Does your home jurisdiction require air brake endorsement?
Are there jurisdictions about the continent that allow people to drive air brake equipped vehicles without any type of training or license endorsement?
Forum Discussion
139 Replies
randco wrote:
peaches&cream wrote:
Tom_Anderson wrote:
two-niner wrote:
All of this "sitting in the cab pumping the brake pedal X number of times" is good. How do you know they really adjusted??
You measure the stroke, just like always. All of this pumping stuff isn't really necessary if you measure the pushrod stroke and it's within spec.
No one has answered my question, does the pedal go lower (as in hydralic brakes) as the adjustment gets out of tolerance? Or does the pedal go to the floor upon a stop when it is out of tolerance? Since we have professionals responding to the post, I would think they would know the answer? I normaly press my brake pedal as far as it will go, every day as I drive the MH. Usually make at least 10 stops or more each day. Do I need to do a "panic stop"? Please explain what a CDL teaches you over a "peon" like me?
Give me some info?
Next question... At what speed must one be traveling to perform the proper panic stop?
You don't have to be moving at all. You just need to make a full brake application with the parking brake off. Again, you really should never need to do this. The whole point of automatic slack adjusters is that they adjust automatically. Just check the pushrod travel periodically and you'll be fine.peaches&cream wrote:
Tom_Anderson wrote:
two-niner wrote:
All of this "sitting in the cab pumping the brake pedal X number of times" is good. How do you know they really adjusted??
You measure the stroke, just like always. All of this pumping stuff isn't really necessary if you measure the pushrod stroke and it's within spec.
No one has answered my question, does the pedal go lower (as in hydralic brakes) as the adjustment gets out of tolerance? Or does the pedal go to the floor upon a stop when it is out of tolerance? Since we have professionals responding to the post, I would think they would know the answer? I normaly press my brake pedal as far as it will go, every day as I drive the MH. Usually make at least 10 stops or more each day. Do I need to do a "panic stop"? Please explain what a CDL teaches you over a "peon" like me?
Give me some info?
I suppose for peon's like us, a panic stop will be required after we do a walk around and crawl under the rig and inspect the brake assembly, then make certain that the all of the tire pressures are perfect and that the engine is up to operating temperature. Oh, one last thing, make sure that any loose items are properly secured prior to the panic stop.
Next question... At what speed must one be traveling to perform the proper panic stop?msmith1199 wrote:
"You would fail the CDL test. You forgot the walk around which requires actual checking of the slack adjusters and brake pads, drums or rotors"
You're supposed to do a walk around and check brake pads? I could not do that with a walk around, at least I don't think. I'd have to do a crawl under and I'm pretty sure even with crawling under on the drum brakes you can't even see the pads without taking the drum off.
Yes, if you're driving a commercial vehicle, you are supposed to do a complete inspection every day. Obviously, if you can't see the brake shoes without removing the drums, you're not expected to check them. Again, this is only for commercial vehicles, or the CDL driving test.- "You would fail the CDL test. You forgot the walk around which requires actual checking of the slack adjusters and brake pads, drums or rotors"
You're supposed to do a walk around and check brake pads? I could not do that with a walk around, at least I don't think. I'd have to do a crawl under and I'm pretty sure even with crawling under on the drum brakes you can't even see the pads without taking the drum off. wny_pat wrote:
peaches&cream wrote:
You would fail the CDL test. You forgot the walk around which requires actual checking of the slack adjusters and brake pads, drums or rotors. You are also suppose to check the air hoses leading to the brake chamber.Tom_Anderson wrote:
peaches&cream wrote:
Tom_Anderson wrote:
two-niner wrote:
All of this "sitting in the cab pumping the brake pedal X number of times" is good. How do you know they really adjusted??
You measure the stroke, just like always. All of this pumping stuff isn't really necessary if you measure the pushrod stroke and it's within spec.
No one has answered my question, does the pedal go lower (as in hydralic brakes) as the adjustment gets out of tolerance? Or does the pedal go to the floor upon a stop when it is out of tolerance? Since we have professionals responding to the post, I would think they would know the answer? I normaly press my brake pedal as far as it will go, every day as I drive the MH. Usually make at least 10 stops or more each day. Do I need to do a "panic stop"? Please explain what a CDL teaches you over a "peon" like me?
