Posted 2015-05-05 7:26 AM (#163334 - in reply to #163321) Subject: RE: Trailer brakes
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 402 Location: Valentine, NE
High pitched or low growl?
High pitched can be a spring/component broke in the drum, allowing to rub on the drum, or worn out (damaged by over greasing bearings?) shoes.
What I have seen happen a lot is that the spring on the magnet in the drum comes apart, allowing the magnet to rub on the drum. This will sound like an unbalanced metallic scraping noise. Not a huge issue, but will wear out your magnet/drum sooner.
A growl, can occur when trailer has set a lot time as shoes may be a little sticky. This typically goes away after 50 miles or so.
I have seen gravel get into drums and can cause a lot of noise.
I would see if drums get hot when pulling trailer. If they do, unhook brakes and see if the still get hot or noise goes away. If not, and brakes work fine, probably not a big concern. Drum brakes just squeal sometimes I swear.
Posted 2015-05-05 10:35 PM (#163340 - in reply to #163321) Subject: RE: Trailer brakes
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Have the brakes been adjusted since your purchase of the trailer? You may want to equalise their wear. Squealing can also be attributed to the pad material used on the shoes. Some will make noises while others may not. If you are not hearing any grinding or chaffing noises, and the wheels turn freely when spun by hand, an adjustment may be all that is needed.
Posted 2015-05-06 6:01 AM (#163344 - in reply to #163321) Subject: RE: Trailer brakes
Regular
Posts: 56 Location: Belchertown MA
Was going to check adjustment, just wanted some opinions on if there was anything else I should check for while I have it jacked up. Didn't want to pull apart for no reason and have to do seals and stuff.They work fine so probably dust or just squeaky drum brakes, now I remember a truck I had with drums on back and after 2 sets of new drums,2 different kinds of shoes accepted they were going to squeal a little sometimes just annoying. Thanks for the help.
Posted 2015-05-07 12:06 PM (#163358 - in reply to #163321) Subject: RE: Trailer brakes
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 402 Location: Valentine, NE
Oops. My bad.
If that is the case, most LQ's should be adjusted before they are sold Since most leave the factory, go to the conversion shop, than to a dealer, most would have several hundred miles on them before offered for sale...hummmmm.....
I am surprised drum brakes are still being used on trailers as much as they are....
Posted 2015-05-07 10:13 PM (#163361 - in reply to #163358) Subject: RE: Trailer brakes
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by Spin Doctor on 2015-05-07 12:06 PM
Oops. My bad. If that is the case, most LQ's should be adjusted before they are sold Since most leave the factory, go to the conversion shop, than to a dealer, most would have several hundred miles on them before offered for sale...hummmmm.....I am surprised drum brakes are still being used on trailers as much as they are....
Posted 2015-05-10 5:57 PM (#163375 - in reply to #163321) Subject: RE: Trailer brakes
Regular
Posts: 56 Location: Belchertown MA
So I adjusted them Friday AM, they were a little loose but not terrible, adjusted them all equal. Went camping that afternoon they seemed to work fine, still had a squeal once in awhile. On the way home I had to hit brakes quick, not real hard, but firm and noticed trailer tires locked. And this was with horses, tack, hay etc. So when I got home I checked it on gravel driveway and the front 2 lock and not the rear 2. I have an integrated Brake controller and only set on 5.5, last year was set on 8 and never locked brakes. I noticed when I took it for a ride after winter storage they would lock with the manual lever on brake controller but figured it was no horses and maybe a little rust from winter so I turned down controller, but now I'm wondering what's up. Any ideas would be great.
Posted 2015-05-10 6:40 PM (#163376 - in reply to #163321) Subject: RE: Trailer brakes
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Did you jack up one side of the trailer until the wheels will spin by hand? Then have some one spin it by hand in the same direction as if you were traveling. Then engage the controller with the manual lever fully. The wheel spinning wheel should instantly lock up. If not I would suspect the brake adjustment...remember each brake star wheel may have to have a slightly different adjustment to achieve this...Repeat on the other side...:)
Posted 2015-05-11 11:27 AM (#163389 - in reply to #163321) Subject: RE: Trailer brakes
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Was there any braking effort of the rear axle when they were applied on the gravel? If not, the wiring between the axles may be broken, allowing only the front axle to effect any braking. We have our controller set so that the trailer wheels lock up on gravel, and not a surfaced road. This setting varies among our trailers and loadings. Each one differs.
Posted 2015-05-13 5:18 AM (#163412 - in reply to #163321) Subject: RE: Trailer brakes
Regular
Posts: 56 Location: Belchertown MA
So I talked to my buddy who said he had the same issue with brakes locking up after adjusting them, and had to turn controller way down and adjust up as they wore during the year. So I will jack it up and make sure rears are working, my driveway is sloped so it could be there is more weight on the rears so they were not locking as easy as fronts,but will check to be sure. Then take it out for some test runs and play with controller to get them dialed in for our trip in the VT hills this weekend.
Trailer brakes
