Air Brake Coach
Brake adjustmentQuestion 55 of 116

What does the slack adjuster do?

  1. It stores air for the chamber
  2. It sets the cut-out pressure
  3. It cools the drum
  4. It changes push rod force into torque on the s-cam shaft
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Correct answer: It changes push rod force into torque on the s-cam shaft

The slack adjuster turns the push rod force from the chamber into torque on the s-cam shaft.

Source: Air Brake Manual: A Guide for Instructors (Government of Alberta, Alberta Transportation, March/April 2012), Module 8: Foundation brakes, page 75

Practice brake adjustment

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026