Core value on brake chambers

Years ago there was a core charge for not returning you old ones. This was back when you could still service the spring side. Perfectly safe to service the spring side with the chamber caged, but I guess too many people were taking apart the clamp on the spring side without caging (very bad) so now they crimp them.

 

They also have a special cage/steel box contraption used for safely disarming the spring brake for safe disposal. Or you can do like the YouTube Guy, using a torch cut a window, then cut the spring in 2 places. Old rusty cans are dangerous. Changed all 4 on my trailer last summer. Took longer than I’d expected. Started from scratch measuring, following the instructions that came with each one. Got them all nice and even. When applied, the rods just a bit under a 90 degree angle with the slacks. Nothing wrong with changing the piggyback, leaving the spring. As long as the springs good. I used to carry a spare. Decided it’s not a very safe thing to have under my bunk. Always have carried a pancake, on the advice of an old friend. I actually did change one once, with his help over the telephone. It was a pita. But got me fixed up, since parts weren’t available at the time. The problems always the same. Rusty frozen bolts and pins. Turns a simple so called “15 minute” job into a 2-3 hour pita. I’d rather pay the $80-$150 labor, and watch someone else armed with proper tools wrestle with it. They’re never easy to change, always a problem.

 

I'm curious what you're expecting to learn from the old chambers? A better learning experience would have been to replace the leaking chamber at the TA, and waiting until you got home to replace the other 3 yourself. You would have a extra $1000 in your bank account right now if you had.

 

The actual changing the brake chambers is pretty straight forward, the a actual practice can be a real chore. The issue is everything is usually rusted up. I've had to torch the nuts holding the chamber to the axle before because they weren't coming loose otherwise.

 

Whatever you do, please don't do this. Take the piggyback side off but don't mess with that spring, if that was your intention.

There's no need to be that curious. You can go online to see a diagram or photos of everything that's inside of there.

I would suggest when you get home to get a square and go under your truck and see if you actually have 90° at each slack adjuster.

You never know with those guys. I can only tell you what was originally on my truck before I worked on it, every one of them was different, and every one of them was wrong.