Give me some info?
No, the pedal travel does not change with brake adjustment. And automatic slack adjusters are supposed to adjust automatically, without making panic stops. That's just a way of making sure they do.
Air brakes are not rocket surgery. In fact, everything that most professional truck drivers know about them can be found in the DMV commercial driver handbook, which can be picked up for free at any DMV office (in California, at least).
So if I make 10 normal stops in a day of driving, I have satisfied the CDL requirement for adjusting the brakes? I cannot imagine traveling 300 miles in a day without making at least 10 full stops. Am I being unreasonable or what?
Damn, I hate that. You have so much knowlede that I don't, I will let you handle the walkaround and I will drive the unit. :STom_Anderson wrote:
They can be adjusted to correct a temporatory problem in a emergency situtation. At least that is what is taught here in the CDL manual! But one has to realize that there are many different brands of automatic slack adjustors and that the manufacturers service manual should be consulted before troubleshooting any brake problem.peaches&cream wrote:
Tom_Anderson wrote:
peaches&cream wrote:
Tom_Anderson wrote:
two-niner wrote:
All of this "sitting in the cab pumping the brake pedal X number of times" is good. How do you know they really adjusted??
You measure the stroke, just like always. All of this pumping stuff isn't really necessary if you measure the pushrod stroke and it's within spec.
No one has answered my question, does the pedal go lower (as in hydralic brakes) as the adjustment gets out of tolerance? Or does the pedal go to the floor upon a stop when it is out of tolerance? Since we have professionals responding to the post, I would think they would know the answer? I normaly press my brake pedal as far as it will go, every day as I drive the MH. Usually make at least 10 stops or more each day. Do I need to do a "panic stop"? Please explain what a CDL teaches you over a "peon" like me?
Give me some info?
No, the pedal travel does not change with brake adjustment. And automatic slack adjusters are supposed to adjust automatically, without making panic stops. That's just a way of making sure they do.
Air brakes are not rocket surgery. In fact, everything that most professional truck drivers know about them can be found in the DMV commercial driver handbook, which can be picked up for free at any DMV office (in California, at least).
So if I make 10 normal stops in a day of driving, I have satisfied the CDL requirement for adjusting the brakes? I cannot imagine traveling 300 miles in a day without making at least 10 full stops. Am I being unreasonable or what?
The requirement is that you check them and maintain them within spec. You should never need to adjust them with normal use.peaches&cream wrote:
You would fail the CDL test. You forgot the walk around which requires actual checking of the slack adjusters and brake pads, drums or rotors. You are also suppose to check the air hoses leading to the brake chamber.Tom_Anderson wrote:
peaches&cream wrote:
Tom_Anderson wrote:
two-niner wrote:
All of this "sitting in the cab pumping the brake pedal X number of times" is good. How do you know they really adjusted??
You measure the stroke, just like always. All of this pumping stuff isn't really necessary if you measure the pushrod stroke and it's within spec.
No one has answered my question, does the pedal go lower (as in hydralic brakes) as the adjustment gets out of tolerance? Or does the pedal go to the floor upon a stop when it is out of tolerance? Since we have professionals responding to the post, I would think they would know the answer? I normaly press my brake pedal as far as it will go, every day as I drive the MH. Usually make at least 10 stops or more each day. Do I need to do a "panic stop"? Please explain what a CDL teaches you over a "peon" like me?
Give me some info?
No, the pedal travel does not change with brake adjustment. And automatic slack adjusters are supposed to adjust automatically, without making panic stops. That's just a way of making sure they do.
Air brakes are not rocket surgery. In fact, everything that most professional truck drivers know about them can be found in the DMV commercial driver handbook, which can be picked up for free at any DMV office (in California, at least).
So if I make 10 normal stops in a day of driving, I have satisfied the CDL requirement for adjusting the brakes? I cannot imagine traveling 300 miles in a day without making at least 10 full stops. Am I being unreasonable or what?peaches&cream wrote:
Tom_Anderson wrote:
peaches&cream wrote:
Tom_Anderson wrote:
two-niner wrote:
All of this "sitting in the cab pumping the brake pedal X number of times" is good. How do you know they really adjusted??
