What is the Slack Adjuster?

The Slack Adjuster is an adjustable component located on the rear side of the brake drum. The slack adjuster is an important part of the braking system and is used to control the gap between the brake shoes and the drum. This allows the driver to stop the vehicle as quickly and safely as possible.

The Slack Adjuster is a mechanical device that can be manually or automatically adjusted. The auto slack adjuster is an integral part of the air brake system in trucks and other vehicles. The slack adjuster works on the same principle as a box end wrench, which converts the pushrod motion into a camshaft motion.

The slack adjuster is also used on brakes for buses. They are often equipped with an automatic slack adjuster, which is designed to maintain consistent shoe-to-drum clearance. This ensures safe stopping distances for large trucks.

The slack adjuster should be maintained and inspected when necessary. When a slack adjuster is out of adjustment, it means that the rest of the braking system is not functioning properly. Over-stroking and other issues are often the result of faulty or worn components in the braking system. If the slack adjuster is damaged, the vehicle should be taken out of service until repairs are made.

A slack adjuster should be lubricated and checked for free movement of the clevis pins. This should be done using NGLI grade-2 lubricant, which should take less than a minute for each adjuster.