Drum Brake stuck and got hot - replace bearings ?

[MercGuy]

This weekend when I returned from a boat outing I noticed a very faint smell of hot brake lining. Sure enough my right side trailer brake was pretty dang hot. Both the drum and the hub were too hot to touch. There was no smoke and only a little smell.

So, I obviously need to pull the hub and do some brake work. I suspect a new wheel cylinder will be in order, but I'll wait to see what I find before making a final judgement.

My question is, do I need to replace the bearings because they got hot ?? I know it's not much more money to replace them, but it's a messy job, and driving the races in can be a pain since I don't have the right equipment.

Just looking for some advise, thanks !!

 

[jacknbella]

Re: Drum Brake stuck and got hot - replace bearings ?

No. You should only replace your bearings if they are visually damaged or if they don't rotate freely and in alignment. Just because they got "hot" doesn't mean they aren't still functional. Take em' apart and give them a good look-see. Take a good look at the spindle too.

It's always good to have a spare set anyway so go purchase a new matching pair and have them on-hand if your current set is damaged.

Let us know how it goes.