brake dragging

skicat

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 2, 2003
Messages
135
I have a tandem trailer with surge brakes. One wheel was getting hot, so I jacked it up and found that it turned hard because a brake shoe was rubbing. I adjusted the shoes in, put it all back together and it turned fine. After a trip to the lake, it was hot again. I jacked it up and it was rubbing again. Took it apart and adjusted the shoes as far as they would go closed. Put it together and it turned great with no rub. Went to the lake, got hot again, jacked it up and the brake is rubbing again. What do I do?
 

Dunaruna

Admiral
Joined
May 2, 2003
Messages
6,027
Re: brake dragging

Stop going to the lake :) <br /><br />Sorry, couldn't resist.<br /><br />Probably a partial siezed wheel cylinder (sticking). Have someone operate the hand lever while you watch the shoes move (not too much, you don't want to pop the pistons). It should return fully when released. If it was a problem with the master cylinder or acctuator both sides would bind.<br /><br />Aldo
 

Solittle

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Apr 28, 2002
Messages
7,518
Re: brake dragging

Safest bet is to just replace the brake cylinders.
 

Yepblaze

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jun 1, 2001
Messages
1,686
Re: brake dragging

Maybe that's the only one that's working at all and that is why it's warm. ??<br /><br />Try backing the warm side tire into a block (or actuate the coupler)and spin the cool one,<br />while it's jacked up to see if it brakes.<br /><br />If that is the case the other wheel may mave a stuck cylinder or something.<br /><br />If the warm one is actually dragging it would be because of rust or just lack of lube at crucial points, or the return springs are failing. <br /><br />At any rate I think you'd have to tear into it to find out just what is is.
 

Alcoff95

Recruit
Joined
Jul 15, 2004
Messages
4
Re: brake dragging

I had the same exact problem. One of the wheel cylinders siezed. The brake system should be flushed on a regular basis to prevent this.
 

Boatist

Rear Admiral
Joined
Apr 22, 2002
Messages
4,552
Re: brake dragging

If you even drive near saltwater it will try and rust and corrode the wheel cylinders. Pretty cheap to replace. The return spring could be broke or missing but more likely the little weak return spring can not pull the rusted crroded cylinder back to the stop.<br /><br /> http://www.championtrailers.com/hydbrake.html#galv_brakes
 
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