the gear. Depends on the hill. 1st gear would be the safest, 2nd gear would also be safe. 3rd gear would be ok. 4th gear might be ok, 5th gear might be questionable, 6th gear would not hold the truck loaded, would not even slow it down.

So the crest of the hill is the same place I would start to brake for a stop sign, and I would approach the crest in 6th gear. To me the most important thing was controlled use of the brakes on a gravel road.

The engines braking effect was negligible in 6th gear coming down the hill, which was about 500 feet long. There was no danger of the brakes overheating on that short distance.

So I don't think I was suicidal for using the service brakes to stop at a stop sign on a short down hill.

Certainly if a hill like this was a quarter mile or longer, I would have downshifted to 5th or 4th gear to hold the load. I have taken loads down into the Mississippi Valley in the low range loaded on a one mile descent. We only went down full, always went up empty.

What do other drivers think?

 

Brakes can and do fail.constant high heat buildup will rapidly increase wear of pad material,along with possibility of drum warpage.
I've adjusted brakes incorrectly once on a car,to see the drums turn cherry red(1200) degrees.
This was a short test drive,just imagine the temp at the brake drum loaded and rolling down hill.

 

How should one stop in a situation like that, without Jakes?

 

God help the new guys reading this forum.

 

Ur suposta never roll in neutral longer than the length of ur truck and trailer. How ever its easier to maybe down shift a gear or two and then roll in neutral and use ur service brake. I will down shift a gear or two and thats if im comming down from high way speeds. I usually just use my service brake.