Brake Safety Week: Sept. 11-17

Lol, i thought the same thing

We also have the self adjusting, but I've heard it's best to check them. Can't always rely on the self adjusting brakes.

I don't know if this is true, but I've heard that you can check your brake adjustment at a glance. I've heard if you look at the slack adjuster and push rod, if they are close to a 90 degree angle, your brakes are pretty much in adjustment...which sounds odd to me because those two components are always at 90 degrees aren't they?

The only way I know for sure is to chock you wheels, release one set of brakes, Mark your pushrod with a grease marker, then pull the pushrod out. Then measure the distance between you mark and the opening to the brake chamber. Should be 1.5 inches or less..if I recall correctly.

Slack is actually ONE INCH.

As Sue mentioned, fanning or pressing down hard on the brakes should allow the "automatic slack adjusters" to adjust - that is - IF THEY ARE WORKING PROPERLY. If you have a broken adjuster (and they do break), you can fan all the live-long-day, and they won't adjust.

And if you're doing a lot of hills - you should CONSCIOUSLY DO an "automatic adjust" daily - as part of your pre-trip/brake check.

Then again - this is the reason for a PRE-TRIP (amongst others). We tend to stay pretty attuned to how our TRACTOR is doing - but can be hooking a different box every day (or multiple boxes in a day).

It's important to check your trailer - as much to avoid getting caught in an inspection (or blitz) but more importantly, to not get caught WITHOUT BRAKES coming down a hill (having to use a runaway ramp will save your life - but it's usually a FIRING OFFENSE).

You can check the slack on a NON-SPRING BRAKE Axle, by simply tugging on the pushrod/arm. Spring Brake Chambers require you to chock and release the parking brake. Remember to check BOTH SIDES OF EACH AXLE.

Rick

Do you get cas points added to your record of you fail a inspection due to your slack adjuster?

Do you get cas points added to your record of you fail a inspection due to your slack adjuster?

Yes it is part of the inspection. Anything that you can get cited for in an inspection will go on your and your companies score.