"ATP*" wrote in message
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"Steve B" wrote in message
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Today, I took a friend's trailer a few miles to pick up some material.
It is a tandem axle 16' trailer. I looked back, and there was smoke
pouring out of one wheel. I had just started from a stop, and was doing
about 15 mph. I pulled over, put it in reverse, and then went forward
and all was good. The tire had jammed up in some way, and the smoke was
from the tire skidding, and not from the hub.

This trailer has electric brakes, but they are not hooked up. When I got
home, I had driven about eight miles. That one wheel was very warm, and
the outer brake drum was nearly hot.

I think what has happened is that some component has come loose inside
there, and jammed. Backing up unjammed it, but there must still be
something causing the shoe to come out and engage the drum making it
hotter than the rest. The rest were cool to the touch.

I am going to block the trailer up tomorrow, and take that wheel off
first, and look for loose parts, or obvious failure.

Should I just put a spring on there to hold the electric brakes closed?
I would do this to all four wheels. Plus, check the bearings while I
have it in the air. This trailer is not used for heavy loads, and my
friend would probably not want to spend the $$ to have it put back as
new, as it was manufactured in 1965.

A mechanic friend of mine said to just take off all the shoes and
everything, and not be bothered in the future. My friend pulls this with
a 3/4 ton truck, enough to handle the trailer and load.

What would you do?

Steve
The brake assemblies are not that expensive, if you have it apart, replace
them.

It quit raining, I got the pavers unloaded, so took off the wheel. Steel
salad would be the best description. Something cut loose, shredding lots of
stuff in there. One brake show was bent out of shape. The backing plate
was seriously bent inward toward centerline. The opposite side was rubbing
the drum, so had to hammer it back enough for the wheel to turn. The whole
backing plate, and whole brake assembly will have to be replaced. Oh yeah,
the tire has a flat spot on it, too.

Bearings looked good, tho. ;-)

Supposed to talk to the owner in the next day or so. Will see if he wants
to fix it, or remove all the brake assemblies.

Steve

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