Brakes self adjusting to tight

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by lester, Dec 30, 2021.

  1. lester

    lester Midwest's #1 Feed Hauler

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    I threw new brake shoes on the tag axle of my trailer and now one side is self adjusting too tight, to the point I can't spin the wheel by hand.

    Shoes are right, reused old drums(didn't measure but didn't look bad at all, only second set of shoes in them. Replaced slack adjuster today and no change really.
    Any ideas? Haldex slack adjuster, not sure what part # but it doesn't have the notch with arrow to setup. Has the slot on top with bar going through it and there isn't much room to adjust that bar either way, less than an inch.

    Also the brakes on the tag axle have always ran tight, not dragging tight but if I run through a whiff of snow or freezing rain and the tag is in the air it will freeze the brakes solid even without having them set. Never had brakes freeze that easy unless the were set
     
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  3. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    Pushrod length too long? They usually try and adjust to hold a 90 degree pushrod to slack adjuster angle.

    I know you didn't mention you changed the pots but did you use new clevises? Could have put the pin further out.
     
    Pamela1990 Thanks this.
  4. lester

    lester Midwest's #1 Feed Hauler

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    Nope haven't touched the pots on that axle. Still original.

    I replaced the anchor pins and bushings, new ones were pretty tight going back in and the probably don't spin free but the shoes move just fine, when I put the new slack adjuster on today everything moved easily by hand
     
  5. Dino soar

    Dino soar Road Train Member

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    I would recheck the instructions for the slack adjuster.

    They have to be set up exactly the way that the instructions tell you because if it's in the wrong position I do believe it will not adjust properly.

    Also just to try to eliminate everything, that is the exact same slack adjuster that you took off and it's in the same exact hole?

    If the other side is working correctly I would release them and measure from the can to the end of the rod. And I would measure to the end of the clevis pin. I know when I replaced all the air cans and slacks on my truck every one of them was a different length.
     
    lester and Pamela1990 Thank this.
  6. lester

    lester Midwest's #1 Feed Hauler

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    I am going to re-read the instructions on the slack adjuster but there really isn't much to this one. It basically said wherever you put the adjustment arm it will work properly, as I said there's no notch and arrow like most I've dealt with. Think I'm going to replace the drum and free up the anchor pins and try again. And measure pushrods but all cans are original toothed trailer and everything worked fine before replacing shoes. I dunno.

    Only other odd thing, before I left the shop tonight after replacing slack adjuster I pulled the trolley valve to full pressure like 7 times and then checked to see if wheel spun and all was good. But after hauling a few loads and checking the brakes slowly got tighter and tighter. Shouldn't pulling trolley valve several times have adjusted the brake up tight same as driving?
     
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