Can I / should I service my trailer's brakes?

[addjunkie]

I would check while drums off that the cable is free, at both the brake and where it enters the outer casing under the trailer. Id also make sure the adjuster top of picture bolt head on the back of the back plate is free. If all good, box it up and adjust as per video

 

[Neilj]

Inner diameter of the drum and width of the friction surface of the shoes are the two normally quoted numbers, so something like 160 x 35, 200 x 50 (mm) etc.
The brake adjuster is the bolt at the top, which will protrude out the rear of the backplate. Tightening this pushes the top end of the shoes apart to take up any wear.
I can recommend this place as well for spares: https://www.westerntowing.co.uk/
If you find your cables are seized or in a bad way you can get stainless cables for not a lot more money, got them on my boat trailer that gets dunked in the sea on a regular basis and they've been faultless.

 

[addjunkie]

Sizing if I remember correctly is internal diameter of drum, and with of shoe.

Knott trailer spare parts - Knott-Avonride Ltd.

Buy Knott trailer spare parts directly from the manufacturer. Fast and cheap.

www.knott-trailer.co.uk

 

[Neilj]

Those shoes look fine to me by the way, plenty of meat left on them.

 

[James1979]

Can you scratch the shoes? If you can mark them with a screwdriver or whatever (gently!!) then they’re fine and not hardened / glazed.

Same as the drums.

Check for cracks, excessive scoring, glaze and investigate anything that doesn’t look ‘right’

 

[skotl]

Can you scratch the shoes? If you can mark them with a screwdriver or whatever (gently!!) then they’re fine and not hardened / glazed.

Same as the drums.

Check for cracks, excessive scoring, glaze and investigate anything that doesn’t look ‘right’

Those shoes look fine to me by the way, plenty of meat left on them.

Cool - thanks Neil and James - will look tomorrow.

Looks like replacement kits are ~£70 for genuine Knott and half that for Maypole / knockoff.

 

[m_c]

The main thing to check on trailer shoes is if the lining is starting to debond.
You want to look at ends of the linings -

A little bit gap between the lining and shoe is fine, but if you can get a small screwdriver in and lift the shoe a noticeable amount, I'd change them.

 

[MoreWellie]

small point but those nice greasy bits that you might re-use, it really isn't a good idea to put them down on a dirty gritty piece of concrete

 

[ajlelectronics]

The correct method to set a taper roller bearing is to first nip it up tight. That gently slacken it off until you get around 1/16" movement of the fitted road wheel top to bottom. Then you should find split pin holes at 90 degrees to each other, so use whichever one gives about the correct free play. You should also grease those bearings, they look a bit dry. Put some grease in the cap too, but don't fill it.

 

[Keithmac]

I've got our caravan to do this year (Alko chassis).

Need some one shot axle nuts.

 

[Bobupndown]

I've got our caravan to do this year (Alko chassis).

Need some one shot axle nuts.

And a **Language**ing big torque wrench too. They have a massive torque figure far beyond most diy types

 

[Keithmac]

And a **Language**ing big torque wrench too. They have a massive torque figure far beyond most diy types

Yeh around 300nm iirc. Bought a torque wrench a while back that can handle that (and Ducati rear wheel nuts at 230nm!).

 

[skotl]

Just invested in a knockoff set of replacement pads and springs. For £34 it seemed daft not to.
Point taken re the bearings on the concrete - still need to hose them with brake cleaner and regrease them.

The cables are well shot, too. Had to end up cutting them to get them off.

 

[addjunkie]

Just invested in a knockoff set of replacement pads and springs. For £34 it seemed daft not to.
Point taken re the bearings on the concrete - still need to hose them with brake cleaner and regrease them.

The cables are well shot, too. Had to end up cutting them to get them off.

Replace or free up the adjuster rods too.

 

[skotl]

One down!

Them are tight springs…

 

[Seadog]

I've a brake shoe tool if you'd like it. I can't see me ever using it again.

 

[skotl]

I've a brake shoe tool if you'd like it. I can't see me ever using it again.

Cheers, but I don't see me ever using it again either! 200 miles a year in the trailer max should hopefully see these shoes outlast me...

 

[James1979]

Put the middle of a piece of baler twine through and pull on the ends.

Snip the twine off when done.

Those small trailer brakes you can usually assemble not under tension then just pull them apart with your hands and put them on that way.

 

[Justme]

Just dont over adjust them as then the auto reverse wont work.

 

[skotl]

All done, and all good. I know a lot more about trailer brakes than I did a week ago!

Thanks all