possible brake dragging

[lrdchaos]

I pulled my trailer home for the first time we messed with the brakes as we put them up last year. After I pulled it 45 miles I found both rear bearings had thrown grease, after they cooled down, I pulled the bearings and found both of them in working order. So I loosened the nut to release the brake fluid at the brake and it shot out for an extened period of time. It seemed like it was under pressure, and I heard a little release from the brakes. Could brakes dragging, heat up the axles enough to throw grease out? Thanks I have a leak in the master cylinder, so the trailer is going in for brake repairs anyway, but this has peaked my interest.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: possible brake dragging

Hot hubs makes hot grease. Hot grease gets thin. Hot hubs and grease can ruin a seal and the grease then makes a hasty exit. The reason fluid was expelled when you opened the bleeder screw is the brakes were probably actuated when you stopped. In other words, the brake actuator was not released. Could be because the emergency lever had been tripped at some point and the brakes were actuated full time. If the master cylinder was leaking, there should have been no pressure in the system when you released the screw so there is something wrong with what you are telling us.

 

[lrdchaos]

Re: possible brake dragging

There is a leak somewhere up by the master cylinder, but as long as there is fluid in the cylinder you can bleed the brakes and they will work until it leaks out. I'm assuming that the master cylinder is up by the trailer hitch, it may not be....I really don't know. But I know for sure that the brakes were engaged a little bit, because I heard them release when I opened the bleeder valve.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: possible brake dragging

Again, if the trailer was pushing against the tow rig when you stopped the trailer, there would be pressure in the system. A stuck check valve in the master cylinder will prevent fluid from flowing back into the resevoir when pressure is off the master cylinder plunger.