Changing the Brakes With a Manual Slack Adjuster

Changing the brakes with a Manual Slack Adjuster is a job that should be left to an experienced heavy duty parts technician. Having to adjust a slack adjuster by yourself can be dangerous.
The slack adjuster is the mechanism that forces the brake shoe apart, which applies force to stop the truck. It maintains a proper distance between the brake drums and the shoe. A slack adjuster should not come out of the brake chamber more than the width of a thumb nail.
The adjustment bolt is located on the base of the slack adjuster. The sleeve surrounding the adjusting bolt needs to be pushed inward to access the bolt. Using a box end wrench, push the sleeve inward, then slip the wrench over the adjusting bolt.
Most manual slack adjusters feature a spring-loaded locking sleeve. This sleeve prevents the adjusting bolt from coming out of the brake chamber. This sleeve should be re-engaged to allow the adjusting bolt to be turned.
The most common problem is over-adjustment. Over-adjustment means that the slack adjuster is not set correctly. If your brakes are over-adjusted, you may be fined. There are several ways to fix an over-adjustment.
If you are using a pry bar, you will need a 9/16" inch wrench, a hammer, and gloves. Place the pry bar in the wheel chock behind the tire and turn the parking brake off. Then, release the brakes. Pull the slack adjuster arm to check for clearance.
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