Surge brakes rear right tire lock up smokes!

[knightowl]

I bled my brakes, after towing for about 20 minutes the very far tire (right side) on a double axle started to smoke pretty bad while others are just fine.

I pop the tire off and decide to replace all 4 tires complete brake assembly kit.

I also put all brand new brake lines and a brand new master cylinder with shocks.

I bled the brakes and went on a 2 hour journey to the ocean. Everything was fine.

Then we headed home. Along the way (40 minutes before home) we stopped at a river to dip the boat in normal non salt water and did some fishing their. Then we loaded up and headed home.

20 minutes into our drive, people started honking at me and i pulled over and saw that the same tire was smoking insanely.

What in the world is going on? I have brand new split T's, brand new lines, brand new brake complete assembly, master cylinder. Everything is new.

Yet it seems like that tire that is getting the most pressure. I had to unscrew my brake line just to get home because it would smoke badly.

Thanks for your advice

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Surge brakes rear right tire lock up smokes!

Disk or drum? If they are disk did you use the correct master cylinder?

If drum, is it possible you got grease leakage past your rear oil seal? If so, that can easily make the brakes very grabby. Also, were you careful and made sure that the linings did not get any grease contamination from your hands on them?

 

[knightowl]

Re: Surge brakes rear right tire lock up smokes!

Its drum brakes yes.

I also put brand new seals on them. I did load up the axle with plenty of grease. I will have to check to make sure that the seal is still correctly pressed in.

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Surge brakes rear right tire lock up smokes!

Do I understand that EVERYTHING is new ? Including Wheel cylinders and all the springs in the wheel assembly? You say the TIRE started smoking, You mean the brakes started smoking I assume. When you jack the trailer up ,without the brakes on, is that wheel totally locked up or can you turn it by hand ? Was the brake drum red hot when it was smokeing ? I would suspect wheel bearings 'cept you said disconnecting brake line solved the problem... Is the backing plate contacts[where the shoes rub against the backing plate thats attached to the axel ] smooth and not holding the shoe [shoes] from retracting ? I had that prob on my surge brakes, when the aforementioned brake hardware rusted/corroded. The brakes activated properly, but would not deactivate cuz the rusty springs couldn't retract the shoes and compress the pistons back into the wheel cylinder. Another time , on my brand new [POS] Dexter brake shoes One of the pads fell of the shoe [defedtive] and lodged between the other shoe and the drum. Red Hot like a sumbch... Just some thoughts..........

 

[knightowl]

Re: Surge brakes rear right tire lock up smokes!

Yes brand new complete assembly included brand new cylinders and springs.

I know it cant be the bearing because it would have smoked all the time and plus when we disconnected the brake lines and drain the fluid, we where able to make it home with- out smoking..

Tiring spin: Before we took off for the trip, i jacked that side up and gave it a spin with-out brakes engaged and the tire rotated 1 full turn plus half. After we got back from the trip, i never tried to spin the tire, besides, brake line was disconnected.

 

[Shrike]

Re: Surge brakes rear right tire lock up smokes!

If the brakes are adjusted too tight on one wheel the shoes will get hot and expand even more. If it gets hot enough the brake fluid will expand.
Try backing off the adjustment on that wheel.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Surge brakes rear right tire lock up smokes!

I vote over-greased hub that's flipped the rear seal throwing excess onto the shoes. Makes the brakes very grabby and smoky. Check the seal and maybe with enough brake cleaner you can save the shoes but usually not once they get soaked.

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Surge brakes rear right tire lock up smokes!

I would be curious how much it drags with brake line disconnected. When mine was acting up, I jacked it up and spun wheel by hand and had someone activate the brake with a screwdriver at the master cylinder.. then they would release it and the wheel stayed locked.. Thats when it was all rusted.. Thinking about that backing plate again. I remember the shoes had actually cut some grooves into the little... lands? The little flat spots on the backing plate that the shoes rest on, I had to grind them a little bit so the shoes wouldn't hook up on 'em. Then a little touch of grease on each of them so the shoes could move. I don't know what else could make the shoes drag.. My surge brakes have always been persnickety, Hi maintenance. Just the nature of the beast Get em wet-park it, get em wet, park it.. Could there be a proportioning valve in-line thats malfunctioning. Not allowing the brake line pressure from that wheel cylinder too dissipate ? Mine is older-86. BTW I am just thrown ideas out, from my experience. Don't claim to know really WTH I'm talking about !

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Surge brakes rear right tire lock up smokes!

I vote over-greased hub that's flipped the rear seal throwing excess onto the shoes. Makes the brakes very grabby and smoky. Check the seal and maybe with enough brake cleaner you can save the shoes but usually not once they get soaked.

Yea, me too. Plus maybe the brakes shoes are a bit too close to the drum at rest.

Does the smoke smell like a hot clutch or smoking oil?

 

[knightowl]

Re: Surge brakes rear right tire lock up smokes!

i would probably agree on the grease thing. I did grease the heck out of it. I did put brand new seals but too much grease might of caused it to finally pop. I used almost 2 cans of grease for 4 tires lol..... (gotta get em good) sorry im old fashion lol. I will check to see if the seal pop or not.

However, the smell was BURNING BRAKE PADS smell. Like on a 100 degree day after a semi and freeway traffic just got done going down a large hill.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Surge brakes rear right tire lock up smokes!

Yeah the grease makes the shoe want to grab the drum, thus the brake smell. Give it a look.

 

[sstocker31]

Re: Surge brakes rear right tire lock up smokes!

Is there any chance that you made a mistake with the assembly on that particular brake? Maybe a spring came off and the shoe is dragging? You need to take it apart and have a look.
I also think SHRIKE has the best answer so far about adjusting the brake..... do that first.....I don't think its from over greasing.