Maintenance Management

Braking, Steering and Suspension Systems

These are the systems that decide whether a vehicle stops and stays on the road, which makes a shortcut here different in kind from a shortcut anywhere else in a workshop. This course treats them accordingly. Delegates work through braking principles, then through hydraulic brake systems including master cylinders, callipers, fluid specification and the moisture absorption that causes fade. Air brake systems are covered in detail for heavy vehicles: compressor, reservoirs, valves, slack adjusters, chambers and the spring brake behaviour that must be understood before anybody works under a vehicle. Brake testing and the legal performance requirements are addressed. Antilock and stability systems are covered at a diagnostic level. Steering systems follow, including geometry, camber, castor and toe, and the tyre wear pattern each fault produces. Power steering and its failure modes are addressed. Suspension is covered across leaf, coil and air systems with the effect of each on load and handling. The course closes on wheel bearing service, on torque discipline and on road testing safely.