5 Reasons Your Truck’s Brakes Wear Out Faster Than They Should

Brakes keep you, your cargo, and everyone else on the road safe. But what happens when they start wearing out faster than expected? If your truck’s brake system seems to be giving up long before it should, you're not alone. 

Premature brake wear is one of the most common—and avoidable—issues in heavy-duty truck maintenance. Here you’ll find five key reasons why your truck’s brakes might be burning out ahead of schedule and what you can do to keep them running strong.

1. Overusing the Service Brakes on Downhill Grades

Ever ride your brakes going down a hill? It might feel safer, but you’re actually speeding up wear and cooking your brake shoes. On long declines, continuous braking generates extreme heat, and heat is the enemy of your brake drums, shoes, and air system.

Instead, rely on your engine brake or retarder system when descending. These systems reduce your truck’s speed without putting added stress on the brake components. Using them preserves your service brakes for when you really need them.

2. Slack Adjuster Misalignment or Failure

Your slack adjusters play a critical role in how your drum brakes perform. They help compensate for wear in the brake shoes by shortening the stroke needed to apply them. When slack adjusters are out of adjustment—or worse, malfunctioning—your pushrod has to travel further to engage the S-cam, which wears everything down faster.

Plus, if one adjuster isn't aligned properly, it can throw off braking balance across axles. That imbalance increases wear on individual wheels, often leading to premature failure.

Pro tip: Regular inspections of automatic slack adjusters are essential. Just because they’re “automatic,” they’re not immune to failure.

3. Moisture in the Air System

Moisture in air brake systems is corrosive. If your air dryer isn’t doing its job, water gets into your air lines, service chambers, and even brake valves, especially in colder climates like Edmonton. That water can freeze in winter, preventing proper air pressure from building and causing brake drag or uneven application.

Over time, moisture corrodes internal components, reducing their lifespan. This often leads to uneven wear and compromised performance under load.

Routine maintenance of your air dryer and tanks is critical—don’t skip the purging cycle, especially before the deep freeze hits.

4. Riding the Brakes in Traffic or Urban Routes

Stop-and-go driving is brutal on brakes. If your fleet runs local routes through Edmonton’s city core or suburban industrial zones, your drivers are probably using the brakes far more than those cruising the Yellowhead Highway. Every tap of the brake pedal activates your entire air brake system, and over time, that adds up.

You might even be unintentionally “riding” the brakes without noticing it—resting your foot too lightly on the pedal. That keeps the brake shoes slightly engaged with the drum, generating heat and friction constantly.

Driver coaching and awareness training go a long way here. Encourage using proper spacing and coasting techniques to limit unnecessary brake use.

5. Ignoring Preventive Maintenance Intervals

When you’re juggling a busy schedule, preventive maintenance can feel like a chore. But neglecting it is a fast track to premature brake wear.

Worn-out brake shoes that don’t get replaced in time can start grinding into the brake drum, damaging both. Slack adjusters can fail slowly without you noticing. Air tanks can build up moisture and debris. The list goes on.

Scheduled inspections and professional heavy-duty brake services—especially on high-mileage rigs—are your first line of defence. Follow manufacturer intervals, but don’t be afraid to shorten them if your truck is in demanding duty cycles.

Final Thoughts

Your truck’s brake system is built tough, but it’s not invincible. Whether it’s moisture in your air lines, unbalanced slack adjusters, or simply too much pedal time in traffic, these issues can send your brake life plummeting if left unchecked.

But the good news? Most of these problems are preventable. Stay on top of maintenance, coach your drivers, and monitor performance metrics. You’ll not only extend brake life but boost safety and uptime across your fleet.

Not sure if your brakes are in the danger zone? Schedule a full brake system inspection with our team at Trucklife Fleet Services in Edmonton. Our experienced techs can help diagnose issues early, adjust slack, test your air system, and keep your fleet safely on the road.