Brake adjustment on GM

[richard5933]

Curious how others accomplish brake adjustment on their GM coaches, particular the 4108 or Buffalo series. It seems impossible to safely reach the slack adjusters without being under the bus, and the manual states that the wheels need to spin to properly adjust. The manual states tighten till drag is felt, then back off till the wheel spins freely.

Am I reading all this to mean that to correctly adjust the brakes (which the manual states should be done every 2000 miles) that everyone is jacking/blocking the bus up and going through this whole procedure? Am I missing something? Is there an easier and/or safer method?

[eagle19952]

I've adjusted a lot of brakes in my day. Put me in the group that has done it wrong if jacking is a requirement.
Hundreds maybe thousands of adjustments without incident and never a jack.

[chessie4905]

Probably, but I have a pit. Sucks without one.

[Dave5Cs]

On MCI 5C in the book it states, that you can do it that way but if on the ground measure the throw of the slack from where it rests to where it extends should be between 1-1/4" to 1-3/4". The rears are pretty tough to do without taking off the tires but can be done.

Also must add, here ours are DD3's

[richard5933]

I've adjusted a lot of brakes in my day. Put me in the group that has done it wrong if jacking is a requirement.
Hundreds maybe thousands of adjustments without incident and never a jack.

If not jacking, then how? Block the body and slide under on a creeper?

[Dave5Cs]

I use my ramps on the back and put a 3 inch block between the bump-stops on rear and just turn the wheels out on the front and reach in.

[eagle19952]

What he said. ^^

My point is the part about spinning the wheel.
I use the thud-ring test.
it thuds its too tight it rings its loose add 1/3 to 1/2 turn.
of course throw dimension dictates

[dtcerrato]

We love the pit.