Sorry I just want to say how do you guys get your Z endorsment when you don't know how to do a pretrip inspection?

The proper way the ministry here in Ontario tells us we have to inspect our brakes is first you go under and mark the pushrod at the chamber and then you have a brake bar or something that you use to push the brake pedal in and prop it against the seat or the steering wheel or maybe even the dash whatever works well so that you have a minimum of 60lbs of air applied to your brake system. Then you measure from where you marked the pushrod to the chamber and with a standard 30/30 brake chamber you should have less then 2' distance between your mark and your chamber. Now obviously you need to have your wheels chocked and your spring brakes released when you are doing this.

On a side not there are quicker and easier ways of doing it like chocking your wheels, releasing your spring brakes and crawling under with a large pry bar and prying the pushrod out of the chamber to the full extent and if it moves less then 2' your good for a standard 30/30 chamber.

Also Ive been told by many people that the main reason auto slack adjusters go out of adjustment is because the clevis pins and seized and cannot move or rotate freely causing the auto slack mechanism to bind and not adjust. Also Ive heard as well that tightening the slack adjuster is fine but its when you back them off that you strip the worm gear inside and when that is stripped your slack adjuster wont work properly

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2000EX Western Star, 2WS, Pittsburgh Power, 800 Marine Camshaft, 59 Injectors.

You can remove the clevis pins so that the cam will turn if you manually turn the slack

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2000EX Western Star, 2WS, Pittsburgh Power, 800 Marine Camshaft, 59 Injectors.

Correct. Only a licensed mechanic is "Legally" allowed to adjust manual slack adjusters anyways. But tipically if they are out of adjustment either thye weren't put on properly or there is something wrong.

And no if the push rod moves 1/4 inch it does not need adjusted. You have to know what kind of brake chamber you are dealing with before you can measure the pushrod stroke of the chamber to see if it is within specification. Theres all different kinds of brake chambers 15, 20, 30, 30/30 are the most common ones I see and there is also standard stroke and long stroke style chambers.

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2000EX Western Star, 2WS, Pittsburgh Power, 800 Marine Camshaft, 59 Injectors.

That is a good way to get them out of adjustment...

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A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

quarter inch is set up pretty tight i do believe.

like was mentioned most brake chambers are in the 1-1 and a half range. once you hit the 2 inch mark you are at the limit for most chambers

They say it takes a pretty hard brake application to adjust the auto slacks.

so we were taught that on the pre- trip, do three hard brake applications, and this will adjust them up. (provided everything is working)

our harsh winters and all the road salt will seize clevis pins tight. I have seen brakes not releasing properly due to siezed pins.

And of course, all truckers in Ontario do this on all pre-trips as required.

Even in the winter when you can not find the slack adjusters for snow build up.

I don't know about Canada, but here is US you don't have to be licensed to adjust slack adjusters or any other brake job.

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Must just be a thing in Canada, cause if you get pulled into a scale and they say you got a brake out of adjustment unless your a licensed mechanic you have to call somebody to turn the 7/16 nut on the slack slightly to bring the stroke under 2'. Doesn't matter if you know how to or not you have to show them a license.

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2000EX Western Star, 2WS, Pittsburgh Power, 800 Marine Camshaft, 59 Injectors.

2" sounds like a lot. Normally they don't allow more than 1" here. I hope they do good testing for those licenses. Some of the so called road experts they can send out here don't know how to pour pee out of a boot. lol

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