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Kodiak8775 · 12-11-2018, 07:24 PM

Brakes adjusted....air good.....seems like I have to stand on peddle......complete stop almost at end of peddle travel....are there other adjustments?

Tks....

jporietis · 12-11-2018, 07:26 PM

How did you adjust brakes. Presume they are air drum

Jon_C · 12-11-2018, 07:43 PM

If air make sure the slack adjuster is at 90deg with brakes applied.
If your still not getting good braking id pull the wheels and examine pads and drums for wear and signs of overheating.

If hydraulic maybe you have air in the lines.

Need more details to make specific recommendations

twinboat · 12-11-2018, 08:03 PM

Pedal travel is not relevant, pressure is.

You may only need to take the MH out on an empty road and do some hard stops from 50 MPH or so.

Doing that will burnish the shoes to the drum and get them working better.

During normal light use, the shoes get glazed and loose effectiveness.

Be sure your getting 120+ PSI on your tank gauges before the air dryer unloads ( blows off ) and that the slack adjusters only move about an inch while applying the brakes.

You do know to release the parking brake to check and adjust them ?

deandec · 12-11-2018, 08:18 PM

Or you could do the DOT Pretrip Air Brake test in your storage spot.

The step where you pump down the air pressure should adjust your brakes.

Google the test if you do not already have it.

IASM · 12-12-2018, 12:14 AM

don't rely on slack adjusters. they do freeze up. one thing i do is use a heat gun on the drums. each side should be close and the fronts will likely be hotter.If you find a cool drum you know there not building enough heat and heat is what stops the coach. Also on s cam brakes as they wear they dont perform as well since they are only being expanded on one end. the other end of the shoe is on a fixed shaft.

Kodiak8775 · 12-12-2018, 05:53 AM

Thanks much for replies.....I was in the "pit" with the mech for adjustment process....fronts needed 3 turns....plenty of pad all around....rig has 32,000 miles....is there an adjustment on peddle in or below cab?

jporietis · 12-12-2018, 06:05 AM

There is no adjustment at the treadle (brake pedal) that I know of. With the parking brake on (yellow knob) out will the coach move if you give it some throttle?

texskeet · 12-13-2018, 01:36 PM

back it up at least to 5 miles hour brake hard repeat 3 times
will fix it

twinboat · 12-13-2018, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texskeet

back it up at least to 5 miles hour brake hard repeat 3 times
will fix it

Air brakes use double anchor shoes. One end of each shoe is fixed to a solid mount.

There is no back and forth movement of either shoe. Backing up and hitting your brakes will do nothing.

The slack adjuster only adjusts when you reliese the applied brakes, not when you step on them.

twinboat · 12-13-2018, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kodiak8775

Thanks much for replies.....I was in the "pit" with the mech for adjustment process....fronts needed 3 turns....plenty of pad all around....rig has 32,000 miles....is there an adjustment on peddle in or below cab?

If the mechanic actually turned the adjuster 3 full turns, he may have turned them the wrong way. It happens.

Turn the wheel all the way to one side, have someone step on the brake and watch the rod come out of the brake chamber. More then 1" is to much.

funjnt · 12-15-2018, 07:41 AM

It sounds like you have manual slack adjusters? Hmm. The mechanic should know how to adjust them for sure. On my old manual slacks I would tighten them down then back off rear 1\4 turn and 1\2 turn on fronts (this was a tractor).

Can you safely get under rig? Have helper help you stroke the chamber. With all brakes off (rig wheels chocked and on level ground), make a mark on brake rod. Have someone apply brakes and measure the distance the rod travels. I think someone gave distance above.

Maybe the brandishing of the brakes could be done also. Lots of light braking will glaze the brakes and you need a few hard stops to scrub it off. You can also apply power and apply brakes and do it this way also.

twinboat · 12-15-2018, 07:58 AM

If you have manual slack adjusters and your mechanic sent you out on the road, find a new mechanic.

Automatic slack adjusters have been a requirement since 1994 and they need to work.

The D.O.T. says that if you need to adjust the brakes, the auto adjusters are not functioning and must be repaired.

tomtownod · 12-26-2018, 08:06 AM

My previous coach was a 1999 magna the brakes were awful had them checked on several occasions always checked out fine but took forever to stop coach and had to stand on brake to stop quickly. Never felt comfortable with the brakes loved the coach sold to sister-in-law she complains about the brakes as well. Have a 2006 magna now braking is wonderful compared to the 99.

Tommy Townsend
2006 magna