Brakes

[BourbonRam]

Is there a way to tell if you have self adjusting brakes without having to remove the drum? I think mine need adjusting. Just wondering before I manually adjust them.

[BourbonRam]

Old-Biscuit wrote:

BourbonRam wrote:
Ok. So I went under and looked at the back side of the wheels. My backing plates have two rubber plugs. I was going to remove them and look inside reference adjusting later, but while under there I found something else. Three of my four drums have grease leaking out of the bottoms onto the tire. I guess my seals are bad and now I have grease inside the drums. Wheels or drums have never been removed. Bought new February 2017. Has 2 year warranty. Need to find out now if that will be covered. No sense trying to adjust at this point.

Are these 'EZ-Lube' axles (external zerk fitting one uses to pump grease in)?
Over pump..blow seals...new brakes required

Feb 2017 started the 2 year warranty clock (date of purchase)
So YES they should be covered.
Drums can be cleaned up, Shoes need replaced, bearings S/B OK but need inspected.
Good luck!

Not sure. The wheels are 16” with a center cap. Never been removed by me. Must remove wheel to inspect for that (EZ Lube). Had that system on my last tow behind but I never used it. Always removed drum, hand greased the bearings, and reinstalled with new seal. I’m going to guess since it has center caps it does not have that system.

Thanks Old-Biscuit.

[Old-Biscuit]

BourbonRam wrote:
Ok. So I went under and looked at the back side of the wheels. My backing plates have two rubber plugs. I was going to remove them and look inside reference adjusting later, but while under there I found something else. Three of my four drums have grease leaking out of the bottoms onto the tire. I guess my seals are bad and now I have grease inside the drums. Wheels or drums have never been removed. Bought new February 2017. Has 2 year warranty. Need to find out now if that will be covered. No sense trying to adjust at this point.

Are these 'EZ-Lube' axles (external zerk fitting one uses to pump grease in)?
Over pump..blow seals...new brakes required

Feb 2017 started the 2 year warranty clock (date of purchase)
So YES they should be covered.
Drums can be cleaned up, Shoes need replaced, bearings S/B OK but need inspected.
Good luck!

[RAS43]

fj12ryder wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Does anyone really believe the auto adjust brakes actually keep the brakes adjusted???

Yeah, they actually do a pretty decent job. Mine were all in adjustment when I pulled wheels to check bearings last year. Can't say if they all work as well, but mine worked okay.

X2 best thing I did when replacing the assemblies was spending a few dollars more for self adjusters. They work well.

[BourbonRam]

Ok. So I went under and looked at the back side of the wheels. My backing plates have two rubber plugs. I was going to remove them and look inside reference adjusting later, but while under there I found something else. Three of my four drums have grease leaking out of the bottoms onto the tire. I guess my seals are bad and now I have grease inside the drums. Wheels or drums have never been removed. Bought new February 2017. Has 2 year warranty. Need to find out now if that will be covered. No sense trying to adjust at this point.

[fj12ryder]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Does anyone really believe the auto adjust brakes actually keep the brakes adjusted???

Yeah, they actually do a pretty decent job. Mine were all in adjustment when I pulled wheels to check bearings last year. Can't say if they all work as well, but mine worked okay.

[BourbonRam]

Thanks for the help. Now I know what to look for.

[2112]

fitznj wrote:
Look at the back-plate:

If there is an oblong rubber bung at the bottom than it's probably manual adjustment.

My self-adjusters have the oblong plug. As Old Biscuit said, look for the metal plate keeping the adjustment star from turning.

I adjust mine once a year by going to a large school parking lot, move forward at ~25mph and engage the the manual controller. I slowly back up and engage the controller again, move forward and do it again. I keep doing this until I notice no change, usually 3 or 4 times.

[fitznj]

Does anyone really believe the auto adjust brakes actually keep the brakes adjusted???

Ummmm - YES - read my previous post; After initial manual adjustment
- the automatic mechanism has kept my brakes adjusted perfectly. Only
time will tell if they stay that way but after 12 months - no complaints.

[Cummins12V98]

Does anyone really believe the auto adjust brakes actually keep the brakes adjusted???

[fitznj]

Look at the back-plate:

If there is an oblong rubber bung at the bottom than it's probably manual adjustment.

My TH has auto adjustment BUT after the first 500 miles the brakes felt as it they needed adjusting. I removed the drums, clicked the adjusters and lubed everything. Brakes have worked great since.

[Old-Biscuit]

Backside of drum at bottom is rubber plug(s)
Use strong pin point flash light beam to look inside
Star Wheel for adjustments
IF self adjusting there will be a 'plate' that is attached to a cable ...plate engages star wheel---moving it when brakes are applied (braking when going forward)

You will have to push the plate away/disengage it from star wheel in order to manually move star wheel

No plate...then brakes are non-self adjusting


Info with vid/pictures

[azdryheat]

Easy. 99.999% of all rv trailers have do not have self-adjusting brakes. My 6 figure toy hauler has brakes that I have to adjust.