Keep an assistant during the examination and adjustment processes because it’s not a one-person job. This is how to adjust air brakes when the vehicle has manual slack adjusters. If the automatic slack adjuster in your vehicle needs readjustment or there is any braking problem, you should contact an expert mechanic to fix the issue. However, the transport safety laws in the United States and Canada demand to check the brake adjustment before every trip. To catch the problem in time, always diagnose the adjusters by an expert mechanic around every 40,000 to 80,000 km. An automatic adjuster stroking beyond the maximum limit points the finger to underlying brake issues. Vehicles that have automatic slack adjusters don’t need any manual alignment fixes. The Working Mechanism of Air Brakes ExplainedĪfter you’ve finished adjusting the manual slack adjuster, carefully lower your truck or trailer by removing your jack stands.Ĭongratulations! You’ve successfully adjusted the air brakes on your vehicle! Adjusting Air Brakes with Automatic Slack Adjusters.When everything is done, you need to check again the distance between the pushrod’s exit point and the face of the brake chamber. To keep the bolt fixed to that position, re-engage the locking sleeve to the bolt. Just give the adjusting bolt about 1⁄3 of a turn to the opposite direction to create that desired distance. However, there should be a slight distance between the linings and the drum. Feeling a solid resistance means the brake linings have touched the brake drum. Once you are sure, turn the adjusting bolt until reaching the maximum stiffness. So, be sure about the proper turning direction by looking at both camshaft rotation and pushrod trajectory. Turning the bolt should not push the pushrod out of the chamber. Step 3: Adjust the Bolt to the Maximum Stiffness If the cam rotates in the same direction it would after applying the brakes, you are turning the bolt in the right direction. When turning the adjusting bolt with a wrench, watch out for the rotation of the camshaft. You have to figure out whether to turn clockwise or counterclockwise to tighten the slack adjustment. Press and hold for turning the adjusting bolt. There should be a spring-loaded locking sleeve on the adjuster. You should also always wear protective eyewear when working with air brakes. To do this, you’ll need to jack up your trailer and support it securely with jack stands. Although some manual slack adjusters are equipped with an indicator dial, this isn’t always the case. There is a small indicator line (often blue or red) visible next to it, which is used to set your air pressure. Your manual slack adjuster will be a flat handle or knob on the side of the brake chamber, usually near the left side. Without further ado, let’s find out how to adjust air brakes on trucks and trailers that use a manual slack adjuster: Step 1: Identify the Air Brake Slack Adjuster Today, we’re going to discuss the adjustment of a manual slack adjuster, which is the most common. (Credit: Showurite TV / YouTube) How to Adjust Air Brakes: Manual Slack AdjusterĪir brakes use either a manual or an automatic slack adjuster. These issues can also trigger a misalignment.Ī manual slack adjuster. At the time of examining the brakes, check the slack adjuster, s-cam spline, s-cam bushing, and clevis pin for wear and excessive play.They need adjustment if the distance is more than 1 and ½ inches. The distance between the pushrod’s exit point and the brake chamber’s face determines if the brakes need adjustment or not.Hold the full brake application to that psi. The engine should be off during this time. Lower the reservoir pressure and keep it between 90 and 100 psi by applying some brake applications. Release the brakes and take note of the point where the pushrod departs the brake chamber.To check whether the air brakes are working correctly or not, you can use the applied stroke method: Excessive pushrod travel is the warning sign, telling you to adjust air brakes. How to Check Slack Adjusters on Air BrakesĬorrectly adjusted brakes mean the pushrod travel of the left axle brake will be similar to the right axle one. Also, you cannot stop a vehicle safely with a misaligned air brake. Not only will it save money on the fuel bill, but knowing how to do the adjustment yourself will prevent incurring costly trips to a repair shop. Learning how to adjust air brakes is important for a few reasons. Air brakes in heavy commercial vehicles are an alternative to hydraulic brakes on lighter vehicles.
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