Troubleshooting Brake

Systems

March 2003 Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator 1A Slide 2-

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 Repairs

All repairs to brake

components should be
conducted by a
qualified technician

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 Air Compressor With
Governor
Excessive governor cut-in/cut-out
Possible cause
 Defective compressor and/or governor
Possible corrective action
 Contact your department's fleet manager for a
plan of action

March 2003 Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator 1A Slide 2-

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 Pressure Switch

Pressure Governor

Compressor Belt

Air Compressor

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 Air Compressor With
Governor
Excessive governor cut-in/cut-out
Possible cause
 Excessive system leakage
Possible corrective action
 Have leak repaired

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 Air Compressor With
Governor
Excessive governor cut-in/cut-out
Possible cause
 Reservoir volume reduced
Possible corrective action
 Drain water from system

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 Air Compressor With
Governor
Excessive governor cut-in/cut-out
Possible cause
 Brakes out of adjustment
Possible corrective action
 Contact your fleet manager

March 2003 Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator 1A Slide 2-

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 Air Compressor With
Governor
Passing excessive oil while draining tanks
Possible cause
 Poorly filtered air
Possible corrective action
 Check for defective intake components

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 Air Compressor With
Governor
Passing excessive oil while draining tanks
Possible cause
 No air dryers in system
Possible corrective action
 Drain reservoirs daily

March 2003 Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator 1A Slide 2-

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 Air Compressor With
Governor
Slow air buildup
Possible cause
 Poorly filtered air
 Excessive governor cut-in/cut-out
 Restricted air discharge
 Loose pulley
Possible corrective action
 Contact your fleet manager

March 2003 Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator 1A Slide 2-

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 Air Compressor With
Governor
Slow air buildup
Possible cause
 Air dryer purge valve stuck open
Possible corrective action
 Have air dryer purge valve repaired
 Contact your fleet manager

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 Air Compressor With
Governor
Slow air buildup
Possible cause
 Braided discharge line heat fatigued
Possible corrective action
 Check using a soap solution

March 2003 Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator 1A Slide 2-

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 General Brake Symptoms
Sensitive brakes
Possible cause
 Brakes improperly adjusted
 Defective or improperly installed component
 Chamber/slack alignment binding
momentarily
 Foot valve/pedal sticking
 Lubrication
 Installation
Possible corrective action
 Contact your fleet manager
March 2003 Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator 1A Slide 2-
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 General Brake Symptoms
Brakes will not apply completely
Possible cause
 Brakes improperly adjusted
 Automatic slack adjuster malfunction
 Air line or component freeze-up
 Faulty brake components\
 Foot valve/pedal sticking or movement
restricted

March 2003 Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator 1A Slide 2-

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 General Brake Symptoms
Brakes will not apply completely
Possible causes (continued)
 Improper chamber/slack adjuster alignment
 No air pressure in one brake circuit
Possible corrective action
 Contact your fleet manager

March 2003 Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator 1A Slide 2-

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 General Brake Symptoms
Brakes will not release completely
Possible cause
 Parking brakes on; will not release
 Brakes improperly adjusted
 Condition of brake components
 Air lines pinched, improperly assembled, or
misconnected

March 2003 Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator 1A Slide 2-

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 General Brake Symptoms
Brakes will not release completely
Possible cause (continued)
 System contamination
 Chamber/slack adjuster binding
 Automatic slack adjuster malfunction
Possible corrective action
 Contact your fleet manager

March 2003 Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator 1A Slide 2-

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 Manual Slack Adjusters
Adjustment backs off
Possible cause
 Component malfunction
Possible corrective action
 Contact your fleet manager

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 Locking Ring

Adjustment Nut

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 Automatic Slack Adjusters
Refer to a Certified
Air Brake Tech

Automatic Slack Adjuster

March 2003 Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator 1A Slide 2-

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 Air System Leaks
Air leak greater than 2 psi in one minute
Possible cause
 Air leak when brakes are not applied
Possible corrective action
 Starting at the compressor, spray every fitting
with soapy water
 Contact your fleet manager

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 Air System Leaks
Air leak greater than 3 psi in one minute
Possible cause
 Air leak in system when brakes are applied
Possible corrective action
 Same as with 2 psi air leak
 Have someone assist you

March 2003 Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator 1A Slide 2-

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 Hydraulic Brake Systems
Brake pedal feels soft and spongy
Possible cause
 Low amount of fluid in the system
Possible corrective action
 Add fluid to the reservoir

March 2003 Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator 1A Slide 2-

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 Hydraulic Brake Systems
Brake pedal feels soft and spongy
Possible cause
 Air in the system
Possible corrective action
 Have the air removed by a qualified
technician

March 2003 Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator 1A Slide 2-

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 Hydraulic Brake Systems
Pedal drifts toward or falls to the
floorboard
Possible cause
 Low amount of fluid in the system
Possible corrective action
 Add fluid to the reservoir

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 Hydraulic Brake Systems
Pedal drifts toward or falls to the
floorboard
Possible cause
 Fluid leak in the system
Possible corrective action
 Have a qualified technician repair or replace
the source of the leak and restore the system

March 2003 Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator 1A Slide 2-

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 Hydraulic Brake Systems
Lack of response of a powered or vacuum
assisted brake augmentation system
Possible cause
 Failure to transfer energy to the brake system
Possible corrective action
 Have a qualified technician restore the power
assist system

March 2003 Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator 1A Slide 2-

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 Secondary Braking Systems
Fails to activate as designed
Possible cause
 System is manually turned off
Possible corrective action
 Ensure the system is activated and is at the
proper stetting

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 Secondary Braking Systems
Fails to activate as designed
Possible cause
 System is activated but has failed
Possible corrective action
 Take out-of-service
 Have a qualified technician repair the system

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