Disc Brakes and DOT Brake Check

Depends if they have the backing plate or not. I’ve always been just let go when it came to Disc but have had several guys not give me a sticker because it had disk.

 

I had a level 1 done in South Dakota almost a year ago. Had all disk brakes truck and trailer.

Although the inspector did slide around on his creeper front to back there wasn’t anything to check in regards to brakes. Unless something crazy they can see like cracked disks or pads falling out.

Told me that disc brakes make his life a lot easier since there’s nothing to measure.

Ended up with two stickers and a clean inspection report.

I’ll never buy anymore equipment with drum brakes..just a big pia.

 

I was told they look for rusty rotor. Pads not touching rotor if rust on face.

 

Oooookay, how am I supposed to inspect Disc Brakes? | TruckersReport.com Trucking Forum | #1 CDL Truck Driver Message Board (thetruckersreport.com)
See Comment #4.
(1) Heavy Duty - Air Disc Brake Inspection - YouTube
Note at 1:05 the wear indicators cast into the carrier and caliper for checking with the wheel on.

 

This is the one. We had one of our heavy haulers with discs repeatedly get stuck sliders on the caliper. I think it's a problem with high salt areas and skilled drivers not needing to use the brakes often. If your sliders are stuck then it'll wear down one pad and the other will never contact.

 

When i see the occasional entire brake shoe or chunk of a drum on the side of the highway, I marvel at how did inspection and maintenance get to that level.

Disc brakes will fall to the same failures. the video did an excellent job of explaining the wear indicators, but the given the trucking industries penchant for ignoring preventive maintenance, as more and more disc brakes are installed, the inspectors are going to have to finally do their job.

 

I had those for 3 years in tanker. Truck and trailer had disc brakes. The DOT officer told me almost the only thing they can inspect is the air lines going to the brakes since the dust shields cover so much. I LOOOVED disc brakes. I was heavy with every load and they can take a ton more heat than the best drum brakes. The only thing I didn't like was they seemed to grab hard on light application, but I quickly adjusted my braking technique to stop the grabbing. It took a while to get uysed to seeing the brake chambers sitting sideways compared to "normal" brakes.

 

Another vote in favor of discs. I check mine every couple years. They just about never wear out. Seriously, I'm over a million miles on my tractor and have done pads once. No rotors. No lines. Passes inspections, stops when I need it to.

I have also heard rotors are a huge job on a disc tractor, not sure about trailer but probably the same. I do not look forward to the day.