Forum Discussion

Swamp_Man's avatar
Swamp_Man
Explorer
Sep 27, 2014

Grease in New Brake Assemblies

I post this due to the number of complaints I have read on at least two forums where grease has been found in brand new brake assemblies on new trailers. The owners usually report little or no brake response and when the brakes are disassembled, grease is found on the shoes, drum, and in some cases, the backing plate. If you have a new trailer and you even suspect that it does not have the braking performance you think it should, take it to the dealer and have the drums pulled. There are several axle manufacturers who are supplying the over greased axle/brake combinations.
  • RCMAN46's avatar
    RCMAN46
    Explorer
    Sep 28, 2014
    In my case the seals were damaged during the initial assembly at the factory.
  • Gonzo42's avatar
    Gonzo42
    Explorer
    Sep 27, 2014
    Might be bad seals, if they are a separate part from the bearings. Alternatively, if they are in the rear, possibly the third member is overheating due to overload or insufficient gear oil, causing pressure within to force grease outward.
  • TucsonJim's avatar
    TucsonJim
    Explorer II
    Sep 27, 2014
    I've seen the same complaints, and there was one on this forum in the last week. This is a big deal. The folks I've talked to indicate it is not a problem with the owners injecting to much grease into the zerk fittings. It's mainly on rigs that are less than one year old.

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