Can I Clean My Brake Shoes?

isaacs

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 15, 2013
Messages
153
My trailer brakes work fine but when I took them apart to free up the brake adjuster I found everything covered with grease. The rear seal must have been leaking and made a real mess from the EZ lube spindle.

The shoes and drums are in good shape; can I clean them up or do I have to buy new shoes? I will be replacing the leaky seal.
 

GA_Boater

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
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May 24, 2011
Messages
49,038
And you will be replacing the brake shoes, too. You can try, but degreasing brake shoes seldom works.
 

Lou C

Supreme Mariner
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Nov 10, 2002
Messages
12,842
You can try using non chlorinated brake cleaner, that will work great on the drums but if the shoes still greasy after cleaning them then replace them.....
 

ahicks

Captain
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Sep 16, 2013
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They aren't that expensive if your time is worth anything at all.
 

bruceb58

Supreme Mariner
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Mar 5, 2006
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30,559
Replace the shoes. You cannot clean them. Consider a whole new backing plate if the shoes are close to the price of the whole assembly.

Now...stop using that EZ-Lube "feature". Hand pack only
 

Sprig

Chief Petty Officer
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May 2, 2016
Messages
616
Grease on brake shoes is dangerous. You cannot clean oil or grease off shoes. Get new shoes.
 

gm280

Supreme Mariner
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Jun 26, 2011
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14,605
Of course IF you had the proper setup, you could clean the shoes. But that would mean a good container to soak them in, and an amazing amount of cleaner to cover the shoes to soak. So bottom line is, it would cost you more then the cost of new shoes to buy the amount of degreaser fluid to clean them correctly. JMHO

There are NO shortcuts when you own a boat... :nono:
 

MRS

Commander
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Jul 10, 2005
Messages
2,572
Faster and cheaper, safer to just replace them.
 

Lou C

Supreme Mariner
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Nov 10, 2002
Messages
12,842
the complete backing plate with new wheel cyl + shoes already installed might be the same price or cheaper than new shoes, I know it was one time when I checked a few years ago.
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
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Jul 23, 2011
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49,958
the complete backing plate with new wheel cyl + shoes already installed might be the same price or cheaper than new shoes, I know it was one time when I checked a few years ago.

pre-loaded backing plates are cheaper than a set of shoes.
 

matt167

Rear Admiral
Joined
Sep 27, 2012
Messages
4,160
carb cleaner/ brake cleaner isn't cheap. You'll spend more in cleaner than rebuilding the brakes
 

isaacs

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 15, 2013
Messages
153
Well, I almost bought new backing plates but I didn't want to wait for them--had plans for the boat! I cleaned up the shoes and drum on the left side and put it back together. I never took the right side apart; I was able to adjust the brakes on that side with no problem. I don't know if the seal leaked grease on that side or not.

Now that it's back together and properly adjusted the clunking I had in the coupler is gone and the boat stops just fine. I'm actually quite happy with it but I plan on new backing plate assemblies in the spring when my budget and time allow for it.

Thank you all for your advice, Bob
 
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