Brake chambers..

The “Original Maxi” by MGM. All aluminum.

 

There is going to be a big ### spring in there loaded.

 

Its probably toast inside but who knows. They made stuff to last and be servicable back then. It might still work for awhile. Its an original on a ‘68 aluminum White-Western Star frame that has been sitting out in the yard since one of my uncles drivers RIP ‘d it when it was totaled by a huge bull standing out on a dark road around 1983. He was supposedly doing triple digits. Cab and hood were scrap!

 

In the 70's or early 80's had one blow apart. You are probably aware..that steel and aluminum cast, or just aluminum don't get along. Anyway the coiled spring finally overpowered the weakening cast aluminum and blew apart she did. Watch that old maxi, it may be a ticking time bomb.

 

Well at 60 to 100 p/hr shop labor rate and time spent waiting to even get into the shop..theres your answer. Plus it's one thing I can do easily so why pay someone and diaphragms are like 5 to 7 bucks. Don't get me wrong, I am not a do it yourself on some other things.

 

I hear you. My ‘67 Pete still had 2 of the original Anchor Lok all aluminum chambers on it till 2003. The Anchor Lok’s I believe were the first design to have the removeable center caging bolt with rubber cap. This truck has had spring brakes on both rear axles since new which is rare. One finally started to leak and was just worn out and pitted bad around the bands. I went ahead and replaced all 4 with new Bendix chambers and those were the first time I’d seen the tamperproof sealed bands.
I took one of the old A-L’s apart and the spring was surprisingly still good but the inside was full of that telltale white aluminum powder of death.

 

The "powder of death" so true..good one. Lol

 

Is that a built in cage bolt ?

 

To stop air Pressure. Take line off and put a coin in the fitting and put line back on..

 

Nothing wrong with pinching off the hose to a leaker, backing off the brake, and running till you can get it fixed. Not even an OOS event,it’s legal to run it that way.Proper way, to keep from being stuck on the side of the road, I can’t believe no one mentioned this. I’ve had to do it at least 3 or 4 times on trailers, over the years.