Steer Axle Brake Adjustment

Here's the process of manually adjusting auto slacks.

1) DON'T

 

Right hence the term auto adjusters. Do some good power braking in the yard, should set themself.

But I am also getting three replaced today along with service.

 

I worked with a guy who would constantly adjust his auto slacks and then complain about how they wouldn't stop the truck. Every time you back them off you're killing them.

 

It is perfectly safe to manually adjust auto slacks. You just have to have a little knowledge.

 

Steer axle brakes should only have the air application chamber. They do NOT contain the spring brake side chambers for parking. Or emergency work. The can will only be half the size of the ones on your drives.

 

Thinking on what you did adjusting, you better have a certified mechanic double check that adjustment up there. You have to have some kind of braking to factory spec where possible up there. I don't recall touching steers that much. We stayed at the drives with our old wrenches in our time.

When the autos showed up adjustment for us consisted of 7 or so very full power air applications using the service brake and boom pretty close to adjusted. Something that was done on the scales prior to a inspection. (Not on the scales but round back in the lot...)

 

Depends on the brand of slack adjuster as to whether or not you'll wear them out. Rockwell's have a lock pawl on the side you pop out and it generally won't hurt them. Gunite's and similar that "ratchet" off it is not good for them.

 

Just imagine the carnage if the line to the spring chamber on the steer axle was to blow off at highway speeds. No way anybody would recover from that. That steering wheel would snap your arms like toothpicks and you'd be in the ditch or another vehicle.