Hi,
I have a 1998 Karavan single axle trailer that I bought about 3 years ago. It has drum brakes with bearing buddies (and an Atwood drum brake actuator). (See photo of drum.) The brake line rusted through and broke near the right wheel. Most of the visible line is rusted throughout the trailer so I'm planning to replace it with stainless brake line.
Since there's a good chance that salt water got into the broken line, I figure that I will have to rebuild or replace the wheel cylinders. I want to take a look at them to decide whether to buy new ones which brings me to my question.
I've grappled with removed rusty brake drums before but never with these bearing buddies attached. There doesn't seem to be anything on the bearing buddy to grab with a wrench so I'm not sure whether I need to do anything special with them.
Do I need to remove the bearing buddies before I can remove the brake drum or will them come off together? Any tricks to removing them or removing the drum?
Anything else I should plan to replace while I'm at it other than brake shoes if they appear to need it?
I'm guessing it's going to be a nightmare to bleed these brakes once I get it back together.
I have a 1998 Karavan single axle trailer that I bought about 3 years ago. It has drum brakes with bearing buddies (and an Atwood drum brake actuator). (See photo of drum.) The brake line rusted through and broke near the right wheel. Most of the visible line is rusted throughout the trailer so I'm planning to replace it with stainless brake line.
Since there's a good chance that salt water got into the broken line, I figure that I will have to rebuild or replace the wheel cylinders. I want to take a look at them to decide whether to buy new ones which brings me to my question.
I've grappled with removed rusty brake drums before but never with these bearing buddies attached. There doesn't seem to be anything on the bearing buddy to grab with a wrench so I'm not sure whether I need to do anything special with them.
Do I need to remove the bearing buddies before I can remove the brake drum or will them come off together? Any tricks to removing them or removing the drum?
Anything else I should plan to replace while I'm at it other than brake shoes if they appear to need it?
I'm guessing it's going to be a nightmare to bleed these brakes once I get it back together.