since 1940

Aircraft Maintenance TroubleShoot

Spongy pedal. Soft brake. Excessive toe pedal travel

Brake drag

Rapid disk and lining wear

Brakes won't hold

Cracked or distorted wheel or wheel half

Damaged bearing cone

Worn or damaged seals

Heat cracks in Piper Aztec Brake Disk, p/n 164-32F, 164-57

Brake lock-up

Cracks around brake disk mounting holes on Beech Bonanza

There are two types of brake linings generally used on small aircraft: organic and metallic. Generally, smaller, lighter aircraft, such as the Cessna 182, use the organic lining; larger aircraft use the metallic lining.

 

Metallic Linings Metallic linings use a pin instead of a rivet. Backs of Rapco linings are zinc chromate primed for corrosion protection. Cleveland is bare steel.

Organic Linings Organic linings are riveted onto backplate. Notice holes go all the way through on the organic lining

RAPCO, Inc. Brake Disc Wear-in Procedure

Our normal break-in procedure for brake discs using the Rapco, Inc. RA164- discs, is to get the friction material hot (Approx. 850 Deg. F.) by performing the following:

Use proper maintenance techniques by insuring that the friction material is completely clean and dry of all solvents and hydraulic fluid
Perform a moderate-speed taxi (10-15Kts ground speed), insuring that you have proper braking (There will be very little brake action at first).
Allow the brake to cool by taxiing across the airport or down field, without using brakes. If you are not going to fly the aircraft during the break-in procedure, then allow the brakes to cool
for 45 min. until the next high-speed taxi stop.
Once you've established positive brake action, you can proceed to a full-stop landing using significant braking. (Short field landing procedure). At this time the pilot should notice the brakes starting to grab more. If this is sufficient braking action, there is no need for another stop cycle.
Perform another short field landing, leaving the landing gear extended throughout the landing pattern. This allows the brakes to cool properly before the next heat cycle. After this landing you should have significant brake action

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Disclaimer: sacskyranch.com contains abundant information relating to aircraft maintenance. The information provided  is not intended to supercede or supplement the F.A.A. approved  maintenance and/or operator’s manuals. Those F.A.A. approved manuals must be utilized when performing maintenance and/or operating aircraft.