Brake service is an essential part of diesel truck maintenance. If you are a business owner with trucks in use, brake service for them needs to be done regularly.
Brake service is an essential part of diesel truck maintenance. When it comes to operating a fleet, scheduled maintenance for brakes means one less thing to think (and worry) about. Keep your trucks running smoothly, keep drivers safe on the road, and keep productivity high.
But over time, your brakes wear out. Brake pads need to be replaced and brake fluid refilled. How can you tell when your truck needs brake service or replacement? When you know the signs, you can stay ahead of wear and tear to keep your diesel truck at peak performance.
At Gallaher Fleet Solutions in Statesville, NC, we make it our mission to provide our valued customers with cost-effective and timely brake service for their light, medium, and diesel trucks. Our repair shop is well-equipped with the latest tech and expert technicians.
Even without any warning signs, brakes require regular servicing to extend the life of your diesel truck. A brake servicing appointment can take as little as 15 minutes for changing the brake pads, up to several hours to replace the entire brake system. Keep in mind that changing out your truck's brakes may uncover other problems, too. Addressing issues early on and taking care of your diesel truck pays off in the long run.
Call the shop nearest you, or send a message and we'll get back to you the same business day.
Brake pads last 50,000 miles on average. When your truck gets near a 50,000-mile increment, it's time to consider replacing the pads — sooner or later depending on how and where you drive.
Brake wear happens so gradually that it can be hard to identify. After driving a truck for a long time, you can tell when something feels off — watch for these signs.
You have to apply more pressure than before to slow down or stop, and stopping distances get longer. Brake fluid leaks are a common cause, especially if the change is sudden or significant.
A screeching sound when you brake is a definite sign something is wrong. Unusual noises should always be addressed immediately — whether you suspect the brakes or something else on the truck.
Many diesel trucks have warning lights specifically for the brake system that flag an issue before it becomes a major problem. If one comes on, get the truck to a service center as soon as you can.
A truck that veers to one side may have a brake problem. On air brakes, excessive pushrod travel (brake stroke) reduces braking force and usually points to a slack adjuster malfunction, installation error, or foundation brake issue.
Slack adjuster issues rarely cause a sudden failure. Instead, brake stroke creeps up, pushrod travel grows, and wheel ends fall out of balance — weakening braking force, lengthening stopping distances, and raising roadside inspection risk. We explain how to measure stroke against the right chamber limits, why manually adjusting an automatic slack adjuster only hides the problem, and why lubrication is a safety-critical task.
