Whichever set you're working with needs to be released while the other is set. In other words, these are the trailer brakes I'm showing here. You want to set the tractor brakes and release the trailer brakes when doing this. When checking/adjusting tractor brakes, release the tractor brakes and set the trailer brakes. Even better if you have anything suitable for use as a wheel chock while exiting the truck with tractor brakes released though. Trailer brakes are not meant to be used as tractor parking brakes. Apologies for the delay in responding. I'm not sure why, but today is the first time I noticed this question. Thanks for the excellent question.
Diesel mech here not a driver..That’s a brake shoe, not a pad and also you need brake shoes look at the irregular wear, drums are shot I’d bet, why do you think you keep having to adjust? The slack adjusters are bad I’d also bet that is a Bendix automatic slack adjuster also, anyone reading this please don’t listen to this guy’s advice take your vehicle to a mechanic
Of course it's an auto-slack adjuster. Every trailer manufactured within the last at least 2-3 decades are required to have them. The fact the slack adjuster requires manual adjustment at all is always telling of one of two things: (1) the slack adjuster, itself, is not functioning properly (2) something else in the system, like worn S-cam bushings, bad S-cam, etc. is causing it to not function properly I do a lot of drop/hook pickups and inherit trailers like this. Sometimes it is necessary to "hide the evidence" of brakes being out of adjustment at least long enough to get the trailer in question to a shop so it can be dealt with. I do not opt for manually adjusting brakes and never bother to get the equipment in question to a shop. This is only meant to be a temp fix for inherited problem equipment. And brake shoes vs brake pads is semantics. I spent 20 years in aircraft maintenance before I became a trucker. We called the same exact part on different aircraft types by different names, depending on the aircraft type. It's usually rooted in what the manufacturer of the part decides to label its official nomenclature as. Yes, brake shoes are generally associated with drum brakes and brake pads are generally associated with disc brakes. But again, look at the history of how each got its respective name and you'll probably find that the innovator of the design likely gave it a unique name to distinguish it from similar parts. You posted good info. But you said it yourself. You are not a driver. You don't have the burden of dealing with taking inherited equipment through weigh stations like many of us drivers do. Perhaps I should have included that disclaimer in the video, but I didn't. I recorded it with only being quick and easy in mind.
Diesel mech here not a driver..That’s a brake shoe, not a pad and also you need brake shoes look at the irregular wear, drums are shot I’d bet, why do you think you keep having to adjust? The slack adjusters are bad I’d also bet that is a Bendix automatic slack adjuster also, anyone reading this please don’t listen to this guy’s advice take your vehicle to a mechanic
Hey are your trailer brakes engaged or released in the tractor?
Whichever set you're working with needs to be released while the other is set. In other words, these are the trailer brakes I'm showing here. You want to set the tractor brakes and release the trailer brakes when doing this. When checking/adjusting tractor brakes, release the tractor brakes and set the trailer brakes. Even better if you have anything suitable for use as a wheel chock while exiting the truck with tractor brakes released though. Trailer brakes are not meant to be used as tractor parking brakes.
Apologies for the delay in responding. I'm not sure why, but today is the first time I noticed this question. Thanks for the excellent question.
So are the adjustments all supposed to be tightend all the way and backed off 1/4 or like they different for steers
All 1/4 turn back
I was taught 1/2 turn
1/4 or 1/2 turn is fine
Have you delivered to California yet ?
M T I live in California and my loads begin or end in Cali at least twice as often as any other state
Diesel mech here not a driver..That’s a brake shoe, not a pad and also you need brake shoes look at the irregular wear, drums are shot I’d bet, why do you think you keep having to adjust? The slack adjusters are bad I’d also bet that is a Bendix automatic slack adjuster also, anyone reading this please don’t listen to this guy’s advice take your vehicle to a mechanic
Of course it's an auto-slack adjuster. Every trailer manufactured within the last at least 2-3 decades are required to have them. The fact the slack adjuster requires manual adjustment at all is always telling of one of two things:
(1) the slack adjuster, itself, is not functioning properly
(2) something else in the system, like worn S-cam bushings, bad S-cam, etc. is causing it to not function properly
I do a lot of drop/hook pickups and inherit trailers like this. Sometimes it is necessary to "hide the evidence" of brakes being out of adjustment at least long enough to get the trailer in question to a shop so it can be dealt with. I do not opt for manually adjusting brakes and never bother to get the equipment in question to a shop. This is only meant to be a temp fix for inherited problem equipment.
And brake shoes vs brake pads is semantics. I spent 20 years in aircraft maintenance before I became a trucker. We called the same exact part on different aircraft types by different names, depending on the aircraft type. It's usually rooted in what the manufacturer of the part decides to label its official nomenclature as. Yes, brake shoes are generally associated with drum brakes and brake pads are generally associated with disc brakes. But again, look at the history of how each got its respective name and you'll probably find that the innovator of the design likely gave it a unique name to distinguish it from similar parts.
You posted good info. But you said it yourself. You are not a driver. You don't have the burden of dealing with taking inherited equipment through weigh stations like many of us drivers do. Perhaps I should have included that disclaimer in the video, but I didn't. I recorded it with only being quick and easy in mind.
Diesel mech here not a driver..That’s a brake shoe, not a pad and also you need brake shoes look at the irregular wear, drums are shot I’d bet, why do you think you keep having to adjust? The slack adjusters are bad I’d also bet that is a Bendix automatic slack adjuster also, anyone reading this please don’t listen to this guy’s advice take your vehicle to a mechanic