Brakes Locked Up.....Now What?

[PAkev]

I made a stupid mistake the other night. It was dark and when unhooking my trailer, left the breakaway cable on. Pulled the truck away broke the cable to activate the trailer brakes. Got a new cable and fixed that problem but today I towed the boat to a lake about 10 mi from my house. When I got there, we noticed grease dripping from the hubs. Then noticed the brakes were very hot to the touch. It is apparent they got so hot that the grease became liquid in the hubs.

After unloading the boat I had better access to the wheels and bled each wheel but it didn't seem there was much pressure as only a little fluid came out. I took a much slower ride home and the hubs were warm to the touch which I am suspecting is because there is was little grease.

Planning on a 75mi. + highway trip next weekend and want to make sure things are working right again.

Helpful advice appreciated!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Brakes Locked Up.....Now What?

I'd think that you're going to Pull the Wheels to have a Look 1 night this week,..............
If your going Anywhere next weekend.......

Couple of Wheel Seals,+ a Pound of Grease Anyways.......

Is there any sort of Reset for the break away lever,..??....

Were the brakes Working for this 20 mile ride,..??....

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Brakes Locked Up.....Now What?

When the breakaway cable was pulled a lever applied the master cylinder plunger. Usually, there is some sort of mechanism to keep the lever in the actuated position. You will need to release this lever.

The fact that you were even able to move your boat after this means the brakes weren't working properly in the first place. Be prepared to replace more than just shoes...possibly wheel cylinders too.

 

[PAkev]

Re: Brakes Locked Up.....Now What?

I got onto tie downs website and noticed the actuator DOES have a reset so will have to figure that out before pulling away again.

Got the worst wheels off this AM (from R&L forward axle). Brakes and bearings look fine but I'm changing the bearings all around anyways since they are going into the fourth season.

The hubs have bearing buddies and I am under the impression these are the front seals. Only thing under them is the spindle lock nut, 2 washers, and then the bearings. The rear seals look good but looks like I have to remove them to get the rear bearings out. If I can aquire them with the bearings I'll probably replace them also.

Looks like the front tires took a considerable amount of wear along the way so I'll probably have to replace them sooner than later.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Brakes Locked Up.....Now What?

rear seal should come in the bearing kit. when removing a hub always replace the seal. there should be a slot in the acutator, that you put a big screwdriver and pump the master cylinder to bleed the brakes. you may have boiled the brake fluid, if you did, needs to be replaced.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Brakes Locked Up.....Now What?

If you are taking out the inner bearing, you have to remove the seal. Since the seal gets damaged in the removal process, you have to replace the seal.

 

[PAkev]

Re: Brakes Locked Up.....Now What?

Got all the wheels back together tonight after replacing bearings and seals on all four wheels..........All to the tune of a $127 mistake.

However, the plot thickens........when replacing the brake away cable, I put a screw into the master cylinder. Now I know why the brakes didn't bleed very well. I'm presuming as my 10 mile trip went on there was less brake pressure which also explains why they were cooler for the ride home.