Automatic brake adjusters don’t need a lot of attention, but they certainly don’t fall in the set-it-and-forget-it category. Periodic inspection and lubrication are critical to optimal performance.

Brake job proficiency is a sort of status symbol among do-it-yourself truckers, indicating a grade of mechanical expertise that commands awe among greenhorns and respect from seasoned professionals.

While automatic brake adjusters don’t need a lot of attention, they are far from “set it and forget it.” Like their manual counterparts, periodic inspection and lubrication are critical to optimal ...