The right way to go down long grades is using a low gear at slow speed which will allow you steady use of brakes. This way you prevent speeding up, release the pressure and brakes are cooling down and working correctly. Otherwise, overuse of the brakes can get them overheated and eventually faded.
If the vehicle is on manual transmission, you shouldn’t push the clutch before the engine rpm is down to idle speed. After smooth and safe stop, select a starting gear.
How Spring Brakes Work?
To understand how brakes system works, let’s firstly remind ourselves how is that working in cars.
Pressing the brake pedal is forcing brake fluid through the master cylinder that passes through the ABS control module.The fluid reaches the calipers and pressure squeezes pads against the rotors.
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Now, unlike passenger cars, heavy trucks use air pressure to apply braking power. Except that, the main difference is in parking brakes. Usually, spring brakes are used as parking brake. They can be found on the rear axle of heavy trucks.
