A braking system for a railway car, the braking system defining a longitudinal axis and comprising: a first brake assembly, the first brake assembly comprising a bar assembly and a plurality of brake heads connected to the bar assembly, the bar assembly defining a reference point; a second brake assembly, the second brake assembly comprising a bar assembly and a plurality of brake heads connected to the bar assembly; an actuator operable to generate a linear force, the actuator disposed proximate the second brake assembly; a fixed rod extending between the first brake assembly and the second brake assembly, the fixed rod coupled to the actuator; a movable rod extending between the first brake assembly and the second brake assembly, the movable rod translatable along the longitudinal axis based on operation of the actuator; a live lever disposed proximate the second brake assembly, the live lever comprising a first end, a second end, and a pivot point between the first end and the second end, the first end connected to the actuator, the second end connected to the movable rod; a dead lever disposed proximate the first brake assembly, the dead lever comprising a first end, a second end, and a pivot point between the first end and the second end, the first end connected to the movable rod, the second end connected to the fixed rod; and characterized by a slack adjuster disposed proximate the first brake assembly, the slack adjuster connected to the first brake assembly and the dead lever and operable to adjust a distance along the longitudinal axis between the reference point and the pivot point of the dead lever; wherein rotation of the first end of the dead lever about the pivot point of the dead lever within a first angle range causes no adjustment of the distance along the longitudinal axis between the reference point and the pivot point and rotation of the first end of the dead lever about the pivot point of the dead lever within a second angle range different from the first angle range causes adjustment of the distance along the longitudinal axis between the reference point and the pivot point. a first brake assembly, the first brake assembly comprising a bar assembly and a plurality of brake heads connected to the bar assembly, the bar assembly defining a reference point; a second brake assembly, the second brake assembly comprising a bar assembly and a plurality of brake heads connected to the bar assembly; an actuator operable to generate a linear force, the actuator disposed proximate the second brake assembly; a fixed rod extending between the first brake assembly and the second brake assembly, the fixed rod coupled to the actuator; a movable rod extending between the first brake assembly and the second brake assembly, the movable rod translatable along the longitudinal axis based on operation of the actuator; a live lever disposed proximate the second brake assembly, the live lever comprising a first end, a second end, and a pivot point between the first end and the second end, the first end connected to the actuator, the second end connected to the movable rod; a dead lever disposed proximate the first brake assembly, the dead lever comprising a first end, a second end, and a pivot point between the first end and the second end, the first end connected to the movable rod, the second end connected to the fixed rod; and characterized by a slack adjuster disposed proximate the first brake assembly, the slack adjuster connected to the first brake assembly and the dead lever and operable to adjust a distance along the longitudinal axis between the reference point and the pivot point of the dead lever; wherein rotation of the first end of the dead lever about the pivot point of the dead lever within a first angle range causes no adjustment of the distance along the longitudinal axis between the reference point and the pivot point and rotation of the first end of the dead lever about the pivot point of the dead lever within a second angle range different from the first angle range causes adjustment of the distance along the longitudinal axis between the reference point and the pivot point.