
Replacing interior motor brake elements, these as springs and seals, can return efficiency to authentic ranges, claims Kyle Lazzaro, small business manager of Jacobs Car or truck Methods.
Graphic: Jacobs Auto Units
Did you know that when you are executing an engine overhaul, you also really should consider the time to tune up the motor brake?
Far too often, the fleet or maintenance shop receives wrapped up in the motor overhaul and does not assume about the motor brake. Even so, according to Kyle Lazzaro, business manager of Jacobs Vehicle Methods, the motor brake is a wearable product.
“Engine brake overall performance can degrade over time,” Lazzaro suggests. “Therefore, replacing inside motor brake components, these as springs and seals, can return overall performance to unique ranges.”
Failure to tune up the motor brake finally is going to impact its overall performance.
“An motor brake tune-up will increase the overall drivability of the auto,” claims Dave Pearman, Jacobs assistance accounts manager.
By raising the overall performance of the motor brake, you will extend the daily life of the assistance brakes, Lazzaro states.
“The tune-up also could strengthen the response time or flip-on time of the motor brake,” he says.
When you change the seals for the solenoid or make improvements to some of the linkage in the device, he describes, it speeds up the motor brake’s transform on-time. The speedier the engine brake turns on, the more rapidly it can start to sluggish the engine.
An motor brake tune-up usually can be accomplished in two hours. Jacobs recommends it be completed extremely 300,000 to 500,000 miles or when an engine is remaining overhauled.
These advised intervals are a guide for program motor brake inspections and routine maintenance and are established in conjunction with consistently scheduled engine upkeep. The engine brake must also be inspected when the to start with engine valve adjustment occurs. Of class, as is genuine with other upkeep services, driving conditions and duty cycle may perhaps dictate that maintenance be performed much more usually. This is primarily real with engines exposed to severe purposes and operating environments.
“Preventive maintenance for an motor brake should really be taken just as seriously as any other wearable component on a industrial vehicle,” Pearman suggests. “Of training course, parts questioned to do the job more difficult will need additional notice than those people asked to functionality beneath standard, working day-to-day operation.”


Denise Rondini
The tune-up method consists of pulling the housing off the engine, disassembling the pistons, and putting in new springs and control valves. The solenoid generally requires to be taken off and inspected to make certain it is in superior running ailment. If it is, replacing the solenoid seals is recommended. Experts should really completely examine all the elements and swap areas as essential.
Based on make and model of the motor, Pearman claims, more than 20 motor brake elements may perhaps will need to be inspected, modified or replaced.
“All tune-up kits have manage valves and seals. Most of them have springs, and some have further components,” he states. All of the engine OEMs and neighborhood repair services supply engine brake tune-up kits, which are totally warranted with in-depth set up instructions.
Rewards of the kits and routine servicing include concentrating on and correcting acknowledged use sections, restoring the brakes to their unique performance concentrations, and reducing more labor expenditures in the future.
To raise basic safety, provide increased velocity manage and prolong brake existence, make guaranteed to tune up your vehicle’s motor brake. Failure to tune up the engine brake could effects the unit’s functioning performance.
This commentary initially appeared in the July 2022 issue of Weighty Obligation Trucking.