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The dual air brake system is a convenient option for drivers. With two separate systems, the driver can decide between using one or both on an axle to maximize braking power and precision control of their trailer load. The "main" system uses brakes within the rear axles while the "sub" usually focuses solely on front tires unless there are additional trailers hooked up with it in tow
A dual air brake system is a type of braking system that uses compressed air to power the brakes. This provides more stopping power than a single source of hydraulic braking, and it also requires less maintenance as there are fewer parts in contact with the environment (like rain or dust). Dual air brake systems are used on heavy vehicles such as trucks, buses, and trains for increased safety.
You may have seen these large vehicles using their horns while they were stopped at an intersection – this is because they need longer distances to stop due to their weight. The horn alerts drivers around them that they’re coming through the intersection so as not to cause accidents. A dual air brake system will help keep you safe from dangers like this!
Dual air brakes are a feature of heavy vehicles that use compressed air to stop the vehicle. Air brakes can be used in place of traditional hydraulic braking systems because they are more economical and safer for drivers. Drivers should always consult their owner's manual before using any new or unfamiliar equipment on a vehicle, however, it is not uncommon for drivers to use dual air brake systems without knowing what they do.
That's where we come in! Dual air brakes were created to provide safe stopping power while being less expensive than hydraulic braking systems. They also require significantly less maintenance and reduce wear-and-tear on the trucking company’s fleet by making them last longer. In this blog post, we will learn about how the dual air brake system works
How dual air brake system works
The dual air brake system has 2 separate and individual systems. One operates the conventional brakes on the rear axle, while another operates to a different set of front or back tires depending on which is needed most for slowing down. The first one's called "main" because it supplies more than half of all braking force in an emergency situation - but when not as urgent, both sets can be used together: either by combining them so that they work at once equally well; or using only one (the other being idle).
they use a single controller. For each of the systems, there are air tanks and lines that provide traditional braking for all four wheels in the truck depending on which tank is being used to slow down or stop it. The first system is called "main" because this one operates conventional brakes at both axles while also supplying power to any trailers behind if applicable.
This means stopping can always happen even when the trailer loses pressure from its own breaks since those will still be able only by the main system's compressor until they're repaired again; meanwhile, backup lights stay lit so other drivers know what's happening too! Meanwhile with sub-systems like these ones found in semi-trucks
Before operating a vehicle with dual air, pay attention to the low-pressure warning light and buzzer. The two lights will go off when both systems are at 60 psi or higher.
Before you start your car, make sure the air pressure in both systems is at least 100 psi. If it's not, take a minute to pump up the tires so that they're all about even, and then get back on the road! The warning light will go off if either system falls below 60 psi; pay attention to this when driving as low pressure can lead to tire damage or blowout.
The warning light and buzzer should come on before the air pressure drops below 60 psi in either system. If this happens while driving, you should stop right away and safely park the vehicle. One of your brakes will not be working well if one set is very low on pressure--this means it'll take you longer to stop a car with bad tires or an engine issue!
The dual-air system is designed to have at least 100 psi of pressure in both the primary and secondary systems. If any air tubes are damaged, this can cause low tire pressures. The warning light will turn on if either one falls below 60 psi or as recommended by your manufacturer's settings.
Inspecting Air Brake Systems
It's important to use the basic seven-step inspection procedure described in Section 2 when inspecting your vehicle. There are more things to inspect on a car with air brakes than one without them, which is why they're discussed below – for everyone who needs it! This list starts at Step 3 and goes all the way through Step 7 because that should be where you begin inspecting if you have an air brake system (which some people may not realize until now!).
These steps include: make sure any connections or lines between parts of the hydraulic system are connected securely; check both sides of each drum for wear or damage from rubbing against other surfaces; ensure there aren't any leaks around either piston rod seal surface.
7 Steps to Check Air Brakes
1). Test Low-Pressure Warning Signal. Shut the engine off when you have enough air pressure so that the low-pressure warning signal is not on, then turn electrical power back on and step onto and off of your brake pedal until only 60 psi remains in your tank (or whichever one has less than 60). If this doesn't work, you could lose all pressurized energy!
