Brake Rigging Analysis and the Development of Link Brake Stabilizers

Components of truck brake rigging, especially brake beam supports and guides have always presented wearing and maintenance problems. The high contact stresses between the brake beam ends and the supporting/ guiding wear liners in non-stabilized truck brake rigging cause an accelerating progression of wear in the areas of contact. This wear invariably results in reduced braking output and unacceptable alignment between the brake shoes and wheels. The Link Brake Stabilizer has been developed to greatly minimize these contact stresses and resulting wear. This is accomplished by replacing the typical reactive supporting torque at the brake beam end guides with additional brake beam sustaining forces at the brake beam strut and simple support forces at the brake beam end guides. Mathematical analysis, lab and service testing and interpretation of observed data have led to insights into the influences of the various components of the brake rigging under different operating conditions. These insights can be used to make operational and economic decisions about brake system features.