Spring Brakes - New Long Stroke Models

Spring Brakes are the safest (since the new design) and most powerful parking brake mechanism available for highway & industrial trucks and equipment. The spring itself could knock a hole in the wall if unleashed from the spring brake chamber.

Years ago there used to be a removable clamp on the spring brake section so the diaphragm could be replaced. This was soon changed to a permanent solid clamp because of the numerous accidents and deaths that occurred from inexperienced people unclamping the spring assembly. without spring brake tool for caging the spring.

The spring brake tool or Caging Bolt as it's called comes with every spring brake chamber and must be left on in case the time arises for spring brake caging. This tool hooks on to the spring inside the brake chamber. The tool is inserted and turned too the right in a "T" shaped orifice then screwed tight on the outside of the pot with a 3/4 inch wrench.
Today spring brakes come in a Long Stroke version that allows more travel and less chance of going over the slack adjuster travel limits. The Long Stroke has 1/2 inch more travel at 2.5 inches maximum. The total stroke is 3.0 inches which is strictly to allow extra movement if the 2.5 inch stroke is reached.
Every Long Stroke spring brake chamber comes with square threaded fitting ports and a stamping and/or tag attached to the brake chamber body. The body itself is much longer than the original 30 Series brake chambers. Every Mechanic and operator should know the limits of these and other spring brake models.
Spring Brakes are the most important part of any highway vehicle operating on the road today.

Spring Brakes and What You Should Know!

Here's a great explanation on the Spring Brake that holds all that truck and Bus tonnage from rolling away. When doing a pre-trip the springs must on and to test them for holding power you give the throttle [engine running in gear] a quick hit with your foot. Don't put your pedal to the metal 'cause nothing is going to hold back that kind of torque!
The safety factor is much higher with spring brakes because the highly commpressed spring is now factory clamped so it's left alone and no one can get injured.[years ago they were serviceable and there were fatalities]

Check out this pdf below: Thanks to Mac over at http://skoolie.net

Spring Brakes PDF Instructions

Here's a previous post I made about Spring Brake assembly replacement:

How To Replace A Spring Brake Assembly