repacked bearings and now brakes seem weak

[plasticmaster]

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.

[jimw606]

ScottG wrote:

plasticmaster wrote:
I actually blew the drums and the brake areas with my electric leaf blower to get the dust off. I stood back and did not breath in the dust. I then cleaned the brake shoes, magnet, and inside the drum with brake cleaner. I figured this was okay since it is brake cleaner. Once the bearings were cleaned and repacked with fresh grease, I put it all back togeter. For each wheel, before I lowered the wheel down, I spun it by hand and had my son hit the brake to make sure the brake was working. However I did not adjust the brakes since they were working fine before the repacking. I guess I'll try adjusting them as mentioned. It just puzzles me that they got weaker.

If your able to easily pull the drums then the brakes are adjusted too loose.
Tighten down the adjuster until you cannot turn the wheel - this centers the brake shoes. Now back it off a few clicks and give the wheel a spin. It should turn roughly 3/4 to 1 full turn before stopping (I know this procedure sounds subjective but it's really pretty accurate no matter who is doing it). The brake should drag all the way around and may seem kinda tight but it wont be. After pulling the trailer a ways, stop and feel the hub. It should be warm but not hot.
The biggest mistake people make is not adjusting the brakes tight enough.

Scott

X2 Scott!!!

[CampingN_C_]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Why do you think it's called......'brake cleaner'?

X2! LOL

[afraid_of_bears]

Two cans per wheel???

[eHoefler]

When using brake cleaner, you spray and let it run off. Do not wipe it off or spray a rag and wipe with it. Brake cleaner is designed to be sprayed liberally and let the fluid carry the contaminants away. I typically use 2 large cans per wheel cleaning the drum and shoe assembly. After cleaning, DO NOT touch any or the braking surfaces! You will need to re-adjust the brakes after assembly and usually after another 500 miles.

[opnspaces]

Next time instead of a leaf blower just use the garden hose. It will knock down the dust and carry it away. After that dry off the exposed spindle and put it all back together.

[katysdad]

Did you put the same drum back on the same spindle? If not the shoes and magnets are not seated to the original drum and will give this same effect. OR, your son didn't unknowingly change brake control adjustment did he?

[Passin_Thru]

Check the wiring, measure V and Amperage to ea brake make sure all magnets are flat according to Dexter specs (even if they aren't Dexters). Keep it simple. Check your little knob on the brake box in the TV and make sure it's set properly. Brakes are easy and Dexter has a whole bunch of reading on them for free.http://www.dexteraxle.com/faq_s

[ScottG]

plasticmaster wrote:
I actually blew the drums and the brake areas with my electric leaf blower to get the dust off. I stood back and did not breath in the dust. I then cleaned the brake shoes, magnet, and inside the drum with brake cleaner. I figured this was okay since it is brake cleaner. Once the bearings were cleaned and repacked with fresh grease, I put it all back togeter. For each wheel, before I lowered the wheel down, I spun it by hand and had my son hit the brake to make sure the brake was working. However I did not adjust the brakes since they were working fine before the repacking. I guess I'll try adjusting them as mentioned. It just puzzles me that they got weaker.

If your able to easily pull the drums then the brakes are adjusted too loose.
Tighten down the adjuster until you cannot turn the wheel - this centers the brake shoes. Now back it off a few clicks and give the wheel a spin. It should turn roughly 3/4 to 1 full turn before stopping (I know this procedure sounds subjective but it's really pretty accurate no matter who is doing it). The brake should drag all the way around and may seem kinda tight but it wont be. After pulling the trailer a ways, stop and feel the hub. It should be warm but not hot.
The biggest mistake people make is not adjusting the brakes tight enough.

Scott

[westend]

I would pull the drums and inspect, you may have grease where it shouldn't be.

[plasticmaster]

I actually blew the drums and the brake areas with my electric leaf blower to get the dust off. I stood back and did not breath in the dust. I then cleaned the brake shoes, magnet, and inside the drum with brake cleaner. I figured this was okay since it is brake cleaner. Once the bearings were cleaned and repacked with fresh grease, I put it all back togeter. For each wheel, before I lowered the wheel down, I spun it by hand and had my son hit the brake to make sure the brake was working. However I did not adjust the brakes since they were working fine before the repacking. I guess I'll try adjusting them as mentioned. It just puzzles me that they got weaker.

[Old-Biscuit]

Why do you think it's called......'brake cleaner'?

[robsouth]

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]

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]

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.