Smoking wheels

mkirsch wrote:

KAYAKFISH wrote:
I had the trailer inspected in the late fall of 2012 and went to Fl this year and returned in march.

In other words, YOU have never actually inspected the brakes yourself.

Just because you "had {it} inspected" does not mean that the person doing the inspection pulled the wheels and actually looked inside. That's a lot of work and a lot of garage time for a $21 inspection.

You can pretty much rest assured that since the wheel was still firmly attached to the trailer, the inspector simply assumed everything was fine, passed the trailer, and collected your $21 or however much it was.

Your out of line.

To answer your question, YES THE MECHANIC MUST remove the drum and INSPECT the brakes. They MUST measure the brake lining left on the shoes. They MUST check the shoes for cracks, uneven wear. They MUST check the drum surface for any signs of excessive uneven wear.

Myself, I always stand near by and watch and observe the mechanic.

And NO, it isn't $21 now days, closer to $30.

To further answer your suspicious mind, in PA you take a vehicle or trailer to an INDEPENDENT MECHANIC (these are often garages which do tires and or basic repairs like brakes, shocks, and such)who has taken specific inspection courses AND PASS those courses, ALL paid by the mechanic. The mechanic is not required to be a "member" of any state or local government.

The Mechanic MUST take additional refresher courses (which is paid out of the mechanics pocket) in order to keep up to date with any changes.

This mechanic puts his/her name on the line, they must sign the inspection sticker and maintain very good inspection records which at any time CAN BE inspected by the state at any time.

As mentioned, not all garages/ inspection mechanics take trailers, one of the requirements needed to inspect trailers is the garage must have a paved outside "skirt" or a garage large enough to accommodate trailers. But there is no shortage of places to take a trailer.