Any time is a good time for a close look at the brake chambers on a truck, tractor, or dolly. But winter — when the snow falls and the road salt flies — is perhaps the best time to do it. Call it insurance.

Although brake chambers manufactured by reputable companies undergo stringent salt-spray tests to ensure resistance to corrosion, road salt still is no friend to metal. Corrosion can lead to air leaks and deterioration of interior parts, such as diaphragms and return springs.

It’s also possible for road grime to enter and gather in the rear housing of the spring-brake chamber, preventing full release of the spring mechanism.

Because of these threats, diligent mechanics will naturally want to take a closer look at spring-brake chambers during these winter months. So there’s no better time to remind them to work with caution.

On a spring-brake chamber, the powerful actuating spring has, on rare occasions, been known to break loose. The spring explodes out of the chamber, usually with enough force to seriously injure or kill a person who may be in the way.

This type of accident often happens when a mechanic is working on the chamber, manually compressing the spring with a wrench on its release bolt, or trying to remove it. It’s usually preventable.

Carefully removing the brake chamber as a unit and replacing the entire assembly, caging the chamber before beginning work, or using a brake chamber unit with a sealed spring chamber may have averted an explosion.

Thorough training, chamber safety cages, and hardware from a reputable supplier are the most critical steps toward averting a potentially dangerous situation.

Spotting corrosion — particularly at the base of the chamber — before it has a chance to contribute to a catastrophe is another good step, however. It’s something mechanics and drivers alike can look for while checking the vehicle undercarriage.

And remember — any time is a good time to remind mechanics to use common sense and a dose of caution around brake chambers.