Air Brakes & Hydraulics

Every truck with air brakes has an air compressor on the engine. The air compressor keeps the air tanks full, so there is always air available to stop the truck. All air has a certain level of humidity which means that there is always water vapor in the atmosphere no matter if you’re in a dry or damp climate. Air is heated as it’s compressed, and it cools as it travels through the discharge line to the air tank. This cooling results in condensation creating pools of water in the bottom of the truck’s air tanks. You will also find oil from the compressor and any contaminants that made it through the compressors air filter in the the water.

Air dryers were created to minimize the amount of moisture and other contaminants that make it to the air tanks. The AD-9 air dryer alternates between two modes or “cycles” during use, the charge cycle and the purge cycle. Both cycles play an important part in keeping your air tanks as clean as possible.