Michigan CDL Air Brakes study plan

Michigan CDL Air Brakes · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 6 hours per week

Week 1

Air Brake System Components and Operation

Label each major air brake component (compressor, governor, reservoir, safety valve, foot valve, brake chamber, slack adjuster, pushrod, foundation brake) on a blank diagram you draw yourself
Explain in writing how the compressor and governor cycle together to hold system pressure between cut-in and cut-out
Trace the path of air from compressor to brake chamber when the treadle is pressed, naming each component in order
Define the roles of the supply reservoir and the primary and secondary circuits, and state why the circuits must be isolated from each other

A hand-drawn, fully labeled air brake system diagram with a one-page written walkthrough of the apply-and-release air path

Week 2

Describe how a dual-circuit system splits into primary and secondary circuits and what each circuit typically protects
Explain the function of the spring (parking) brake chamber and how air pressure releases it
State the purpose of the low-pressure warning device and when it must activate
List the three types of braking systems every CDL vehicle must have and define each in one sentence

A 20-item self-quiz you write yourself covering component functions, scored with corrections noted for every miss

Week 3

Sequence the steps of the pre-trip air brake inspection in the order you would actually perform them at the vehicle
Explain what you are checking when you test for leaks at the compressor, lines, and chambers, and what a passing result looks like
Describe how to check slack adjuster travel and state the pushrod stroke limit rule in plain terms
Identify the signs of a worn or contaminated brake chamber, drum, or lining and state the action to take for each

A written pre-trip inspection checklist in your own words, ordered step by step, with the pass criterion for each step

Week 4

Perform and record the static leak-down test: build pressure, shut off the engine, and note acceptable loss over one minute for a single vehicle
Explain what a rapid pressure loss during the applied-brake test tells you and what you must do before driving
Describe how to drain air tanks and why moisture and oil carryover damage the system
State the correct procedure for checking the low-pressure warning device and the emergency spring brake pop-out

A completed leak-test log sheet with your measured pressures, elapsed times, pass/fail judgments, and a written note on any corrective action

Week 5

Explain what happens to braking when the compressor fails and how far you can safely continue
Describe the conditions that trigger spring brake application and how to move a vehicle that has automatically applied its parking brakes
List the steps to take when the low-pressure warning activates while driving
Explain how to use the parking brake, gearing, and terrain to control speed if service brakes are fading on a downgrade

A one-page emergency action card listing at least five failure scenarios with the exact steps you would take for each

Week 6

Explain the purpose of the alcohol evaporator or air dryer and what happens if it is neglected
Describe how to test the service brake response and stopping distance expectations for a loaded vehicle at a given speed
State the rules for when a driver must place the vehicle out of service due to an air brake defect
Explain how brake fade differs from a mechanical failure and what the driver should do in each case

A written comparison of at least four air brake defects, each with the defect, the test that reveals it, and the required driver action

Week 7

Recite the seven-step air brake check in order from memory and explain the purpose of each step
Describe the correct procedure for the applied-brake leak test and the acceptable pressure loss
Explain how to check that the spring brakes apply and release properly during the pre-trip
State the rules for adjusting slack adjusters and when adjustment is not permitted

A recorded or written recitation of the seven-step air brake check with an explanation of each step, timed to under five minutes

Week 8

Answer 50 mixed practice questions across all four domains and score at least 90 percent
Review every missed question and write the correct reasoning in your own words
Re-perform the full pre-trip air brake inspection end to end without notes
Explain the most common causes of air brake failure and how each is prevented

A scored 50-question practice test with a written correction log for every miss and a final self-assessment paragraph naming your two weakest areas

Week 2: Can label every major component on a blank diagram and explain the apply-and-release air path without notes

Week 4: Can perform and correctly interpret the static leak-down test, including stating acceptable pressure loss and required action on failure

Week 6: Can describe the driver action for at least five distinct air brake failure scenarios with no reference material

Week 8: Scores at least 90 percent on a 50-question mixed practice test and completes the full pre-trip inspection without notes