There is one Brake setting procedure that is easy and can be used no matter which type of slack adjuster you have.

Once you have found a brake that is out of adjustment, simply take your wrench and turn the adjusting nut ¼ of a turn less or more depending how far the brakes are out of adjustment. Then take the TRUCK IRON and check the free travel. If you have a ½ to ¾ inch free travel, you are done. But if not, then simply adjust another part turn and re-check the free travel until you have the desired ½" to ¾" free travel. Once you have the desired free travel, you can use the hammerhead of the TRUCK IRON to tap the brake drum to check for a clear ringing sound indicating the brake pad is not too tight to the brake drum.

If you are adjusting a manual slack adjuster, make sure the locking collar is back in locked position. This procedure works whether manual or automatic slack adjuster. This prevents the operator from tightening the adjustment completely tight and risking ovetightening and having to back the adjustment off, which can be difficult with some automatic clack adjusters. This procedure is easily accomplished with the TRUCK IRON.

The Haldex has an 11mm adjusting nut. Turning clockwise tightens up the adjustment counter clockwise backs the brakes off. You can back off adjustments by simply turning the adjusting nut counter clockwise. You will hear and feel a clicking. This will not harm anything. The Haldex has a range indicator. The point must line up with the notch on the side of the slack adjuster. To line up the points properly, there is an 11/16" nut that you loosen. You then line up the pointer to the notch. This ensures that it will adjust in the proper range.

The gunite has an 11mm adjusting nut. Clockwise to tighten up the brakes, counter clockwise to back them off. When backing off the brakes, you will feel and hear a clicking. This is normal and no harm will occur. You have no other adjustments to make with this slack adjuster.

The Rockwell has a 5/16" square shaft for adjusting the brakes. This slack adjuster is backwards to others, clockwise backs the brakes off, and counter clockwise tightens the brakes up. Also, if you have to back the brakes off, you must pull the pawl out about 1/8" or a bit more in order to turn the adjusting shaft. If you don’t, damage to the adjuster will occur.

Pulling the pawl out is easily done with the TRUCK IRON. Simply use the bevel on the tip of one claw to slide behind the collar of the pawl. Pulling back on the pawl you simply stick a key or something of sufficient thickness to hold the pawl out. You then take the TRUCK IRON, back off the brake to where you want it set, then remove the key or whatever you have used to hold the pawl out and it will snap back into place.

As mentioned before, if you adjust a brake up a little at a time and re-check, you very seldom need to back the automatics off.