Drivers adjusting brakes

cant really expect much out of drivers being paid less than min wage

 

In the old days either a half inch or a 9/16 got em settled prior to the auto adjusters.

Now they started to regulate who is legally allowed to get under and adjust brakes with autos adjusters. You need training and a certification to be issued to you before you are allowed to deal with those slack adjusters.

I havent adjusted brakes in any truck with auto adjusters essentially. There was a time where you could use up all of your primary and secondary air in 7 very large and powerful applications to quickly get most if not all the adjusters into limit stroke range hopefully. But that is not truly adjusting them like a certified trained person would do it.

In fact it's not ideal to try my work around, trucks today are likely to report massive brake applications or seriously fast stops over the satellite to your company computers leading to questions.

If a rig is not in adjustment with a chalkmark on the stroke rod and ruler on and off parking during PTI then the shop gets a hold of it and settles that problem. It has to be in adjustment.

The differences between the time of the manual adjusters to today's auto slack adjusters are night and day. Ive put away my 9/16th or half inch wrenches decades ago. And I don't miss them. Too much. Used to be a little bit of a loss of a few minutes going under a farm truck that isnt stopping like she should and manually getting them back into adjustment so you can actually stop much better. It is the difference between hitting someone or not. When the autos came along, it's a blessing. But you need to be trained and certified to touch them legally now.

 

I have adjusted brakes when necessary... Like when I pick up a trailer all the way across the country from my 1 and only terminal... It wouldn't even hold to slide the tandams... All 4 corners just rolled both empty and loaded, both with trailer brakes set, and with air supplied and trolly valve pulled. But before I ever did that I had gotten with our mechanic and discussed if such a need should arise, he had me adjust a set in front of him so he could watch and then check them. He said he was fine with me making adjustments if needed out on the road but to always let him know that I had done so ASAP.

 

SWHs....

 

That must have been a LOONG time ago. Because with properly working slack adjusters. Driver or anybody can adjust the breaks all they want. But the first push on the break pedal and back they go to same position they were in, before said person "adjusted" them.

 

Did someone here mention that driving in reverse, then hitting the brakes hard, will adjust them, if you have automatic adjusters?

That's what I started doing, and so far, my brakes are always within specs. (maybe it's just me)

 

Only works with automotive style drum brakes. They have a star-wheel adjuster between the shoes that gets turned by an arm when brakes are applied in reverse. Commercial trucks have solid anchor points at the ends opposite of the camshaft. The slack adjusters are the only spot where there is any ability for adjustment.

 

@AModelCat Thanks for the clarification. The more you know!!!

 

Wish I had a photo to share. I just did all the brakes and cam bushings on the back end of my truck recently.

 

What could possibly go wrong?