Auxiliary Brakes

Auxiliary Brakes

What are the different forms of auxiliary brakes?

At present, there are roughly two types of auxiliary brakes: exhaust brakes and downhill retarders.

Exhaust brake

When going down a long slope, using exhaust braking can, to a certain extent, reduce the working burden on the service brake, thereby reducing the chance of thermal fade and extending its service life. However, for heavy-duty vehicles used in mountainous areas or mines, the effect of exhaust braking is limited, so hydraulic or electric downhill retarders are mostly adopted. These two also belong to the auxiliary braking devices.

The use of this exhaust brake when going downhill has the following advantages:

1. It can reduce the burden on the service brake and prevent it from malfunctioning due to excessively high temperature of the brake drum.

2. Extend the service life of the service brake system.

3.It can prevent slipping. When the road is slippery due to snow, if the service brake is used, it is very easy for the wheels to skid sideways. When exhaust braking is adopted. The vehicle speed decreases slowly, the braking is balanced, and the wheels do not skid sideways. Exhaust braking is a relatively economical and highly effective auxiliary braking device

Downhill walker

When going down a long slope, using exhaust braking can, to a certain extent, reduce the working burden on the service brake, thereby reducing the chance of thermal fade and extending its service life. However, for heavy-duty vehicles used in mountainous areas or mines, the effect of exhaust braking is limited, so hydraulic or electric downhill retarders are mostly adopted. These two also belong to the auxiliary braking devices.