Newbie Truck Assignment

it is a safty problem if you adjust your auto slacks it gives the operator false feeling because if they are not working properly you replace them...

i do agree the older non auto adjusters were better but if your are a steering wheel holder they won't get checked either way

 

Agreed to a certain point, I've owned and driven new trucks and trailers that the auto adjusters didn't work properly. What most don't know is if an auto adjuster gets to far out of adjustment it will not adjust properly.

 

Well if you're doing a tug test then your truck brakes shouldn't be on anyway but are u talking about the trailer moving so we can stop guessing. Thanks

 

i agree, and if they do dicide to adjust alot of times they can over adjust aswell

 

Can you read?



He was testing the PARKING break on his tractor by tuging on it! NOT the trailer!







American Trucker

 

Auto slack adjusters do work! If they're taken care of!!! You MUST grease them regularly! (With the right grease!)

I've had them on my trucks for years and NEVER had a problem... IF one starts to act up simply REPLACE IT IMMEDIATELY.. (too easy)..

 

Wasn't talking to u but a tug test for me is testing to see if I'm hooked to my trailer but thanks for your one cent.

 

You adjust automatic slack adjusters by mashing the brake pedal 3 or 4 times with the brakes released. Make sure your air is up full. If they dont adjust up, then they need to go in the shop. Lack of grease in the slack adjusters is usually the culprit for them not working properly. IF you are told at a scale to go around for an inspection, stop in back briefly and adjust your brakes using the method above.

 

A Tug Test/ As in testing to see if the 5th wheel locked before doing your visual check?

Release the tractor brake and leave the trailer brakes set or use the trailer brake handle and do your test. IF the trailer moves or actually if while looking in your mirrors and you visually see a tire roll then you have a brake or brakes out of adjustment. If the trailer is MT or light you can actually drag the silly thing! If the tractor and trailer doesn't come apart then your Tug Test passed!

But if a tire rolled your brakes did NOT or will NOT pass your upcoming PTI!

Spring brakes WILL NOT work if the brakes are too far out of adjustment!
It's NOT a fact that only 1 axle has parking brakes on them.
It's the way it was ordered from the manufacturer or "Speced." I have driven and seen tractors and trailers that had parking brakes on all axles. Yes even on the steers. If you want to order your equipment with something or without it's up to you. If I were to ever order a truck all 3 on the tractor would have parking brakes as would both axles on the trailer. Noting like knowing that your fully loaded equipment parked on a hill or incline will be there when you return or if you're asleep and you don't wake to that rolling feeling as those maybe 2 or 3 axles let go! I'd rather be firmly locked down on any surface if need be!

Self Adjusting brakes info:

1) Many drivers even veterans do not know how to use self adjusting brakes so they "don't ever work" for them!

These brakes "self adjust" from use! PROPER BRAKING is how they activate!
-If you "roll" to a stop with light pressure they will not adjust.
-Using the brake handle and using the companies trailer to slow you down is not proper braking! That handle is to do a "tug test" with but not advised for braking. It even used to have it stamped or molded into them!

2) how to activate the "self adjusting feature"
-apply at least 30 pounds of air pressure when stopping each time you come to a stop. This can be the last inch before you completely stop.
-One way to adjust your brakes every day before starting your trip is when in your parking spot release the brakes and roll forward SLOWLY! Apply your foot brake with at least 30 pounds and stop. Release and roll forward an inch or 3 and do this again. Do it 3 or 4 times and you WILL feel the difference in how the truck starts to stop. Then put truck in reverse and do the same thing several times and that truck should be stopping as if it just came out of the shop!
Then each time you come to a stop or at least a few times during the day as you come to a stop sign or red light do it at least 2 times before proceeding.

Now to quiet down those of you screaming at the top of your lungs that you're wearing out your brakes, especially you O/O's that do not own your own trailers! You are the ones with trailers with tight brakes but your tractor is way out of adjustment! You use the trailer brake handle to stop to "save" your brakes! Yeah we all know it so don't deny it! LOL

It takes HEAT to wear down your brakes! If you are going 3 inches per hour you are not creating any heat!

Try it and you will see that it's the real deal!

As for manually adjusting your self adjusting brakes,
STOP!
Unless you have been instructed by a licensed mechanic you will be making a boo boo that could bite you on your arse for several reasons!

They are not recommended by any of the manufactures to be manually adjusted. If properly stopped and they are not adjusting themselves then there is a problem with them and they need to be worked on. The only time they should really be manually adjusted is when they are removed for repairs to the trailer and replaced on the axle.

Only manual adjusters should be manually adjusted.

The reasons you could get bitten are:
Have an accident and while being questioned by lawyers that ask you" when was the last time the brakes were adjusted?" and you say "Well I..." and that's all it will take! YOU are NOT a mechanic AND lately even O/O's can not legally do half of their own work any more especillay at a scale when put OOS!

OR you burn up or break an adjuster or a brake from improperly adjusting the thing and you get canned and/or pay for the repairs.
Let a shop do any brake work on your equipment or get that certification to be able to do it your self.

Remember this is becoming a law suit crazy society and trucks are a money making target!
Do your adjustment every day and you're covered!

There is a great side benefit to doing this brake adjustment each morning or before your PTI.
You will be doing your low air warning and emergency brakes check! While doing the adjustment procedure you will be losing air! You can check that the gauges are working, you'll get to 60 pounds and your "horn" will go off and when at 40 the brake should set. 4 things done for the price of one! Does the air compressor bring up the air pressure properly? Thats the fourth thing!

If something didn't work there hopefully is a shop that can fix the problem close by before you leave and maybe get stopped at a DOT check!

Using those brakes properly will activate those self adjusting slack adjusters!

 

no, he was doing a tug test on the tractor Parking break to see if they worked. As in left the tractor break on and put it in gear and the truck moved...which it should but if the breaks where working he would have been dragging the front drive axle....



American Trucker