Brake break in question

[CampingN_C_]

Our new trailer has only roughly 200 miles on it, but I'm noticing what I'd have to describe as what would feel like a warped rotor. I realize they're drums but it's like they're pulsing. I don't have that issue with any other trailers, so I ruling out the controller. Do they need to be adjusted maybe? It stopped fine, but it seems to be getting worse. I pulled it from storage yesterday and really felt it, even when just applying trailer brakes alone.

[RCMAN46]

ScottG wrote:
I've found that cheaply made off-shore drums are often out-of-round.
Apparently the Chinese are going our of their way to machine them and then warp them into junk in order to keep up with their national manufacturing model.
Sorry, I guess that was a non-PC rant.

I just went through my brakes and bearings and new tires. As I was removing the old tires I noticed one would drag on the brakes for about a 1/4 revolution then free for the other 3/4 of the revolution.

I had a brake shop check out the drums. All of them were not concentric. That is the drum surface is not centered with the bearings.

The one I noticed the dragging required removing about 1/16 of material on about 3/8 of the drum circle.

Now I can rotate the wheel and if adjusted just as shoes touch it drags the entire 360 degrees. Back off two clicks and no drag for 360 degrees.

As a result of the machining I am sure the drums are not balanced. I had the new tires spin balanced then add balance beads to take care of the drums.

[Passin_Thru]

Actually the Chinese reverse engineer everything so they are backwards too. Pull them off and measure them.

[mikeh449]

not metal to metal and no air in electric 12 vdc wires

[ScottG]

I've found that cheaply made off-shore drums are often out-of-round.
Apparently the Chinese are going our of their way to machine them and then warp them into junk in order to keep up with their national manufacturing model.
Sorry, I guess that was a non-PC rant.

[BarneyS]

Check you wheel lug nuts. They could be loose and letting the wheel move around to produce that feeling.
Barney

[fatboy66]

RoyB wrote:
My brakes sometimes does something like until they get warmed up. I always use my trailer brakes to stop everything for the first couple of full stops using the manual thumb levers...

After that all seems fine with just using the truck brake pedal.

Roy Ken

That doesn't sound right. That's metal on metal and needs no "warming up." Sounds more like you have air in your brake line/small leak/loose pads, etc. I wouldn't ignore this if I were you.

[RoyB]

My brakes sometimes does something like until they get warmed up. I always use my trailer brakes to stop everything for the first couple of full stops using the manual thumb levers...

After that all seems fine with just using the truck brake pedal.

Roy Ken