BENDIX TCH-014-005 Data Sheet

Technical

Bulletin

Bulletin No: TCH-005-014

Effective Date: 5-30-2006

Cancels: N/A

Page: 1 of 1

Subject:

Automatic Slack Adjusters Not For Manual Adjustment

On February 15, 2006, the National Transportation Safety Board (“NTSB”) issued its Safety Recommendation

No. H-06-8 to all manufacturers and marketers of automatic slack adjusters, manufacturers of vehicles equipped

with air brakes and others seeking industry support for raising awareness of the inherent dangers of manually

adjusting automatic slack adjusters to correct out-of-adjustment brakes.
Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLC is issuing this Technical Bulletin to alert vehicle operators and technicians

repairing foundation brakes about the potentially dangerous practice of manual adjustment of automatic slack

adjusters.
The following information has been added to the Bendix

ASA-5

™

Service Data Sheet and Installation Instructions

and should apply to any type of automatic slack/brake adjuster:
The automatic slack adjuster is not designed to function as a manual adjuster once it is unable to maintain

adjustment automatically. Manual adjustment should only be done as a one-time temporary measure to correct

brake adjustment in an emergency situation. The routine manual adjustment of an automatic slack adjuster that

is still within adjustment limits may shorten its service life. Automatic slack adjusters should not be manually

adjusted in an effort to correct excessive pushrod stroke, because this condition indicates that a problem exists

with the automatic adjuster, with the installation of the adjuster, or with related foundation brake components,

which manual adjustment will not ﬁx. Replacement of the automatic slack adjuster or other foundation brake

components may be necessary. Always consult with the manufacturer’s troubleshooting guidelines to locate

and ﬁx the actual adjustment problem.
WARNING: The manual adjustment of automatic slack adjusters is a dangerous practice that could have

serious consequences, because it can give the operator a false sense of security about the effectiveness

of the brakes, which are likely to go out of adjustment again soon. Do not make manual adjustments of

an automatic slack adjuster once it can no longer automatically adjust the brakes. Manual adjustment

DOES NOT ﬁx the underlying wheel end adjustment. As soon as possible, have the vehicle inspected

by a qualiﬁed technician or consult the manufacturer’s troubleshooting guidelines to locate and ﬁx

the actual adjustment problem.
Please contact your Bendix Account Manager for more information concerning Bendix

automatic slack

adjusters.