trailer brake replacement
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 910
Likes: 8
From: West-Central New York
trailer brake replacement
I noticed a scraping noise from my right side and so I took a look. Sheesh what a mess, even managed to destroy the adjuster gear. I have no idea how it happened since the spring was still there, connected, and there appears to be no outside damage to the drum itself. The adjuster was nothing but a mangled tube when it fell out as I took the drum off. The pads, if not mangled by the adjuster, could have lasted another couple years...
My question is twofold:
1) When tightening the new brakes how far do I go? (Do I tighten them to the point of locking and then back off till they just barely move? If I do tighten them to the point of lock wouldn't that mean that they would be wearing down a lot faster and dragging?)
2) Does anyone know what could have caused the adjuster to come apart? (These brakes don't adjust themselves because there's no lever for that although it was in two pieces when it feel out. I've been driving this trailer almost 10,000 miles in the past year and it seems to have only broken this past week or so... but I'm not sure.)
Thanks in advance.
Dan
My question is twofold:
1) When tightening the new brakes how far do I go? (Do I tighten them to the point of locking and then back off till they just barely move? If I do tighten them to the point of lock wouldn't that mean that they would be wearing down a lot faster and dragging?)
2) Does anyone know what could have caused the adjuster to come apart? (These brakes don't adjust themselves because there's no lever for that although it was in two pieces when it feel out. I've been driving this trailer almost 10,000 miles in the past year and it seems to have only broken this past week or so... but I'm not sure.)
Thanks in advance.
Dan
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
My Fiver had the same problem, except 3 out of the 4 adjusters where mangled. I think the problem lies in that if the the adjuster spring rusts and breaks, then the adjuster mech. falls loose. I replaced all of mine with new adjusters and springs. Then adjusted by hand, slipped the hubs back on, then adjusted the brakes from the rear with a brake spoon ( can use a screw driver), till there was a slight drag. Hopefully your trailer wheel have a slot on the back plate to get to the adjuster star wheel with the brake spoon. When my trailer brakes where out of ajustment I would hear a clacking noise when brakes where applied. Finally properly adjusted trailer brakes make all the difference when towing.
Don't forget to Grease your bearings.
Tim
Don't forget to Grease your bearings.
Tim
