When you work with equipment that rolls, reliable brakes are a must. In order to maintain control—and a sake work environment—you need caster wheels and brakes you can trust. At Caster Central, we know that brakes on carts are essential, and so is choosing the right type of brake for your application. There are many different brake options, and we have brakes for caster wheels of any size.

Here at Caster Central, we specialize in caster products and brakes. A significant problem our customers face is deciding what caster brake they will need for their jobs. With a warehouse full of various rigid casters and brakes, how could you tell which brakes you will need for your business?

Factors in Choosing the Right Brakes for Caster Wheels

When you look for brakes for caster wheels, there are many options to explore, from simple cam wheel brakes to . When choosing the right caster brakes, you need to consider factors such as:

• The job you are trying to do
• The weight load
• How many times you need to press on the brake throughout the day
• How long you need the brake to hold in place
• How you want to activate the brake
• If you want the caster brake to touch the wheel or not

What Are the Options for Selecting Caster Brakes?

Cam Wheel Brakes

A common cam wheel brake is typically used on lighter casters but works very well for heavy loads. These brakes make it easy to move more oversized items and heavy loads. They tighten against the hub wheel instead of using another piece of metal on the wheel face. They do, however, loosen over time, so they will never lock into place.

Top Lock Brakes

This common brake is engaged from side to side. They use an L-bar that stops the wheels, so someone will have to push down on it. They do, however, loosen over time, so they will never lock into place.

Tech Lock or Face Contact Brake

A definite braking system that tightens the brake shoe against the front of the wheel, which stops both the wheel and swivel. The lever used to activate the brakes does lock the wheel in place. Sometimes, these brakes will use a manual screw to tighten the brakes. This brake is excellent for medium loads.

Single Side Brake

A side wheel brake has a switch on only one side that totally locks into place. The more force that is applied, the tighter the brakes will be. These brakes diminish over time, so they’re great for jobs that don’t require using the brakes too frequently.

Dual Side Brake

A dual side wheel brake contains a switch on each side, so both switches have to be activated to work. They have a total lock brake which locks into place. The more force applied, the tighter the brakes will be. These brakes diminish over time, so they’re great for jobs that don’t require using the brakes too frequently.

Wrap Around Wheel Brake

These are similar to side wheel brakes but offer total access to the brake regardless of the caster. You can activate the brake with your foot, saving time. These brakes work great for medium loads.

Nylon Brake

These corrosion-resistant brakes lock both the wheel and swivel and are excellent for medium-size loads. 

Face Contact Brake

This is a perfect brake for lightweight loads; it completely locks the wheel in place and prevents swiveling. You must tighten the brake by pressing a pedal or turning a T-handle screw.They can control how much pressure is put between the brake and the wheel.

Poly Cam Brake

Great for heavy loads, this lock uses a metal pad to keep the wheel from rotating, skidding, or slipping. It is adjustable, so you can increase and decrease the pressure of the pads against the wheel with ease using your foot.

Dead Man’s Brake

These are more complex brakes that use cables connected to the brakes on a rigid caster. You must squeeze the lever to move the cart. Once you let go, the brakes are activated. These brakes come in handy if an incline is present.

Floor Lock Brake

This brake rests in the middle of the cart, not on the caster wheels like other brake models. It comes down firmly to the floor to temporarily stop the cart from moving. Because this brake does not touch the casters, it offers less stability and is not the ideal brake for wheeled equipment.

Learn More About Caster Central

As a proud member of the National Caster Alliance and the Storage Consultant Agency, Caster Central is a trusted caster brake expert. With our experienced sales staff and inside and outside sales teams, finding the proper caster brake for your work is easy. We have a tier-one distributor for all our suppliers, so we always have a local supply of caster brakes at the ready.

With our competitive pricing, anything is possible for you to find the proper caster brakes that are perfect for your work. Whether that work is OEM manufacturing, medical OEM, medical MRO, high tech OEM, food service, the MRO replacement business, biotech, or even something else, we are more than happy to help you find what you need.

A significant problem our customers face is deciding what caster brake they will need. With a warehouse full of various rigid casters and brakes, how could you tell which brakes you will need for your business? That’s where we come in.

Contact Us Today!

At Caster Central in Pembroke, Massachusetts, we are experts in the caster and material handling field. We can help you choose the brakes for caster wheels you need and answer all your questions with ease. Our excellent service also provides designing, installation, and material handling, which sets us apart from our competitors.

We are open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. Call us any time between those hours at (800) 445-4082, or send a message to us any time through SMS text. You can also email us at info@wthight.com at any time. We will get back to you as soon as possible.