How to Adjust Slack Adjusters on Trailer Brakes
by Danielle OdomProper adjustment of slack adjusters is essential to the functionality of trailer brakes. Slack adjusters compensate for normal wear of break linings. The slack adjuster is an arm attached to a push rod on the brake assembly. Performing a slack adjustment means simply adjusting the push rod in the air chamber to within a predetermined tolerance, thereby maintaining optimal brake performance.
How to Adjust Slack Adjusters on Trailer Brakes
Step 1
Before beginning your adjustment, it is important to block the tires to prevent the trailer from moving. The best way to avoid movement is to raise the vehicle on jack stands during the adjustment. Have the brake system at full pressure, lower the emergency brake, and push in the air valve, thereby releasing the brakes. Listen for any air leaks, as they can decrease your braking ability.
Using a piece of chalk, mark the push rod where it leaves the air chamber.
Step 2
Using a screwdriver for leverage, pull the push rod out of the air chamber, and measure from the chalk line to the air chamber. That shows you the "stroke range"; anything more than three-quarters of an inch would mean the brakes need an adjustment.
Step 3
Locate the manual slack adjuster bolt. It connects the s-cam to the air chamber on the axle housing with the push rod. Using the appropriate sized wrench, turn the slack adjuster. Watch the s-cam to see the direction it is moving to ensure you are adjusting it correctly. You can tell you are adjusting it the wrong way if the push rod is pulling out of the air chamber.
Continue tightening until you feel resistance, which means you have drawn the brake linings to the drum.
Step 4
Reverse the slack adjuster one-quarter to one-half of a turn to put a little distance between the drum and the linings.
Step 5
Pressurize the system and apply the brakes using normal pressure. You should have no more than one-tenth of an inch between the brake linings and the drum, and there should be no more that 2 inches of travel in the push rod stroke.
References
Tips
- Even self-adjusting slack adjusters need to be checked regularly. Grease the adjusters and the cam brackets to increase their service life. When measuring the push rod distance, try to keep each axle at the same measurement to keep each wheel's stopping ability the same.
Things You'll Need
- Wheel blocks or jack stands
- Piece of chalk
- Flathead screwdriver
- Correct size wrench for slack adjuster
Warnings
- Failure to correctly adjust brakes could result in injury or death to yourself or others. Make sure the vehicle does not move in either direction before working under it. If you can turn the slack adjuster in both directions without any resistance, it may be overly warn; replace warn slack adjusters.
Writer Bio
Danielle Odom is a freelance writer and ghostwriter with more than 12 years experience. She is a certified medical transcriptionist and is working on a degree as a medical office assistant. As a writer she enjoys learning new things daily and is committed to entertaining and informing everyone that reads her work.
