What do you do at a brake check if your brakes need ajustment ?

Where I come from, it's illegal not to ajust your brakes...

 

You have to get someone who is certified to adjust them for you. Yes, if they are out of adjustment it is illegal to not get them fixed before proceeding. Actually it is generally illegal to adjust brakes anyways. If an automatic adjuster is out of adjustment, legally you must fix the problem - replace or repair the defective part - not just adjust it and pretend it's OK. You can - of course - adjust the adjuster after you repair the problem or finish other work on the truck that requires the adjuster to be set or reset.

 

I took the class years ago and got the card.

Reading the rules & regulations at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrruletext.asp?section=396.25#49CFR396.25(d)

I find an interesting statement. I also read in an earlier section: I guess my question would be -- Does passage of Commercial Driver's License air brake tests in the case of a brake inspection qualify one to service their braking system?

kc0iv

 

No, if you read all that carefully it only qualifies you to INSPECT the brakes. You cannot "service" them!
:shock:

 

qualifies the person to perform the assigned brake service or inspection task (including passage of Commercial Driver's License air brake tests in the case of a brake inspection)

Note the word service, I have ajusted brakes during a dot inspection to avoid a ticket...

If they are doing inspections at a brake check, you should be the first person under the truck, checking and ajusting brakes...

 

Note that the text in parenthesis that says that the CDL air brake endorsement qualifies you to INSPECT - says nothing about "service".

 

I was taken into Truckee, CA at the scale for an inspection recently. For those of you from other parts of the country that's on top of Donner, one of the most notorious mountains out west with wicked snow and chaining during the winter time! It is West of Reno, Neveda. Always a fun stop. NOT!!!!

The DOT Officer who inspected my truck informed me that the older trailers did not have self adjusting brakes; hence, someone had to manually adjust them. However, he explained to me that the newer trailers-I think he said within the last 7 years [but don't quote me on this] have self adjusting brakes. He said that if you pump them a few times they will self adjust. So for those of you who have been around longer than us newbies [3 years-drove mostly brand new Volvos out of the factory] you probably had the "pleasure" of adjusting your own brakes.

However, I would never attempt to adjust a brake. I do the mountains out west all the time and wouldn't have a clue what I was doing. This isn't the part of the country you want to "guess" about how to adjust the brakes.

Although, people have mentioned courses on this thread that's fine and dandy. Personally being able to put air in my own tires-since I have a line and taking care of fluids is enough for me. I don't relish the idea of becoming a mechanic on top of a driver. I don't get paid enough to service my own truck. So for those of you who are so inclined have at it. I'm a female who wears skirts and hate getting dirty while hooking to a trailer that's enough grime for me.

When I hauled trucks I would get filthy and be covered in axle grease putting axles in the back drives upon arriving at the Dealerships. Axle grease is a much worse smell than diesel. At least for this asthmatic it was. I could never seem to get the smell out of my work clothes. Hence, I can assure you that I have gotten filthy with the "die hard mechanics". However, now that I'm hauling freight, tires and fluids are my only specialty. :roll: 8)

 

If normal usage doesn't keep them adjusted "pumping" them ain't gonna do no good. However - not a bad idea to push the brake pedal to the floor once in a while when stopped at a light to snug them up that last 'click' - and to make sure something isn't gonna blow out on you in a panic stop! You'll also get the "CB talk" about how you have to apply them in reverse to adjust them - more bull based upon how the self adjusters for automobile drum brakes work.

 

O.K. Roadranger are you telling me that a D.O.T. inspector with 30 years of mechanic experience doesn't know what the hell he's talking about? I don't think you are. Are you? :roll: 8)

 

Yup - DOT inspectors aren't all that "expert".