How to Prepare for Brake Safety Week 2025: Focus on Drums and Rotors

PREVENT OOS BRAKE VIOLATIONS DURING BRAKE SAFETY WEEK

Brake Safety Week 2025, taking place August 24–30, is a nationwide initiative led by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). During this annual event, certified inspectors across North America will conduct thousands of roadside inspections focused on brake system performance and safety

This year, the spotlight is on brake drums and rotors, which are critical to stopping power and safety.

If you’re a fleet operator, driver, or maintenance technician, preparation is key. Failing an inspection can mean costly downtime, violations, or even putting the public at risk. 

Here’s how you can prepare.

Why Drums and Rotors Matter in 2025

This year’s focus—brake drums and rotors—is not without reason. These components are central to brake performance. If cracked, worn, or broken, they can: 

  • Decrease braking efficiency
  • Increase stopping distance
  • Dislodge while en route, damaging other vehicles or causing injury

Key Reminder: Any vehicle with brake-related out-of-service (OOS) violations will be removed from service until repairs are made.

Prepping for Brake Inspections: Key Areas to Check

Know Your Brake System

Understanding your air brake chamber size and type is fundamental. Most chambers have markings indicating size/type, which determines:

  • Maximum push rod travel
  • Acceptable tolerances for brake adjustment

Visual Inspection Checklist

During your pre- and post-trip inspections, pay close attention to these components:

  • Air brake chambers: Check for secure mounting, corrosion, or air leaks
  • Brake hoses & tubing: Look for chafing, leaks, or improper routing
  • Slack adjusters: Ensure proper adjustment and no excessive wear
  • Clevis and cotter pins: Confirm they are in place and not missing
  • Brake linings/pads: No cracks, exposed rivets, or missing blocks
  • Drums/rotors: Inspect for metal-to-metal contact, excessive rust, grooves, or cracking
  • Air lines: Check for leaks and proper connection

Emphasis on Drums and Rotors: What to Look For

Inspect:

  • Grooves in drums from worn linings
  • Shoe-to-drum clearance
  • Rust on rotors that spans the friction surface
  • Metal-to-metal contact indicating total pad/lining wear
  • Cracked drums or visible rotor fractures
  • Contaminants like oil or grease from leaking hubs

Always repair issues in accordance with the brake manufacturer’s guidelines.

Common Brake OOS Violations to Avoid

Last year, nearly 13% of vehicles inspected were placed out of service due to brake-related violations. Some of the most common issues include:

  • Broken drums
  • Corroded spring brake housings
  • Loose or leaking air tanks
  • Inoperative tractor protection valves
  • Cracked or contaminated linings
  • Improper brake adjustment
  • Service brake violations on the steering axle (12.4% failed in 2023)
  • Vehicles with ≥20% defective brakes (58.7% failed this benchmark)

What Inspectors Will Be Recording

Inspectors will document:

  • Brake conditions
  • Component integrity
  • Violations found
  • Performance-based brake tester (PBBT) results (where applicable)

CVSA will compile this data and release a public report later in the year.

Plan Now, Avoid Downtime Later

Staying ahead of brake issues takes more than a quick glance. Partnering with a maintenance expert—like CNS (Compliance Navigation Specialists)—can make a significant difference. 

A qualified provider can:

  • Track and manage your maintenance schedules
  • Ensure compliance with DOT and CVSA standards
  • Help your fleet pass inspections and avoid OOS penalties

With Brake Safety Week 2025 just around the corner, now is the time to:

  • Educate your drivers and technicians
  • Conduct thorough internal inspections
  • Address any worn or questionable brake components
  • Document everything in Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports (DVIRs)

By focusing on brake drums, rotors, and related systems, you reduce your risk of violations, enhance road safety, and keep your fleet operating efficiently. 

If you need help or have any questions, contact us at 888.260.9448 or info@cnsprotects.com and we would be glad to help.

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