Always love to work on my truck. I Never can trust to those “certified”. Now it time to replace my slack adjusters and I saw what I needed. Thank you sir
Nothing ever goes as planed so it can be difficult to make a coherent mechanical video on the fly like I do. My hope is to help others see how easy most of this stuff is. I’m far from perfect but much more affordable than a shop and I know where my mistakes are.
Tried to adjust the slacks on my 1978 vintage international loadstar school bus (not a camper, I keep them all seats). Slacks frozen as can be. This video was most excellent help in getting my old ones off. They are of course manuals. I didn’t have to remove the cans , they were loose enough that the pushrod would completely disengage from the slack with a little pressure. My snap rings are old school style without the eyes for pliers. On those best way is to spin it till the end is in the middle of a spline (these old trucks are wide 10 spline). Then can get a screwdriver under it and start it out of the groove and work around. I got lucky these were not frozen to S cam, they came off rather easy, these look original or close to it . This bus lived in the desert it’s whole life so no rust to speak of but lots of dust! I can see I’ll need to do brake shoes soon on it. What do you recommend for little guys to lift the rear 22.5” wheels and the drum on and off.. I’m all of 140 pounds . Again thanks for a great video
Hey there Mike a big hello from Fort Myers Florida , very interesting video brother to me it’s good knowledge and good Study material, and by the way I like the farmers way, 👌😀 so yeah thank you very much for sharing appreciate, 👋👍👍
Good video, going to change the slack adjuster Friday on a dump truck, you help tremendously me out on this video, also the second method for adjusting the breaks works for me. My boss likes the first way.
Manufacturers make slack adjuster pullers that work well . A template is supplied with this Rockwell / Meritor slack adjuster to cut the proper length of the pushrod if needed . The proper installation will end up with the slack adjuster 90 degrees to the push tube . Well done job .
I really should put a disclaimer stating that I’m not a certified mechanic at the beginning of my videos. I’m self taught for the most part. I’m sure there’s easier ways and a book somewhere telling a guy exactly how to do it properly. I’m relatively humble and I know there’s guys and probably gals out there that know far more than I do. The truck has now been retired from service but the driver said the brakes hadn’t worked that good since he bought the truck so I must’ve gotten lucky this time.
Here in Canada you have to cut most of them off if they have never been changed. Usually I torch the slack off by cutting a grove into it and air hammering it off. You can save the s cam this way.
Hello. I loved this video. Question. How can I tell if I need new slack adjusters? If I just had the new drums and brakes put on and there’s a gap already on my steers were my ASAs supposed to adjust to close the gap or did the mechanic just back them off too much? Thank you!
Some shops back the steers off more than the drives. If you have automatic adjusters they “should”‘adjust themselves as soon as you hit the brake pedal. If they’re old and gummed up inside There’s a good chance they need to be replaced. You can check the heal pin to make sure it’s there. Could be worn out S-cam bushings also. You could function check the adjusters by backing the brakes off and hitting the brake pedal a few times to see if they tighten up.
No I haven’t tried that. They usually aren’t that hard to get off. If a hammer doesn’t get them I go straight to a cutting torch. There’s plastic bushings inside the tube and they’re usually pretty well shot on anything with over .5Mil miles. Usually some penetrating oil and a good whack will do it. Also I wouldn’t want to risk mangling the end of the tube. It’s mild steel and has a grease seal and I’m not sure if a fork would be too aggressive. Also it doesn’t take much to convince me to play around with the cutting torch. It’s the highlight of the month for me. I think in 20 years of doing this I’ve only had to cut one off with a cutting torch.
Nice video, and coincidentally that is the exact same slack adjuster that I need to replace (Meritor 3275-V-1141P). Meritor aftermarket parts seem to have a different p/n, and I haven't found an interchange list. Would you have the p/n of the replacement slack adjuster? I know it has been a year (or maybe more), but thought I would ask.
I can certainly try to find out. Or I can give you the last 6 of the vin on that truck so you can order from a dealership. Most dealerships in the Midwest will give you a p/n if you call with the last 6 of your vin if you have it. Otherwise I’ll get the vin off of that truck if I remember the next time I’m at the shop.
@@MikesMischief our RV uses a Freightliner chassis and their price was surprisingly good. No need to dig that info up. I should have waited for the Freightliner quote! But great job on the video.
I appreciate the compliment. Most dealers are pretty competitive price wise on stuff like that. If you have some JB80 or PB blaster it doesn’t hurt to start giving everything a good soak a day or so before. Use #2 moly grease and don’t over grease the new slacks. Good luck.
How you change on a Mack (right side) where it can’t slide out life the left side. Since the “axle is not centered” or drive shaft not sure it it makes sense.
