Brake Adjustment Test?

i never did.

nearly every company i worked for, never wanted us to monkey around with the mechanicals of the rig.

 

Yes, left out that somewhat important point.

 

I don't know how guys today would survive if the were given a trailer with manual slack adjusters. Every major hill they'd be stopped at the top waiting for a mechanic to spin an adjuster bolt (for $150/hr).

 

back in my "older days" all we had were manual adjusters. yes, automatic slack adjusters "can be" adjusted as well. but, many of my former employers would have rather we called for a place to go, to get the brakes adjusted. it was to "ensure" that it was done properly and with in specs.

not that a well educated driver cannot do it, but the safety aspect and lawsuits that can come of misadjusted brakes are easier for the lawyers to chase after a so-called professional mechanic, hopefully, releasing the trucking companies from negligent lawsuits.

 

auto brake adjusters with more then 1 inch of play. when pulled on at parked are bad. engine belt shouldn't have no more then 3/4th of play. leak down test. 3psi down no trailer. truck and trailer 4psi. both in 1 minute. yall should know this stuff.

 

I don’t think that will help with the adjustment. Every time that I do that, I end up with a whole new set of problems.

 

Not necessarily. If you drive properly, the brakes won't adjust because you aren't putting enough pressure to them...which is another reason to do your brake test and really stand on the pedal as you get rid of the pressure in the system while testing the tractor protection valve and low air alarms. If other parts are worn (s-cams, bushings, etc...) the slack also won't adjust properly. The perfectly good slack may have also simply been installed wrong.

 

If I ever needed to hire a driver and they didn't know how to check brake adjustment or were unwilling to manually adjust a failed auto slack to finish the day off and get them to a shop, they'd be looking for employment elsewhere.

 

To get an accurate measurement of the total stroke, you need 90 psi applied. Slack adjusters usually go bad because they don't get greased and the clutch inside wears out. A worn slack won't adjust itself no matter how many pump downs.