Adjusting Brakes

We don't wish. If you can't honor a few simple rules there are other forums. I suggest you join the Webster's Dictionary forum if you want perfection. Truck drivers come from all walks of life and I'm sure there are many that can do other things much better than you. Do you see them degrading you? They have all right to post here if they want and with freedom from ridicule.

From one of your old posts...

You aren't as perfect as you thought!

Ease up cheesy!

 

Whoooa-okay! Back to topic... I part-time, see a truck weekly so I ALWAYS adjust the brakes on the drives to 1/4 from tight to drum and if they don't click on the way back from the drum, I know the slack adjuster needs replaced, altho I'll do the run and write up the slack aduster after and just mindful that it will probably go out of adjustment again quickly. Am usually out 2-3 days max.

Plus this gives me a close up of the underside. I borrow a creeper from the shop and should have coveralls but just change into some old clothes, which get dirtied every time.

I leave the steers alone but would adjust out on the road if necessary. If there seems to be a problem with the steers in the yard I have the shop futz with it. Carry both a 7/16 long 1/2" socket and 9/16 for just that reason. Will start to carry caging bolts due to a recent experience where I had to wait on delivery property twiddling my proverbials within a hundred feet of where I needed to drop trailer and had to wait on service truck. Trailer gladhand receiver assembly had been jerry-rigged, temp-fix and I didn't notice. Snapped off in an easy turn-around. Caging bolts, that's the ticket!

Could have spotted the trailer and been on my way. But no-o-o!

 

Mah shpellin sux and yah all put up wif me~!

 

Adjusting brakes is a cake walk. I learned in school and my company has us do it. Sure doesn't take a rocket scientist...or an English major for that matter. Lol

 

I got an 06 columbia and 2 of my brakes were out of adjustment. The TA guys said he couldn't touch um while working for ta, but could take care of it on his lunch. He adjusted them (now I know how but didnt back then). people say if out of adjustment with auto slack then something is broken. He adjusted mine 30,000 miles ago and they did not fall back out of adjustment. Some times i think the old autos get stuck and if you adjust them once they will start working again. Either way, I keep a close eye on them and they have been fine.

 

Mechanics adjust autos all the time in company shops. They'll admit it if you ask. But if they don't click, they need replaced. STexan's PDF from IdeaLease is excellent:

"Adjusting Automatic Slack Adjusters
April 22, 2011
Air braked vehicles subject to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 49 CFR §571.121 and Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMV) subject to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation (FMCSR) 49 CFR§393.53(b),(c), manufactured after October 20, 1994 are required to be equipped automatic brake adjusters.

Question: Why do we see so many roadside inspections with violations for brakes out of adjustment?

Answer: With automatic slack adjusters on almost all commercial motor vehicles today a portion of these violations can be attributed to the technical working of the automatic slack adjuster.

Professional drivers will maintain a space cushion between them and the vehicles in front of them. When applying the brakes they will usually apply the brakes with 15% to 25% air application. Only in a defensive action will a driver apply the brakes with greater than 60% air application. These braking incidents are referred to as “Panic Stops” or “Rapid De-acceleration Occurrences”.

Analysis reflects that most professional drivers will require less than six of this type of brake application per 1,000 miles driven.

Most International trucks are equipped with a “stroke sensitive” automatic adjuster. This type of slack adjuster adjusts the brakes on the return stroke. This adjustment occurs only when the application is greater than 60%.The safer the driver operates the unit, the less opportunity there is for an automatic brake adjustment."

 

The IdeaLease article continues:

"To ensure that the brakes are always in adjustment, the following is recommended:

1. During your pre-trip inspection complete 10 full brake applications while the unit is parked. A slack adjuster will adjust approximately 1⁄2 inch with every 10 full brake applications. By including this procedure as part of your pre-trip inspection will ensure that your brakes are always fully in adjustment. In the event of a roadside inspection, repeat this process while waiting your turn in the inspection process. This will ensure that the automatic slack adjuster have the adjusted the brakes to compliance.

2. During the Pre-Trip inspection, a driver is required by D.O.T. to check the low air pressure-warning device. This should be audible at 60 psi. To check this device the air pressure must be lowered to 60 psi. If while accomplishing this portion of the inspection, a driver would fully apply and release, the air pressure should drop approximately 4 psi with each application.


Squeaking Brakes – Another condition attributed to “feathering or low psi” brake applications is noisy brakes when stopping. Many times this is created by crystallized lining, which occurs when the brakes are repeatedly applied with low psi applications. This can be minimized with four or five firm brake applications or rapid de-acceleration stops. If your brakes are noisy, try bringing the vehicle to a stop with four or five firm brake applications each week. Always check to see that there are no vehicles following you if you do this procedure."

Good info! Thx STexan! (Msg #3, this thread.)

 

Oh boy,guess no one noticed the warning sign" CAJUN" bahahaha

 

http://www.idealease-abetterway.com/safetycompliance/04_22_2011.pdf
so, according to this article, kudos to those who like to tailgate and do hard braking events. In actuality, they are just keeping all the brakes adjusted, on the fly, for the benefit of those of us who are real gentle on brake systems ... and it's not bad driving habits and styles we're witnessing, it's servicing in progress???

 

STexan also posted (earlier):

Ha-ha. It was YOUR post and I thanked you for it! But if you've changed your mind...