ATA reminds operators to get a reliable brake system set up and conduct regular maintenance checks
The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has released a new Technical Advisory Procedure (TAP) on effective brake adjustment setup, maintenance and compliance.
This comes as the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and the Road and Maritime Services (RMS) agreed to extend the ongoing brake testing transition arrangements in New South Wales to January 31 next year, which means that heavy vehicles that achieve a brake test result greater than 3kN/t, but less than 4.5kN/t, will only be given an official warning on first time detection until the new date.
Releasing the new TAP on slack adjuster setup and compliance to NHVR’s inspection manual, ATA senior engineering adviser Chris Loose reminds operators to get a reliable brake system set up and also pay importance to maintenance to ensure the safety of their fleet.
“Understanding the correct adjustment for slack adjusters is important to improving brake performance and having safer trucks on our roads,” Loose says.
“We’ve seen longer stroke brake chambers become standard on a range of truck models over recent years, and it’s important that truck operators understand what version is fitted on their truck and how it should be set up and maintained.
“Getting the setup right will improve brake performance and improve safety.”
The new TAP includes advice on chamber stroke and readjustment lengths, identification of stroke on the brake chamber end cap, brake chamber stroke length, and correct mounting of chambers with slack adjusters.
The procedure also provides information on a stroke checking tool and lists examples of templates and guides for correct adjustment.
Loose says the document also provides some supplier links for service, maintenance and correct setup.
“There is a range of suppliers of both manual and automatic slack adjusters, all with unique designs and methods of function,” he says.
“It is important to buy the right quality of equipment built to the appropriate SAE standards, and to ensure they are regularly serviced and maintained.”
The advisory procedure was developed by the ATA’s Industry Technical Council.