I’ve never worked on a Mack. But I’d assume you’ll have to remove the tire and Break drum and slide the S-cam out a little bit so you can drop the adjuster out.
Hey is there a difference between slack adjusters for driver side compared to passenger side? Or are they universal??? Looking to change driver side on a Wabash trailer. Have any idea?
They’re universal L & R. But brand/style wise I’m not sure. Most newer slack adjusters are automatic. Pre 1994 might still have the old manual adjust style. Your trailer should have a vin number. Call up Wabash and see if they know what style yours has or if they have a part number.
@@MikesMischief i did call them and they said driver/passenger side is universal but when I brought it home my dad with more (30 years) experience said it won't fit correctly on the driver side. Dad said I'm an idiot and the dealer is an idiot. But we didn't go to trailer yet to make sure. So are you saying passenger and driver side adjusters are unique, or interchangeable?? Your explanation confused me.
@@MikesMischief It was interchangeable like you and the dealers said. Dad never apologized for calling me nor everyone else an idiot. 🤷♂️ Oh but he was 100% sure about it!
There are two different styles, handed and unhanded. Most slack adjusters are unhanded, meaning they can go on either the left or right side. Handed slack adjusters have the button on the side instead of on the back. If you get one of those the button has to go on the inside away from the wheel.
I’ve been working in shops for 20 years and I know what they’re called. For some reason when I’m filming it’s like my brain shuts off. I stutter, lose my train of thought and mis speak and mumble a lot. Kind of weird because if I’m not filming I don’t have those problems.
The slack probabbly hasn’t been greased properly make sure to grease your undercarriages properly or shut like this goes down All the time mechanic from the rust belt
Mike The Mechanic
Shade tree or gravel parking lot . I’m your guy.
@@MikesMischief
Thats how the money is made
I’ll take mechanic work inside over working outside when it’s this cold out.
Always love to work on my truck. I Never can trust to those “certified”. Now it time to replace my slack adjusters and I saw what I needed. Thank you sir
Nothing ever goes as planed so it can be difficult to make a coherent mechanical video on the fly like I do. My hope is to help others see how easy most of this stuff is. I’m far from perfect but much more affordable than a shop and I know where my mistakes are.
Tried to adjust the slacks on my 1978 vintage international loadstar school bus (not a camper, I keep them all seats). Slacks frozen as can be. This video was most excellent help in getting my old ones off. They are of course manuals. I didn’t have to remove the cans , they were loose enough that the pushrod would completely disengage from the slack with a little pressure. My snap rings are old school style without the eyes for pliers. On those best way is to spin it till the end is in the middle of a spline (these old trucks are wide 10 spline). Then can get a screwdriver under it and start it out of the groove and work around. I got lucky these were not frozen to S cam, they came off rather easy, these look original or close to it . This bus lived in the desert it’s whole life so no rust to speak of but lots of dust! I can see I’ll need to do brake shoes soon on it. What do you recommend for little guys to lift the rear 22.5” wheels and the drum on and off.. I’m all of 140 pounds . Again thanks for a great video
Im with you on the brake adj. Lifting the axle and rotating the tire. The surest.
Hey there Mike a big hello from Fort Myers Florida , very interesting video brother to me it’s good knowledge and good Study material, and by the way I like the farmers way, 👌😀 so yeah thank you very much for sharing appreciate, 👋👍👍
Thank you Roberto.
Good video, going to change the slack adjuster Friday on a dump truck, you help tremendously me out on this video, also the second method for adjusting the breaks works for me. My boss likes the first way.
Thank you sir. If you have trouble you can message me on instagram and maybe I’ll be able to help you through.
Manufacturers make slack adjuster pullers that work well . A template is supplied with this Rockwell / Meritor slack adjuster to cut the proper length of the pushrod if needed . The proper installation will end up with the slack adjuster 90 degrees to the push tube . Well done job .
I really should put a disclaimer stating that I’m not a certified mechanic at the beginning of my videos. I’m self taught for the most part. I’m sure there’s easier ways and a book somewhere telling a guy exactly how to do it properly. I’m relatively humble and I know there’s guys and probably gals out there that know far more than I do. The truck has now been retired from service but the driver said the brakes hadn’t worked that good since he bought the truck so I must’ve gotten lucky this time.
@@MikesMischief You did well , please take my comments as constructive criticism . I was not knocking you .
For sure. I took it as constructive.
@@MikesMischief ahh not luck my friend, just good common sense, which you appear to possess plenty of.
Robert’s Garage sent me. Those slacks have been in for a while.
It was pretty crispy lol. I didn’t have to cut the s-cam so I’m either getting better at these or or I got lucky.
