Peterbilt 579 - Retarders

OPERATING THE BRAKE SYSTEM
4
Retarders
Various retarders are available, which
function against the engine, driveline,
or transmission. These are devices
that use your engine’s power to slow
down your vehicle. They save wear
and tear on your service brakes and
can be a safety feature, too, because
they can keep your brakes from
overheating.
Ideally,
you should always slow your
vehicle with your retarder (where
permitted by law) and use your service
brakes only for stopping completely.
Operating this way will greatly prolong
the life of your brakes.
WARNING!
WARNING!
Do not use any of the vehicle’s re-
tarders in any situation that requires an
immediate stop and/or in situations of
poor traction (such as wet, icy or snow
covered roads). Trying to use the re
-
tarder instead of the service brakes
may cause a loss of vehicle control,
which may result in an accident involv
-
ing death or personal injury.
The service brakes must be used in an
emergency. The retarder alone might
not stop you fast enough to prevent an
accident. Failure to comply may result
in death, personal injury, equipment or
property damage.
The retarder
is NOT intended as the
primary brake for the vehicle, nor is
it an emergency brake. The retarder
only helps the service brakes by using
pressure to
slow the drivetrain. Use
the service brakes for quick stops.
Do not
use the retarder when operating
on road surfaces with poor traction
(such as wet, icy, or snow covered
roads or gravel). Retarders can
cause the wheels to skid on a slippery
surface.
4-32
Y53-6047–2C (04/13)