What's up with automatic slack adjusters?

Hows the disk brakes workin out for ya?

 

I really like them, they do have a lot more stopping power. I like not having slack adjusters to worry about. They are pretty much fail safe as it gets, as long as you don't see rust on the disc they are working correctly. I don't know if overheating them is a problem on the big hills out west.

 

Have u had to get any repaired? Ive always wondered what the cost of a brake job on disk brakes would run?

 

Something needs a little help once in a while

 

They are a bit more to maintain and replace pads, many mechanics are clueless.

You can’t just look at the pads or the rotor and think that they are alright.

The caliper is complex because of the adjuster mechanism used, the adjuster is made to keep the pads close to the rotor and there have been failures of the adjustment mechanism.

Bendix has a really good manual on them, the inspection process is more detailed than drum brakes.

I have a few truck with them that were dinged for brake problems, replaced calipers and rotors on a couple of them, one because the adjuster wasn’t working and the truck was put OOS.

 

Have them on all my trucks since 2007, quite a few trailers with them. Cost of pads is no more than linings and drums, but last far longer. Not at all complicated to inspect them. Brakes released you should be able to wiggle the caliper. All of them have a wear mark for pad thickness, both meritor and bendix. Only problems were when the rotors had to be replaced (over 600K on the trailers)we tried conmet rotors. They are very prone to cracking, after having to replace them the second time we stick with meritor.