Brake failure
Page 24
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FURTHER to your article "Brake Test Failures" (CM August 25) in which you discuss the high rate of tailer test failures on 38 tonne, one year old tri-axle semi trailers, I feel I must point out that all makes of trailers and trailer axles are not suffering to the same degree.
Many SAF trailer axles supplied into the UK by my company, IMS, are meeting the test criteria without the need of exceptional pre-test attention.
In my opinion, the problems being experienced stem from various factors, whereby incorrect or inappropriate data is being used in the calculations, made to prove compliance with EEC directive 75/524.
Excessive claims on brake efficiency, the use of plated rather than design axle weights and a choice of a too high C of G figure. All tend to lead to brake actuation which can barely meet the required performance from new and can fail to do so after 12 months.
KENNETH E. GEE Industrial Machinery Supplies Loughborough