Explain the term “independent brake”:
- A device which causes the braking system to operate each wheel independently.
- It is a device operated by the driver during continuous and steep descents.
- A device within the braking system that brakes each wheel independently when the vehicle is slipping.
- Correct answer: A spring loaded device that operates the braking system independently, and that starts operating when the air pressure in the braking system drops below its required level.
Why this is the answer
The correct answer in the official bank: A spring loaded device that operates the braking system independently, and that starts operating when the air pressure in the braking system drops below its required level.
The independent brake is a spring-loaded device that applies the brakes on its own, without the driver, when air pressure in the braking system falls below the required level. It is a safety feature of heavy vehicles with air brakes: if air leaks or the system fails, the vehicle is braked instead of being left without brakes. The device used on long steep descents is a retarder, and per-wheel braking during skids is ABS.