Here in Canada you have to cut most of them off if they have never been changed. Usually I torch the slack off by cutting a grove into it and air hammering it off. You can save the s cam this way.
thanks really appreciate the info.
Thank you for the comment!
Hello. I loved this video. Question. How can I tell if I need new slack adjusters? If I just had the new drums and brakes put on and there’s a gap already on my steers were my ASAs supposed to adjust to close the gap or did the mechanic just back them off too much? Thank you!
Some shops back the steers off more than the drives. If you have automatic adjusters they “should”‘adjust themselves as soon as you hit the brake pedal. If they’re old and gummed up inside There’s a good chance they need to be replaced. You can check the heal pin to make sure it’s there. Could be worn out S-cam bushings also. You could function check the adjusters by backing the brakes off and hitting the brake pedal a few times to see if they tighten up.
@@MikesMischief Ok thank you. They had just backed them off too much. Got it taken care of.
Great job man
With your wheels off, just tap the s cam inward. That will release the pressure on the snap ring.
Thanks
Have you tried using a pickle fork to remove them?
No I haven’t tried that. They usually aren’t that hard to get off. If a hammer doesn’t get them I go straight to a cutting torch. There’s plastic bushings inside the tube and they’re usually pretty well shot on anything with over .5Mil miles. Usually some penetrating oil and a good whack will do it. Also I wouldn’t want to risk mangling the end of the tube. It’s mild steel and has a grease seal and I’m not sure if a fork would be too aggressive. Also it doesn’t take much to convince me to play around with the cutting torch. It’s the highlight of the month for me. I think in 20 years of doing this I’ve only had to cut one off with a cutting torch.
Nice video, and coincidentally that is the exact same slack adjuster that I need to replace (Meritor 3275-V-1141P). Meritor aftermarket parts seem to have a different p/n, and I haven't found an interchange list. Would you have the p/n of the replacement slack adjuster? I know it has been a year (or maybe more), but thought I would ask.
I can certainly try to find out. Or I can give you the last 6 of the vin on that truck so you can order from a dealership. Most dealerships in the Midwest will give you a p/n if you call with the last 6 of your vin if you have it. Otherwise I’ll get the vin off of that truck if I remember the next time I’m at the shop.
@@MikesMischief our RV uses a Freightliner chassis and their price was surprisingly good. No need to dig that info up. I should have waited for the Freightliner quote! But great job on the video.
I appreciate the compliment. Most dealers are pretty competitive price wise on stuff like that. If you have some JB80 or PB blaster it doesn’t hurt to start giving everything a good soak a day or so before. Use #2 moly grease and don’t over grease the new slacks. Good luck.
How you change on a Mack (right side) where it can’t slide out life the left side. Since the “axle is not centered” or drive shaft not sure it it makes sense.
I’ve never worked on a Mack. But I’d assume you’ll have to remove the tire and Break drum and slide the S-cam out a little bit so you can drop the adjuster out.
Hey is there a difference between slack adjusters for driver side compared to passenger side? Or are they universal??? Looking to change driver side on a Wabash trailer. Have any idea?
They’re universal L & R. But brand/style wise I’m not sure. Most newer slack adjusters are automatic. Pre 1994 might still have the old manual adjust style. Your trailer should have a vin number. Call up Wabash and see if they know what style yours has or if they have a part number.
@@MikesMischief i did call them and they said driver/passenger side is universal but when I brought it home my dad with more (30 years) experience said it won't fit correctly on the driver side. Dad said I'm an idiot and the dealer is an idiot. But we didn't go to trailer yet to make sure. So are you saying passenger and driver side adjusters are unique, or interchangeable?? Your explanation confused me.
@@wisejustice7742 they should be interchangeable.
@@MikesMischief It was interchangeable like you and the dealers said. Dad never apologized for calling me nor everyone else an idiot. 🤷♂️ Oh but he was 100% sure about it!
There are two different styles, handed and unhanded. Most slack adjusters are unhanded, meaning they can go on either the left or right side. Handed slack adjusters have the button on the side instead of on the back. If you get one of those the button has to go on the inside away from the wheel.
❤
He said they’re not dangerous🤣🤣
@ 1:35 that’s called a snap ring
I’ve been working in shops for 20 years and I know what they’re called. For some reason when I’m filming it’s like my brain shuts off. I stutter, lose my train of thought and mis speak and mumble a lot. Kind of weird because if I’m not filming I don’t have those problems.
@@MikesMischief you’re not alone buddy,the same happens to me
@@sireposey8556 I sincerely hope that it’s only when I’m filming. Maybe it’s all the time and I don’t realize it..
The slack probabbly hasn’t been greased properly make sure to grease your undercarriages properly or shut like this goes down All the time mechanic from the rust belt
Thanks