The Air Pressure System
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When Should You Replace a Part on Your Vehicle?
Recent new Federal regulations required shorter stopping distances and are resulting in improved brake components on vehicles produced since August, 2011. Stopping distances were first mandated in 1975 along with mechanical parking brakes and dual braking systems. In 1992 protection for a trailer’s air supply line was mandated followed by automatic slack adjusters in 1994 and anti-lock braking systems in 1997. At Plaza we continue to stock the parts necessary to keep the older technology in service, but this also can make it difficult for you to understand your alternatives.
When should you replace the parts on your vehicle? A very practical test is whether that part is going to be subject to a DOT inspection that could result in your vehicle being placed out-of-service. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is responsible for producing a set of standards for use by each state enforcement organization. The links at the right can help you to understand those requirements. |
The next step in replacing a part is to identify the part number of the defective component. At Plaza we have access to a wealth of “interchange” information that allows us to recommend a replacement part from our stock when you know your part number. Sometimes the part number you need will not be legible. Then you can rely on our many years of experience and our knowledge of technology to help you match the specifications. A couple of us still remember the first federal mandates in 1975.
Helpful Info from the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA)
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Benefits of Remanufactured Air Compressors, Dryers, and Valves
As with many truck components, remanufactured parts offer a cost-effective solution for replacing the components of the air brake system. Both Bendix and Haldex remanufacturing operations do more than simply “rebuild” used components. Each component is remanufactured to a like-new condition which meets or exceeds OEM specifications. The process begins by completely tearing down each unit and inspecting all components. Any components with wear are replaced with new. Product reliability is high because each procedure in every remanufacturing process is documented in accordance with international quality standards with workers subjected to periodic audits. Remanufacturing procedures are frequently updated in accordance with the principles of continuous improvement.
Although the quality of remanufacturing today is very high, Plaza continues to buy remanufactured Bendix valves only from Bendix. Bendix has designed features into their valves that are important for maintenance and it would be too easy for another supplier to fail in attempting to reproduce them. For example, the allowable deviation for the fit of a “seat” in one Bendix valve is .001 inch or the width of a human hair. It is comforting to know when you are attempting to find an air leak in your system that your replacement valves have been remanufactured within this tight tolerance.
If one of the components in an air pressure system is not correct, braking force may not be evenly distributed to all wheels. For a Bendix reminder about the importance of quality valves for balancing air pressure and insuring effective braking at each wheel see the video below.
Although the quality of remanufacturing today is very high, Plaza continues to buy remanufactured Bendix valves only from Bendix. Bendix has designed features into their valves that are important for maintenance and it would be too easy for another supplier to fail in attempting to reproduce them. For example, the allowable deviation for the fit of a “seat” in one Bendix valve is .001 inch or the width of a human hair. It is comforting to know when you are attempting to find an air leak in your system that your replacement valves have been remanufactured within this tight tolerance.
If one of the components in an air pressure system is not correct, braking force may not be evenly distributed to all wheels. For a Bendix reminder about the importance of quality valves for balancing air pressure and insuring effective braking at each wheel see the video below.
Bendix video emphasizes importance of high quality replacement parts to achieve correct distribution of air pressure to all brakes.