Almost a loss
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: The Big, Oregon
Almost a loss
Today I had the second electric brake failure on my trailer. Cruising down the highway, lightly loaded, a scan of the mirrors shows a plume of smoke from the right rear. Get pulled over, and there is a fire inside the drum. Luckily, I had an extinguisher with me so I got it taken care of.
Turns out one of the brake assemblies came apart, the magnet was melted, even the steel part, and the shoes were worn almost to the web from the outside edge. The fire was the heat built up inside the drum igniting grease spun out from the wheel bearing.
Everything looked good a week ago, brakes were adjusted up and the thing would stop decently, I just don't get what went wrong.
Turns out one of the brake assemblies came apart, the magnet was melted, even the steel part, and the shoes were worn almost to the web from the outside edge. The fire was the heat built up inside the drum igniting grease spun out from the wheel bearing.
Everything looked good a week ago, brakes were adjusted up and the thing would stop decently, I just don't get what went wrong.
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Home Base Nebraska
If it was just one brake I don't think it would be electrical, I am wondering if the grease seal was bad and grease found it's way to the shoes causing them to swell and drag on the drum. It's easy to damage a seal when installing a drum I know that from experience.
Denny
Denny
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: The Big, Oregon
I don't think so. This so far has only affected the brakes on one axle, and the shoes were worn nearly to the web from the outer side from rubbing on the drum.
I'm starting to think it was defective hardware, the holddowns broke or something allowing the shoes to just do what they wanted.
Time for another backing plate assembly I guess-
I'm starting to think it was defective hardware, the holddowns broke or something allowing the shoes to just do what they wanted.
Time for another backing plate assembly I guess-
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,379
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From: Frederick, MD
tough break, sounds like a mechanical issue to me as well. I would just buy all new hardware and I'll bet you will be fine. Better take a look at the bearing and seals too though. They may also need replacing at this point.
