Cummins12V98 wrote:
jbrack wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Your brakes were not adjusted properly, you would have known it the instant the brake away popped if they were!!!
Which brings me back to my original question...these brakes are self-adjusting...what does that process look like? Is it automatic, or do I need to do something in the way I drive to make it happen?
They simply don't work!!! Do it the old fashion way.
jbrack asked a valid question.
It deserves a better explanation than "to do it the old fashion way".
Jbrack, self adjusting drum brakes are nothing new, been around for many yrs on automobiles which used drum brakes. So you can check out how the automobile self adjusting drum brakes to understand trailer axle self adjusting drum brakes. Understanding that how the brakes are actuated is different (hydraulic for auto and electromagnet for trailer axle).
You can go
HERE for a simple overview of an automobile self adjusting brake works.
Now to get to Cummins comment, you have to realize that anyone that may have driven a vehicle which had drums on all four corners will have a lot less "excitement" when it comes to the highly touted "self adjusting" trailer axle brakes..
Self adjusting drum brakes on autos do not have a stellar track record for being 100% reliable and often would fail to adjust properly in unison on at least one drum..
Was a lot of fun when that happened to be on one of the front drums on your steering and you stepped on the brakes and resulted in catapulting you off the road or across the road into apposing traffic at the most inopportune time...
Adjusters over time tend to get stuck from lack of movement, this often was caused by the star wheel screw threads rusting, dirt from grease on the threads. Sometimes even the star wheel would end up having a few of the points worn off if stuck..
Often the wire which pulls the pawl across the star wheel rust off, break or jamb rendering the adjuster useless. Drums which are too far out of round (too much "runout") can also prevent the adjusters from working properly.
For trailer axle brakes you do not have to do anything special, they are designed to adjust in forward and reverse.
With auto drum brakes you simply had to backup for a short distance then apply the brake hard.
For the little amount of miles towing a RV vs what you would drive an automobile I can't find any real reason to intentionally buy auto adjusting trailer brakes.. Autos often see 12,000-20,000 miles per yr but your trailer most likely will be far less than that and a lot less wear on the brakes.
I rarely have to adjust my trailer brakes and finally replaced the original brakes on my 30+ yr old TT due to a cracked shoe.. I am always puzzled how folks burn through the trailer brakes in only a couple of yrs..
I see the self adjusting trailer brake feature as an expensive gimmick sold to folks who are afraid of drum brakes, do not understand the brakes are just too lazy to do some basic and simple maintenance.
