At the heart of a commercial vehicle’s air brake system is its air compressor, which pressurizes air in the primary and secondary tanks to provide power for the air brakes and other pneumatic systems.

It’s impossible to fix something without understanding how it’s supposed to work. Brake system repair decisions can be difficult to make, and costly to execute, without a basic understanding of system ...

When the brakes are applied, circuits send compressed air from the storage tanks to front and rear service chambers that push the brake shoes into the brake drums, thus slowing down the vehicle. Semis ...

After months of battling freezing temperatures and ice, truck air systems will soon face another challenge: air laden with ...

As compressors age, they spew more oil, which when mixed with water in the dead of winter, creates oily slush that can jam air lines and brake valves. Cold temperatures and water can lead to only one ...

Air brakes have a long history of reliable performance in the medium- and heavy-duty truck markets, yet these systems cannot be ignored without costly consequences. A good inspection process and ...

Years ago, it was common for shops to have a central power source that drove all the tools through a system of belts, wheels and driveshafts. The power was routed around the work space by mechanical ...

As the heavy-duty truck market heats up in 2026, savvy buyers are looking beyond the odometer to the mechanical health of their potential acquisitions. Recent technical advisories from Navistar, ...

The equipment associated with the Instrument air system as used in the industry, generally consists of an air compressor, air dryer and an air receiver fitted with a liquid drain trap. The instrument ...

My love affair with compressed air started a number of years ago when I got an entry level oil-less air compressor for Christmas. Looking like a bloated red fire hydrant lying on its side, it made a ...