There is a Better, Safer, Easier Way to Have Technicians do Brake Maintenance
Learn how BrakeMate can ensure the safety of technicians, while also saving time.
Episode 54: Mark Keegans is the Managing Director at BrakeMate. In this episode, we discuss a tool that has been designed as an elevated service platform for servicing heavy vehicle disc brake assemblies.
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Show Notes
Question 1: Air disc brakes are becoming more popular on heavy-duty trucks and trailers and have long been the standard on transit buses. When did it become apparent that the industry needed a new tool?
Air disk brakes have been on vehicles in Europe far before they were in America. In 2013, disk brakes advanced, and greatly reduced the stopping difference.
Question 2: Tell us the story of designing the BrakeMate.
BrakeMate was developed in Australia and began when a guy saw technicians working around him struggling, at risk of injury, and decided that there must be a better way.
Question 3: How does the BrakeMate work?
BrakeMate consists of two trolley tables. One is used to remove the caliper without the technician having to physically carry it. The second table is used to take off the hub and rotor assembly as one unit, which can also be used to separate the hub and rotor.
Question 4: What is the impact on the repair technicians’ body?
Depending on the shop you’re working on, there is different wear on the body. But whenever you must pick up heavy parts, or equipment, you’re putting a strain on your joints. The potential injuries are very high, whereas, with BrakeMate, the risks that come with brake removal are alleviated.
Question 5: Time is money, how much time can the BrakeMate save?
The only thing we can’t get back is time, and sometimes we can’t completely undo the damage our body has taken. Injuries can happen on the job, but with the safe removal aspect of BrakeMate, lost time and money caused by injuries are drastically reduced. Brakemate on average also saves an hour of work time per wheel-end.
Question 6: The BrakeMate is also a great tool for other wheel-end parts. Can you expand on that?
BrakeMate can be used for seals and bearings. Also, a drum adapter was made available in order to remove drum brakes.
Question 7: If there is one thing you want the listeners to take away from today’s conversation, what is that one thing?
There is a better, safer, easier way to have technicians do air disk brakes, and that’s with BrakeMate.
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