It’s no secret that 18-wheelers are more complex than standard passenger trucks and cars. That applies to their mechanical and electrical components as well as their operation. Heavy-duty trucks are more difficult to learn to drive, maneuver, and park than their smaller, lighter counterparts. It’s certainly a much different process than driving a sedan or minivan.
Tractor-trailers are also more difficult to stop because of their size and weight. As such, their brake systems work a bit differently to compensate for those hurdles. They generally use air brakes that are equipped with essential parts like the q21-1041 air pressure sensor to ensure they’re working properly. That small air pressure sensor plays a major role in keeping truckers and their cargo safe.
A Brief Look at Tractor-Trailer Braking Systems
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Tractor-trailer brakes are fairly complicated systems. They need to build up a certain amount of air pressure to work the way they’re supposed to. That air pressure doesn’t simply build up in the brakes, though. It comes from the truck’s engine. There, a compressor brings in air, pressurizes it, and then stores it for the brakes to use as needed. In many cases, other components and systems of 18-wheelers use that air pressure as well, such as the suspension and fifth wheel adjuster.
Digging Deeper into Air Pressure Sensors
With all that being said, it’s time to dig deeper into air pressure sensors and the reasons they’re so important. As you might imagine per the name of the part, these devices essentially sense the amount of air pressure in a truck’s engine, brakes, and other systems. It’s a bit more complicated than that, though. These sensors constantly keep track of air pressure levels. If the air pressure drops or rises beyond the truck’s normal limits, the sensor uses its connection to the truck’s air pressure gauge and warning system to alert the driver that there’s a problem.
Why does all that matter? Well, it’s important for several reasons. For one, as mentioned, it helps to make sure the brakes are in working order. If there’s not enough air pressure in the system, the brakes may not stop the truck as effectively as they should. They might not stop it at all. That could be catastrophic out on the road, especially if the truck is fully loaded. If the system has too much pressure, it could cause the brakes to unexpectedly lock up, which would be equally detrimental.
Air pressure sensors give drivers an early warning of problems whether they do so through electronic warning systems or through analog gauges on the truck’s instrument panel. That way, the driver can get the truck off of the road and have the issue resolved as soon as possible. Those early warnings can help to prevent dangerous and potentially deadly accidents. In some cases, air pressure sensors may automatically apply the truck’s brakes when its air pressure drops to help maintain stopping capacity.
Giving Trucks Plenty of Stopping Power
Tractor-trailers’ braking systems aren’t the same as those of passenger vehicles. They use air pressure rather than hydraulics. Air pressure sensors may be small parts, but they have big jobs to do. They help to keep the brakes and other systems that rely on air pressure working properly. They constantly monitor air pressure and spring into action if it rises above or falls below the norm. That, in turn, aids in preventing accidents, injuries, and damaged cargo.