You measure the stroke, just like always. All of this pumping stuff isn't really necessary if you measure the pushrod stroke and it's within spec.
No one has answered my question, does the pedal go lower (as in hydralic brakes) as the adjustment gets out of tolerance? Or does the pedal go to the floor upon a stop when it is out of tolerance? Since we have professionals responding to the post, I would think they would know the answer? I normaly press my brake pedal as far as it will go, every day as I drive the MH. Usually make at least 10 stops or more each day. Do I need to do a "panic stop"? Please explain what a CDL teaches you over a "peon" like me?
Give me some info?
No, the pedal travel does not change with brake adjustment. And automatic slack adjusters are supposed to adjust automatically, without making panic stops. That's just a way of making sure they do.
Air brakes are not rocket surgery. In fact, everything that most professional truck drivers know about them can be found in the DMV commercial driver handbook, which can be picked up for free at any DMV office (in California, at least).
So if I make 10 normal stops in a day of driving, I have satisfied the CDL requirement for adjusting the brakes? I cannot imagine traveling 300 miles in a day without making at least 10 full stops. Am I being unreasonable or what?
The requirement is that you check them and maintain them within spec. You should never need to adjust them with normal use.randco wrote:
michelb wrote:
John & Angela wrote:
slickest1 wrote:
The fact that you think you have auto air tank purging and air driers on your compressor says to me you really don't fully understand your system. What you hear purging would be the air dryer that is plumbed into your air system that removes most of the moisture out of the air before it gets to your tanks.
I don't think most people need the same course a truck driver needs but should have an idea of what they are driving and that it should be maintained. Air brake systems are more complicated and need to be because of they weight they need to stop. There are alot of safety measures built in to them like auto slacks and such that need to be maintained. You may scoff at us old truckers all you want, but telling people that are new to this that you can just get in it and drive it without knowing anything about it is just plain Bad Info.
Beat me to it. Thats kinda scary. I wonder how many people are driving around out there that haven't purged their tanks. I would hope they get told how to purge their tanks on their walk through from the dealer. Scary.
FWIW, I purchased a 10 year old DP last year and the lanyards for the airtanks had NEVER been pulled - they were still covered in the foam that Tiffin sprays under the chassis and I had to dig them out.
My coach does have automatic moisture ejector so you don't have to do them daily but unless you're 100% that the automatic moisture ejector is working properly, you should probably pull them once in a while ...
I have a similar system on my coach. About a year ago after reading so much info on this forum I crawled under my coach to find the lanyards. They were neatly coiled up and wire tied to the frame just like they came from the factory. I cut the ties and got out from under the coach. I pulled the lanyard and got nothing but dry air out of the tanks.
But what would happen if your air dryer was not working properly?? and did you pull the lanyard on the wet tank too???Tom_Anderson wrote:
peaches&cream wrote:
Tom_Anderson wrote:
two-niner wrote:
All of this "sitting in the cab pumping the brake pedal X number of times" is good. How do you know they really adjusted??
You measure the stroke, just like always. All of this pumping stuff isn't really necessary if you measure the pushrod stroke and it's within spec.
No one has answered my question, does the pedal go lower (as in hydralic brakes) as the adjustment gets out of tolerance? Or does the pedal go to the floor upon a stop when it is out of tolerance? Since we have professionals responding to the post, I would think they would know the answer? I normaly press my brake pedal as far as it will go, every day as I drive the MH. Usually make at least 10 stops or more each day. Do I need to do a "panic stop"? Please explain what a CDL teaches you over a "peon" like me?
Give me some info?
No, the pedal travel does not change with brake adjustment. And automatic slack adjusters are supposed to adjust automatically, without making panic stops. That's just a way of making sure they do.
Air brakes are not rocket surgery. In fact, everything that most professional truck drivers know about them can be found in the DMV commercial driver handbook, which can be picked up for free at any DMV office (in California, at least).
So if I make 10 normal stops in a day of driving, I have satisfied the CDL requirement for adjusting the brakes? I cannot imagine traveling 300 miles in a day without making at least 10 full stops. Am I being unreasonable or what?
