grease on TT brakes. what will happen?

[TNRIVERSIDE]

I pulled my TT brake durms to inspect and repack the bearings. I was surprised to find a small amount of grease on the outside of the seal. Fortutaly there was no grease on the drum or business side of the shoes. With only 5,000 miles I did not expect to see a seal failure. I did NOT add grease using the grease fitting on the axle. So hear the question.
If I had added grease to the bearings using the fitting on the axle with the failed seal what would be the outcome other than grease on the shoes and an expensive repair bill?
Would there be only brake failure?
Possible fire?

[TNRIVERSIDE]

Yes I did replace the seal on the one inbord bearing that showed sings or leakage. I removed the bearing. Inspected and repacked it. I also removed inspected and repacked all 4 outboard bearings. All bearings were repacked by hand. That's the last time I'll do that. I'll use the cone and a grease gun from now on.

My shoes did not have grease on the business side. But a very small amount had slung out onto the inside of the shoes. But my question was what would happen if I had pumped grease into the fitting with a bad seal.
Thanks for all the help.

[Dave_H_M]

When I read the OP, I thought I noticed that the brake shoe did not have any grease on it.

That small amount on the seal could have been there when the original installer got a little dab on the wrong side of the seal.

[BenK]

First fix what caused this

Second...I'd replace the shoe with new

Ask how much are you saving by trying to salvage that shoe? How much would you
spend using up the cleaner and other stuff?

Friction material does absorb, but not a whole lot. When it absorbs brake
fluid, the friction material becomes 'grabby' and is ruined

Also agree with changing out the seals every time I take this kind of thing
apart.

Again, how much is the trailer, TV and those aboard worth to you vs the savings
in salvaging the shoe (questionable if you can salvage it)

[deltabravo]

In this case (my trailer) it was a far more efficient use of my time to repalce the entire brake assembly (on all 4 wheels) rather than spend a small fortune on brake cleaner and the time and effort, and subsequent mess I'd creat if i cleaned them.

The below is an example of what can eventually happen when someone continually pumps grease in using the zerk on the end of the axle - eventually the excess grease blows out the seal and contaminates the brakes. The previous owner os my race trailer thought all he needed to do was pump grease in every year. He was treating it like a boat trailer with Bearing Buddies.

The other 3 wheel positions were far worse than this one:

[deltabravo]

TNRIVERSIDE wrote:
I pulled my TT brake durms to inspect and repack the bearings. I was surprised to find a small amount of grease on the outside of the seal.

Did you replace the seals?

I always replace the seals when I service bearings.

[azrving]

Ivylog wrote:
I use a torch to burn the grease out of the linings and then wire brush them. Have only been doing this for 50 years.

50 years? Good thing that the asbestos hasn't messed you up. I remember when they used to arc the shoes to fit the drum. Cough hack hack hack

[TNRIVERSIDE]

Thanks for all the replies. As always there is a wealth of knowlage here.

[mbopp]

In my younger days I would boil contaminated brake shoes in a water / detergent solution to save them. Mom wasn't too thrilled.....

[TucsonJim]

Campfire Time wrote:
No, you don't need new brakes. Clean them good with Brakcleen then lightly sand the shoes with 120 grit sand paper. They will be fine.

X2 - They CAN be cleaned properly. Don't forget to thoroughly clean the drums too. Brakleen (proper spelling) and sand paper will get you down to clean shoe material. It's a falsehood that grease will penetrate deeply into brake linings and can't be removed. In my years as a mechanic, I've cleaned many sets of contaminated brakes and never had a problem after. In my experience, when a mechanic tells you otherwise, he's trying to sell you a complete brake job for hundreds of $$ instead of cleaning the mess for $50.

[Ivylog]

I use a torch to burn the grease out of the linings and then wire brush them. Have only been doing this for 50 years.

[Campfire_Time]

No, you don't need new brakes. Clean them good with Brakcleen then lightly sand the shoes with 120 grit sand paper. They will be fine.

[Ductape]

Just loss of braking efficiency. I've had it happen. You'll need new brake shoes if they get lubed.

[donn0128]

Loss of braking action. Brake shoes once contaminated can never be cleaned. They just become garbage.