Brake Adjustment Tool Views

• Automotive

However, there are hit and miss methods that may be employed to perform a brake adjustment operation. The tool in accordance with the present invention, is a slack adjustment device, to give a single mechanic the means to grasp and pull a slack adjuster, enabling him to perform a proper brake adjustment, without employing a hit and miss method. References of record are the United States patents of Clair F. Hahn U.S. Pat. No. 2,681,791, Harry C. Grossman U.S. Pat. No. 2,640,382, and Jack M. Winslow U.S. Pat. No. 4,334,376.

Another object of this invention is to provide an air brake adjustment tool, which will be of such structure, as to give a single mechanic a mechanical advantage through leverage means, to pull a slack adjuster of an air brake by hand with little effort, which will save a substantial amount of garage time and manpower.

A brake adjustment tool for automotive vehicles, comprising a main body with placement means for a socket that will receive the adjustment screws of the slack adjusters of air brakes. The tool provide a mechanical advantage to a single mechanic, enabling him to grasp and pull a slack adjuster with a sufficient amount of force by hand, to check the air chamber piston travel stroke, which prevents the need of a second person in the cab of the vehicle to step on the brake pedal for obtaining proper brake adjustment, and the tool is provided with a striker block to be hit by a hammer to free a tight adjustment screw collar that is often seized due to road conditions. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In use, socket 16 is inserted into the opening 14 of tool 10, and is positioned over the set or adjustment screw 18 for rotation thereof, and while holding the handle portion 12, the mechanic hits the striking collar 22 with a hammer, because the locking collar 18a is often siezed. Striking the block 22 will force the socket 16 further down on the adjustment screw 18, which will force the locking collar 18a in to release the adjusting screw. The adjusting screw 18 is then rotated with tool 10 still in place, to adjust the brakes.