Getting your CDL? Learn about air brakes in the state of New York here!

Activates the brake lights when a service brake application is made by the driver.

For both a road test & your daily pre-trip inspection you must determine if the air brakes are in adjustment.

Applies the parking brakes of the air brake equipped vehicle indefinitely – if needed of course.

The parking brakes are held in the “ON” position by the mechanical force of the springs; these spring parking brakes are held in the “OFF” position by system air pressure.

A powerful coil spring exerts force on the service brake components (shoes, linings, and drums).

Knowledge Test Question: If the service brakes are out of adjustment, so are the parking brakes owing to the fact that both use the same foundation braking components.

Springs brakes are referred to as "piggy back", owing to the fact that the spring brake chamber is bolted directly to the service brake chamber forming one unit.

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On an air brake system, the air dryer filters moisture and other contaminants from the compressed air. Watch the video! 

Getting your CDL in the state of New York - watch this video to learn air brakes!

Applying the service brakes and doing a leak test will often locate a ripped service brake diaphragm.

Slack adjusters have three purposes:

1) To convert the forward linear motion of the push rod into rotary motion of the camshaft.

• The slack adjuster works on exactly the same principle as a box end wrench on a nut.

2) To act as a lever, thus generating greater force;

3) To provide a means of reducing the clearance between the brake shoes and the brake drum.

Canada mandated that all new equipment manufactered after 1996 was to be fitted with automatic slack adjusters. Although most air brake students are taught how to adjust manual slack adjusters, it is unlikely that drivers in this day and age will encounter a manual slack adjuster.

Stores compressed air for braking and for other air operated accessories.

The air tanks are the first fail-safe in the air brake system.

In the unlikely event that the air compressor fell of the side of the engine, the air tanks (reservoirs) store enough air for approximately 8-12 full service brake applications - more than enough to bring the vehicle to a stop.