Trailer Air Leaks and Brake Problems: What Phoenix Truckers Should Watch For
How to find air leaks and spot brake trouble early, from Fast & Furious Trailer Repair in Phoenix.
Quick answer: The most common trailer air problems are cracked or rubbing air lines, worn gladhand seals and leaking fittings or brake chambers. Listen for hissing on your walkaround, check the gladhands and lines for cracks and chafing, and watch for brakes that drag, pull to one side or are slow to release. A small air leak is easy to put off, but it can turn into a trailer that will not release on the shoulder. Fast & Furious Trailer Repair fixes trailer brakes and air lines in Phoenix; call or text (623) 707-9373.
Brakes and air lines take a beating in the Valley. Long downgrades coming into Phoenix, stop-and-go traffic on I-10 and summer heat wear shoes and drums and dry out rubber lines and gladhand seals. Here is how to catch air and brake problems early and what to do when you find one.
Where trailer air leaks usually start
Gladhands and seals
The gladhand seals take wear every time the trailer is hooked and unhooked. A cracked, flattened or missing seal is one of the most common leaks we see, and it is usually an easy fix.
Air lines and hoses
Lines that rub on the frame, hang low or sit in the sun dry out and crack. Look for chafed spots, kinks and lines that have been zip-tied in a bad place.
Fittings and brake chambers
Fittings can loosen with vibration, and brake chambers can leak or stop working right. A leak at a chamber can also show up as a brake that drags or will not release.
How to check for an air leak
- With the trailer aired up, walk around it and listen for hissing at the gladhands, lines, fittings and chambers
- Watch your air gauges for pressure that drops faster than it should
- Spray soapy water on a suspect fitting or seal; bubbles mean a leak
- Look for oily, dirty spots at fittings, which can point to a slow leak
- Check the gladhands and lines for cracks, rubbing and loose mounts
Add these checks to your pre-trip. The trailer inspection checklist covers the rest of the trailer.
Brake warning signs
- The trailer pulls to one side when you brake
- Brakes drag, smell hot, or one wheel end runs much hotter than the others
- Grinding or scraping noises
- The trailer will not release, or releases slowly
- A brake failed or was written up at an inspection
A trailer that pulls to one side is often a brake problem on one side, but a bent axle, a bearing or a tire can do it too. See why a trailer pulls to one side.
Dragging brakes are not just a brake problem
Dragging brakes overheat and can damage drums, hubs and tires. A hot wheel end can also be a hub or bearing problem, and a leaking seal can soak brake shoes in oil, so the whole wheel end gets checked. Call or text before you keep running a trailer with dragging brakes. See axles, hubs and bearings and signs of a bad wheel bearing.
Brake and air work at the shop
- Brake shoes and drums
- Brake adjustment and slack adjusters
- Air lines, hoses and fittings
- Gladhands and gladhand seals
- Brake chambers
- Brakes on utility, car hauler and equipment trailers
If the axle is bent or the frame is cracked near the hangers, axle work and welding can be handled in the same visit. See trailer brake and air line repair, can a bent axle be repaired? and the frame and beam welding guide.
Trailers we work on
Fast & Furious works on dry vans, reefers and flatbeds for carriers and owner-operators, plus utility, car hauler and equipment trailers. See semi and reefer trailer repair and utility and equipment trailers.
Get your trailer in
The shop is at 6639 W Fulton St, Phoenix, AZ 85043, close to I-10, and repairs are often available the next day. Call or text (623) 707-9373 with the trailer type and the problem, send a request from the contact page or see customer reviews.
Still have a question?
Call or text (623) 707-9373 and ask.