How do you adjust the trailer brakes?

Agreed to an extent, HOWEVER, rest assured if said brakes burn up or catch fire or fail, the driver is going to be blamed 110%. I know how to adjust the trailer brakes because I’ve had to do it several times at the last company I worked for at the request of the shop mechanic. It was either that or they were going to have to come and get the trailer. Can’t have it both ways. You either exclude the driver from possible brake adjustment related blame or you teach them and authorize them to adjust brakes. This is another area that falls into that gray area just like so many other topics where the driver gets blamed for things that are partially or completely out of his control. Are we calling brakes solely a maintenance issue or not? Which is it? You can do all the brake checks and tests you want, but those adjusters can realign themselves at any given moment.

 

I think the only thing easier than adjusting brakes is probably an oil change, and even then, it still might be easier,

if you have to put a wrench on an auto slack it’s junk though, and anyone still running something old enough to have manual slacks we are back go adjusting brakes bring one of the easiest things you can do

 

That is so true. You are not supposed to adjust ASA's. And the slacks are cheap. If you find a problem verify and replace usually. OR, the S cam had rolled over because there is nothing left. If you have manual adjusters, convert them. It's cheap.

 

You still have to adjust asa’s. You have to to keep them balanced and in tighter spec with each other. Proof is the amount of oos’s nationwide. Brakes out of spec are the highest % of oos. If asa’s were perfect that would not be the case. Pumping the brakes hard does nothing for the fine adjustments they really need. Manual slacks did a better job because they let you know when an adjustment needed yo be made. ###’s give fslse sense that each wheel end is equal or close to equal unless you still do a manual adjustment on them.
As far as the brake adjusters certification I will have to give my 16 year old nephew a plaque. He has been adjusting brakes, clutches, greasing,oil changes, swapping tires and washing trucks since age 12. OMG the laws we have broken.

 

If you're going to adjust ASA's it easier with the right tools.

 

lack of grease kills them more than anything else

stripping the gear is probably next

 

Trucks and trailers don't get greased. That is a big one. They sure like to spend time and money on LED lights though.
Then you hear the whining "How could this stuff be worn out already? This thing is only a few years old?"

 

Playing in dirt is harder then not greasing

 

Auto slacks don’t work well when the cam and bushings are worn out…otherwise I find that they do a pretty decent job if they are setup correctly. I would venture to say that the majority of brake oos is more to blame on worn cam and bushings that auto slacks. Obviously could be from less than enough lining or drum problems but that’s kind of a separate issue I have plenty of manual slacks but I get under there to grease and inspect regularly so it’s not a problem for me…..some others are probably better using auto slacks and hoping for the best

 

Disc for the win