Turn the power back on and step up and down with your foot, reducing tank pressures for all tanks (or at least one of them). The high alarm must be activated before any other warnings or lights come on which means there's a leak somewhere else!
in dual air systems)
2). Check That Spring Brakes Come On Automatically- When the air pressure is too low, your truck’s brake system may not work. To help avoid this problem at all times:
When you start driving after a long period of time where there was no need to use the brakes (such as sitting in traffic), make sure that they are working properly by pressing them and releasing them quickly for about five seconds or less before having someone follow behind you with their car while going 10 mph. If it feels like braking faster than usual when following a vehicle closely, then odds are good that something has gone wrong!
3). Check Rate of Air Pressure Buildup.--When you are driving, one of the most important things to remember is that it’s not good when your car starts losing a lot of its power. This means something is wrong with either how much gas or oxygen doesn't get into the cylinders and burn as fuel. The problem could be due to many different reasons from old spark plugs which don't produce enough heat for combustion (or just make sparks), an engine producing more carbon monoxide than usual, unburned gasoline getting by on top of piston rings instead of being burned at high temperatures inside pistons...But there's another possible reason: Your tires might need
Checking the rate of air pressure buildup is a key step in maintaining your car. When you turn on the engine, it should take 45 seconds for dual-air systems to reach 100 psi and 3 minutes with single-air systems as long as an idle speed of 600 - 900 RPMs is maintained. If this doesn't happen or if low pressure occurs during driving, stop immediately!
You want to make sure your car's air pressure doesn't drop too low, and if it does, you'll need an emergency stop. Keep the RPMs up when checking that the engine is running in order for enough of a buildup time before driving again!
4). Test Air Leakage Rate. --With a fully-charged system (typically 125 psi), turn off the engine, release the parking brake, and time how much pressure is lost in one minute for single vehicles or less than three minutes when it comes to combination vehicle models. Turn up the built-up pressure with 120-140 psi after shutting down your engine, chocking wheels if necessary, and releasing braking systems before holding foot brakes on for at least 1 minute
Air leakage rate should be less than two psi in one minute for single vehicles and less than three psi in one minute for combination vehicles. With the air pressure built up to governor cut off (120-140psi), shut off the engine, chock your wheels (if necessary), release the parking brake, fully apply foot brakes on all vehicle types (-tractor protection valve) and hold it there for a full 60 seconds before releasing.
5). Check Air Compressor Governor Cut-in and Cut-out Pressures- Check air compressor governor cut-in and cut-out Pressure. Pumping by the air compressor should start at about 100 psi, it will stop pumping when reaching 125psi; this is based on manufacturer specifications of the particular model. The engine needs to be running fast enough for the pressure in the tank to drop accordingly so that there are large enough fluctuations between pump outs and pump ins as well as an adequate release valve system.
With a steady hand (or foot), step on or off of the brake pedal repeatedly until both numbers line up with each other: one represents where they need to rise beyond, while another shows how much lower they can get from their maximum point before starting again all over again - like gears shifting through a transmission!
6). Test Parking Brake. Stop the vehicle, but keep your foot on the brake pedal and gently pull against it to test that braking power is strong enough to hold you in place even when parked with one tire off of a curb or incline; if not, adjust accordingly before proceeding.
7). Test Service Brakes. is a common way to determine if your vehicle's breaks are functioning properly. The first step of the process is waiting for normal air pressure on all four tires before releasing the parking brake and moving forward slowly in order to achieve five mph, then applying firm braking with both feet by pressing down on each pedal simultaneously. This will help you notice any signs that there may be something wrong with your car such as an unusual pull towards one side, an odd feel, or delayed stopping time. Do this regularly so you can make sure everything stays safe!
Conclusion
At the end of the blog post is a list of instructions for safely operating the vehicle. These are important tips and should be read by any person who operates these vehicles. Inspecting the air brake system is important to ensure that it operates properly and safely. There are many things you should be checking for when inspecting an air brake system, including low-pressure warning signal, spring brakes coming on automatically, rate of pressure buildup in the system, and leakage rates from different parts of the system (i.e., parking brake).
Once you’ve checked all these items off your list and everything checks out as safe and sound then congratulations! You have a fully functioning dual air brake system that will protect both drivers and passengers alike while also making sure everyone has a smooth ride home. We hope this article was helpful for understanding how dual airbrake systems work.
