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bob h · Joined: 15 Oct 2006 Posts: 675 Location: Nb

Birken Vogt wrote: bob h wrote: [oh, don't forget that backing these slacks off regularly destroys the clutches... one of the selling features of the A-M slacks.

Good information to know.

The selling feature of the other slacks is the fact that they use one way clutches instead of teeth, hence they have infinite adjustments and will adjust a little bit each time rather than waiting until they click over a tooth like a Meritor one. Whether it makes any practical difference is unknown to me....

I tend to prefer the Meritor ones but I have found that in retrofitting strange and ancient trucks for automatics that Haldex has a much, much broader selection for different applications, as does Bendix but not as much....

Birken

as long as the applied stroke remains decent (nowhere near the stroke limit), you're ok. I've always told my customers to occassionally make a hard brake application while idling across a parking lot (force a full chamber stroke to occur); normal brake applications might not be enough to keep them well adjusted.

bob h · Joined: 15 Oct 2006 Posts: 675 Location: Nb

***when you are requested to adjust the brakes on a vehicle with auto slacks... the intention is to inspect the stroke, and adjust accordingly***

JoeyB · Joined: 03 Dec 2006 Posts: 85

This talk about backing them off against the clutch teeth, I always took a bar under there with me and pulled on the slack while I turned the adjustment. Pull turn pull turn pull turn- just that quick you're done and there's no backing off involved. And I got to see what the actual stroke was (sort of, anyway), which you don't see if you're doing the back-off method.

bob h · Joined: 15 Oct 2006 Posts: 675 Location: Nb

JoeyB wrote: This talk about backing them off against the clutch teeth, I always took a bar under there with me and pulled on the slack while I turned the adjustment. Pull turn pull turn pull turn- just that quick you're done and there's no backing off involved. And I got to see what the actual stroke was (sort of, anyway), which you don't see if you're doing the back-off method.

never ever thought of that before, instead of backing off. you're measuring the stroke travel, and then tightening down the adjustment only until it's right!!!

thanks for that thought!

isn't it funny how that for years we can overlook the obvious because we've already been taught/shown the "proper" method?

thanks joeyb

...... still can't believe I've overlooked something so obvious for all those years ........... ;0)

RockyMtnProDriver · Joined: 12 Jun 2005 Posts: 1558 Location: Cranbrook BC

bob h wrote: allan5oh wrote: Instead of taking out the adjusting pawl, use a flat screwdriver and "pull" on that round disk. This disengages the pawl. Adjust the brake, release the disk, and "wiggle" the 5/16 wrench to ensure the pawl is set properly. Done!

It is an auto adjusting slack and should not require regular adjustment.

Anybody still have manual slacks?

Has anybody replaced their auto slacks with manuals?

I have manual slacks on one of my flat decks. Although is is permissible to swap manuals with auto's, you cannot swap auto's with manuals. If caught, it could very likely lead to an out of service ticket.

If maintained properly I believe Auto's are superior to manuals.

Although everyone should be trained how to adjust and maintain both types.

Porchclimber · Joined: 28 Oct 2006 Posts: 65 Location: British Columbia

The NTSB is looking to change the law to where it would be mandatory to replace an out of adjustment auto slack.
IE: out of service.

I use some tie straps on the pushrods so I can quick eyeball the brake stroke without getting dirty. not to mention that I can measure them with a tape measure easier when I crawl underneath.
I trust my eyesight but I don't trust the eyesight of any DOT so I never worry what they're going to find during any Level One because I already know the answer.
It's the little chickensh*t stuff that you have to look for just to DOT proof the truck.
It's not the DOT officers that know their job that you have to protect yourself against but the one's that don't.

I also use PetroCan synthetic gold grease in the slacks as I find it much better in the slacks in the wintertime as a lot of other greases bind in the really cold weather and with the liquid rust that they dump on the roads these days because it makes gravel and sand cling more..
Sometimes I back them right off and grease them and then just use the pedal( or spike) to adjust them up and work the grease in.

That's just my opinion and what I find works for me.

I haven't found a brand of "auto" slack that I trust although Rockwell slacks are my preference.

Most slack adjusters have a 5 years "replacement only" warranty.
This means parts only
No labor.

Auto slacks are anything but maintenance free but it's looking like disc brakes are going to be a big thing in the near future with the new upcoming laws governing the stopping distance of trucks.

I'm curious how the new laws will interact with Mother Natures' Laws (slippery roads)

bob h · Joined: 15 Oct 2006 Posts: 675 Location: Nb

quote="Porchclimber"]The NTSB is looking to change the law to where it would be mandatory to replace an out of adjustment auto slack.
IE: out of service.

what do you do with auto slacks that don't work... law says they must be auto slacks

I use some tie straps on the pushrods so I can quick eyeball the brake stroke without getting dirty. not to mention that I can measure them with a tape measure easier when I crawl underneath.

good tip...

I trust my eyesight but I don't trust the eyesight of any DOT so I never worry what they're going to find during any Level One because I already know the answer.
It's the little chickensh*t stuff that you have to look for just to DOT proof the truck.
It's not the DOT officers that know their job that you have to protect yourself against but the one's that don't.

I also use PetroCan synthetic gold grease in the slacks as I find it much better in the slacks in the wintertime as a lot of other greases bind in the really cold weather and with the liquid rust that they dump on the roads these days because it makes gravel and sand cling more..

i always have recommended #1 lithium for auto slacks (slacks ONLY)

Sometimes I back them right off and grease them and then just use the pedal( or spike) to adjust them up and work the grease in.

I would still do a manual pre-adjustment first... overstroking a chamber can cause other problems

That's just my opinion and what I find works for me.

I haven't found a brand of "auto" slack that I trust although Rockwell slacks are my preference.

Most slack adjusters have a 5 years "replacement only" warranty.
This means parts only
No labor.

Auto slacks are anything but maintenance free but it's looking like disc brakes are going to be a big thing in the near future with the new upcoming laws governing the stopping distance of trucks.

I'm curious how the new laws will interact with Mother Natures' Laws (slippery roads)[/quote]

brakes don't have much to do with slippery roads... the tires are your new friction factor on adverse surfaces

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