Checking slack adjusters...
 

I'm getting prepared to take my CDL skills test. In the manual it says to manually check the slack adjusters with brakes off and wheels chocked. However, it says not to go under the vehicle during an exam.

So should I just examine them by sight to see if the angle is slightly less than 90 degrees with brakes on and 90 degrees with brakes off?

Also how does one check to see if the brake lights are working?

On a CDL test, you should merely be explaining to the tester how and what you would check during your pre-trip. I didn't inspect anything during my test, but i explained everything thoroughly. You point at "it" and explain.

best advise I can give is give detailed explantions of what you are looking for on everything and remember the phrase "loose, broke, or missing" because youll be saying that a lot. I had a system of 5's. everything to deal with the brakes, suspension, and wheel has 5 parts everything but the drive wheels where the suspension has four. Like this: Suspension :1 shock absorber 2 springs 3 spring hangers 4 torsion bar 5 air bag. Brakes: 1 brake lines 2 brake chamber 3 slack adjuster 4 brake pads 5 brake drums. wheel 1 the tire ICD=inflation 105 psi Condition and Depth of tread. 2 the rim 3 lugnuts 4 inner and outer wheel seal 5 the spacer between wheels, if not a super single.
So you have just enough fingers to use on each of those and if you remember those theres 50 points right there and you only need 37 more to pass, so that right there and youre over halfway there. BOL

Slack Adj, Etc.
 

What other posters said about slack adjusters.
Checking brake lights can be done two ways. First, put a stick between seat and brake pedal to activate brakes, do a walk around checking that tractor and trailer brake lights are lit. Another is knowing that turn/flasher lamps are also the brake lamps, therefore when doing walk around with flashers on, brake and turn signal lights will be checked at the same time. A substitute for the walk around will be when trailer is backed up to a wall or other near reflective surface, light action will be seen on wall when brakes are on and turn/flashers are operated.
A driver should also always carry spare lamps so when a lamp failure is observed, the failed lamp is immediately replaced. Mechs like it when drivers can fix the simple failures. BOL

When I took my Test in NY....the only slack adj you could do is the front right tire...i would suggest at least do that one..... The rest you are not allowed to do. Often though you can see the brake pads from the opposite side of the vehicle...mention that they look good or bad....

The main thing i learned on the exam is to be as general as possible....why you ask it is because you don't want to be specific.... but If the tester ask you a question be ready for it......

Re: Checking slack adjusters...
 

I'm surprised no one mentioned the trolley brake...

I was thinking about the trailer brake hand-valve myself!! Just release the parking brakes with the wheels blocked, of course, and pull the trailer brake hand valve on a bit and wrap the safety belt around it to hold it on and that will activate the brake lights. Then walk around and check them.

pull the hand valve and run like heck. :lol:

I'm new to trucking, nevertheless, wouldn't it be easier to ask someone to look and see if your brakes, turn signals, and headlight are working?

NO NO NO MAN! that would be too easy. Thats like calling the receiver for directions. :shock:

Well, I can only speak for myself, if any of you need help out on the road, I'm more than happy to help.....................for a small fee. :lol:

I heard that, I did

Trolley Brake
 

Can't use what's not there. Not all tractors have a trolley brake or trailer brake hand valve. BOL

thats true. But you know that crow bar you use to whop lizards in the head with?? You can slide the seat forward and put it against the brake...as long as you hurry up before the next leeezard comes around :lol:

Okay.. So I should basically check the slack adjusters when I can and just mention the angle of all the other ones to the examiner. And yeah, the brake lights should be easy. I'll figure it out.

My next question is how to check the pads and linings etc? From the opposite side sounds like a good plan.

Geez.. I've been farm trucking for a long time now just by having an "F" endorsement on my license and I never even took inspections serious. Now I know how important they are!

To show my ignorance.. one last stupid question. Does a set of dual wheels have one brake drum or does each wheel have one?

First of all, the CDL examiner should explain how he or she wants to check the lights with you before the test. The slack adjusters may or may not even be discussed during the test. In Wisconsin, when I was conducting the tests they were mentioned during the inspection, but it was basically that they were there and that they were securely mounted.

There is one brake drum on the rear wheels. there is one drum with two wheels bolted back to back on it.

I should also ad that the CDL pre trip inspection is not a real inspection! It is a test to see if you know how to conduct and inspection and to test your knowledge of locations and systems on the truck. You need to check your state's handbook to see what it suggests as for what the examiners may be looking for. If the state's book goes into detail on some systems, you may want to really hone that particular area more than others.

Proper air brake check includes
 

When you do your air brake check and check to see that the low air pressure warning system is working, you fully apply your brakes and hold for a second or 2 with the brake pedal fully depressed and repeat. If your slack adjusters are functioning properly, which is a big if, they will adjust if necessary. Understand that if the slack adjusters are bad this will not happen. If you just fan or rapidly pump the brakes to drop air pressure, the slack adjustment will also not be made.
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Unfortunately when you are away from school, you will see that way to many folks do not perform an air brake test at all. Let alone a proper air brake test. It is an amazement to me.

Steve & fozzy's post hit the nail right on the head. What I said for almost everything in a 108 point pre-trip inspection was as follows:

"Securely mounted, not cracked, broken or damaged."

I said this after I identified the part and pointed to it. After saying that I went into my 5 step explanation of things I would check with that part(like Steve said, not all parts have 5 steps to talk about though).

As far as brake light check, the inspector will let you know what to do. Very important, if he doesn't then ask him if he could help you with the light check. That is what I had to do. Either the examiner will say yes and go to the back or in my case he said yes but to just explain how I would do the light test.

Using this method, I got a perfect score of 108 out of 108 on my pre-trip.

[QUOTE = terrylamar; 210929] Soy nuevo en camiones, sin embargo, ¿no sería más fácil pedirle a alguien que mire y vea si sus frenos, luces direccionales y faros funcionan? [/ QUOTE]

I understand this user a lot many times we cannot alone and we have to find someone although here in the forum I have seen how they explain step by step very well but with the exhaust brake I have to pay someone