FOCUS ON OLDER ABS VALVES

In the mid 1980's trailer manufacturers started to fit early versions of ABS, mainly Grau & Bendix. When these systems were fitted tractor units did not park with the trailer service brake applied, but by 1993 tractors units built on the continent started to use this system and now all tractor units have adopted this parking method. In addition system pressure have increased from 8 to 11bar, so the poor old ABS valve now leaks down overnight. WHY?

The valve works fine under normal on road braking, but when parked in an applied state the pressures on each side of the control piston level out and this reduces the downward force resulting in gradual air loss through the exhaust, until the tanks are empty.

Our MCER kit stops this happening by maintaining a differential within the valve, this has no effect on normal braking but prevents overnight air loss. To prove our theory out we first fitted these almost a year ago, then monitored their performance to check it was a lasting fix for the problem.

FOCUS ON NEW UK ABS SUSIE LAWS

In April next year new laws come into effect concerning ABS ISO7638 dedicated leads. This 5 pin ABS lead is now common place on new tractor and trailer combinations, but older tractor units are not equipped with the ISO7638 socket.

Our new 7638 kit gets around the problem quickly and easily at modest cost. All the older tractor units were fitted with 24S (supplementary) sockets for Fog & Reverse lights, our kit simply uses this socket to provide both ABS (ISO7638) and 24S (Supplementary) connections