Forum Discussion

plasticmaster's avatar
plasticmaster
Explorer
Mar 16, 2014

repacked bearings and now brakes seem weak

Yesterday, I cleaned and repacked the bearings on my travel trailer. While I had the drum removed, I cleaned the brake shoes, magnet, and inside the drum with brake cleaner. Everything looked fine and I put it all back together being very careful not to get grease on any of the brake parts. I then took it for a test drive and my brakes are much weaker than before I did the bearing job. Why would this be? Thanks.
  • robsouth's avatar
    robsouth
    Explorer II
    Mar 17, 2014
    ScottG wrote:
    DavisK wrote:
    Brake cleaner is not for cleaning brake shoes. You should never clean the shoes. You can blow them off with compressed air to remove any loose dust, but no liquids should contact them.


    Sorry but I have to respectfully disagree with this. First of all brake cleaner is specifically for cleaning brake shoes and does no harm. You should always wash shoes off after installing and you should clean new drums as well because they have a light coating on them to keep them from rusting. Secondly you should never blow off brake shoes and scatter toxic brake dust.


    Another perfect example of "information" or "mis-information". Just a little research will show that ScottG is the winner here.
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Mar 17, 2014
    DavisK wrote:
    Brake cleaner is not for cleaning brake shoes. You should never clean the shoes. You can blow them off with compressed air to remove any loose dust, but no liquids should contact them.


    Sorry but I have to respectfully disagree with this. First of all brake cleaner is specifically for cleaning brake shoes and does no harm. You should always wash shoes off after installing and you should clean new drums as well because they have a light coating on them to keep them from rusting. Secondly you should never blow off brake shoes and scatter toxic brake dust.
  • coolbreeze01's avatar
    coolbreeze01
    Explorer
    Mar 16, 2014
    I'm sorry, but a classic example of what can go wrong. Amateur or professional. Be aware, repacking bearings can turn out worse than a little grease in your EZ-Lubes. Good luck.
  • DavisK's avatar
    DavisK
    Explorer
    Mar 16, 2014
    Brake cleaner is not for cleaning brake shoes. You should never clean the shoes. You can blow them off with compressed air to remove any loose dust, but no liquids should contact them.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Mar 16, 2014
    Did you re-adjust brake shoes??

    Jack one wheel up off ground
    Spin wheel and adjust brakes via slot in bottom of drum...turn star wheel with flat blade screw driver until brakes are tight and can not turn wheel by hand

    Then back off star wheel until you can turn wheel with a slight drag of brake shoes
  • opnspaces's avatar
    opnspaces
    Navigator II
    Mar 16, 2014
    I wonder if you broke a brake activation wire so you are only getting 3 wheel braking.

    Maybe also try adjusting the brakes again as they might have seated or centered the shoes and now they are too loose.

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