Braking to the fore: with braking demand on heavy-duty trucks increasing, steer-axle brakes bear closer examination

Steer-axle brakes have gained acceptance in the trucking industry, thanks in part to the advent of antilock braking systems (ABS), which assure that drivers will retain steering control in lockup situations. Federal law has mandated the installation of steer-axle, or front, brakes on heavy trucks since 1988, and ABS will be required starting in Mar 1997. Several improved or new steer-axle brakes are reaching the market in 1997.