Another way to adjust trailer brakes?

[lime4x4]

i currently have 12" drum brakes on my trailer. I know your suppose to adjust the brakes till they just grab then back off 10 clicks on the adjuster. Well that ain't going to happen on this trailer. The location of the axle springs make it impossible to gain access to the adjuster. Is there another way? How much clearance should be between the drum and shoe? I have a drum brake tool for measuring the diameter of the drum and then setting the brake shoes to match.
Well this work?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Another way to adjust trailer brakes?

jack the trailer frame up, not axle, and i bet you will get clearance.

 

[lime4x4]

Re: Another way to adjust trailer brakes?

Nope thought of that..The axles mount on top of the spring.The mounting bolts and plate are very close to the brake backing plate les then 1/2" clearance

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Another way to adjust trailer brakes?

My adjuster slots are like that too, I was able to get them by bending an old screwdriver at a 90 degree with just the right amount of reach, I was to cheap to just go out and buy a 90* adjusting spoon.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Another way to adjust trailer brakes?

Buy a brake adjusting tool at any auto parts store. Has bends that allow getting into tight places. As for adjusting the shoes, the tool you have is the proper one to use but you need to remove the hub in order to use it. You can back off the adjuster, rotate the tire while tightening the adjuster. When the shoe just begins to touch the drum you have it. The shoes should not drag, just barely touch and you will be able to hear and feel that slight contact.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Another way to adjust trailer brakes?

My trailer drums have a hole in the front side of the drum that you can line up with the adjuster. I have the wheels "clocked" on the studs so that the hole is between 2 spokes. See pic below. Just have to rotate the wheel until the adjuster lines up with the hole.

Makes it easy to jack up the wheel then adjust them from the front with a screwdriver on the starwheel so they just barely touch as Silvertip said. The trailer is only a couple of months old, first time I had ever seen drums like that. Maybe you could drill access holes in the front of your drums?

 

[wire2]

Re: Another way to adjust trailer brakes?

All the newer drums I've seen lately have the hole for adjusting. But I expect not older ones?

 

[Major Woods]

Re: Another way to adjust trailer brakes?

This is what I would do if I had that problem.

1) Remove the drum.
2) Measure the actual drum ID with a caliper.
3) Turn the brake adjuster (increase shoe diameter) until it measures the same as the drum ID.
4) Back off 10 clicks.
5) Replace drum.
6) Test brakes.

 

[lime4x4]

Re: Another way to adjust trailer brakes?

Thanks for all the info. I'm only planning on keeping the drum brakes till next summer when i'm going to upgrade to disk brakes.My 3/4 ton suburban does all the braking. Well atleast it feels like it does. Are 19 footer on a single axle with surge brakes. When i start to slow down i can feel the trailer brakes grabbing. On the trailer that hauls are 27 footer is a dual axle with surge brakes and drum brakes on all axles. When slowing down it feels like i'm getting no help from the trailer. the other day in the parking lot i had the wife move the trailer and apply the brakes and i saw the couple move almost all the way in and the coupler is new. When i was bleeding the brakes i could hear the shoes moving. I think there just way out of adjustment. So i was thinking of taking off the drums and if necc take them to work to machine them slightly to clean them up and then use a brake caliper and adjust the shoes that way