adjusting brakes yourself

In defense of some of these company hands here...

Most companies don't want you adjusting brakes and in some cases it's illegal for an uncertified individual to adjust brakes.
The more they dumb down the industry the more they try to make the truck unserviceable by the drivers and for good reason...Look around you at a truckstop!

Do you want those morons under the truck trying to adjust brakes?

I sure as hell don't!

 

http://www.ntsb.gov/Events/journalist/lessons/LL_truck_air_brake.txt

They're AUTOMATIC SLACK ADJUSTERS!

If they're out of adjustment they're broke...

Please replace them.

Be safe.

 

The last trailer I had was a 2000 model and I put new breaks, drums, S cam's and bushing on it I replaced the auto slack adjusters with manuals adjusters, I know it wasnt legal to do so but $140 vs $35 plus I knew I wasnt going to keep the trailer much longer, someone else could worry about it. I want thur a level 1 insp in Mt and the officer said I must just adjusted them breaks (3/8 stroke) I told yeah I did about 3500 miles ago. But he never said a word about me having the wrong type adjusters on a 2000 model trailer.
I'll take manual adjusters over autos anytime.....But thats just me.

 

It's illegal to switch to manual slack adjusters? I never heard that before.

 

I cant qoute the model year off the top of my head but starting around 1997 I think all trailers had to have auto slack adjusters and the replacement has to be autos also.

 

Well I just got a level 1 inspection two days ago. The 1995 KW 900 that i drive has both manuels an auto. The trooper that did the inspection wrote the truck up because as he told me.(Any cmv built after 95 has to have auto slack adjusters on it.) I my self prefer the manuels. I was taught how to adjust them by a former boss n I do. Will my boss put auto's back on? Probably not.They say you are suposed to be certified to do it but I am not. It's just common sense stuff. But sadly most drivers now days don't even posess that.

 

I checked all of those as well Powder. If my life is going to depend on it, you're ###### right I wanna know it works right lol. Hell, with the way I drive my pickup I even check all of it's maintenance stuff as closely as I know how, and pay the extra when it goes in the shop for routine maintenance (just easier than trying to dispose of chemicals myself these days) to make sure I haven't missed anything.

I know even with my 07 everything that I could personally check and take care of was in good condition, I like the satisfaction that every portion of my job (whatever it may be) is done 100%.

 

Consider yourself luck:

An inspector that knew what they were looking for would have cited you for safety defects.

Be safe.

 

If your employer signs the roadside indicating all repairs were completed when they were not the carrier is subject to penalties under Part 390.35 and 396.9:

Be safe.

 

I can not disagree, I'd really like to though so don't blame me for not arguing. The only reason is because IMHO in oreder to check them one must at least know where they are. These drivers don't know an S cam from a thrust bushing, Like I said they need to knpw when they are not OK. Sorry thats the best arguement I have.....