Looking for some advice on what to look at next instead of me throwing more parts and time at it which may do no good.
As I’m looking to downsize to a smaller boat very soon, switching over to disc brakes, buying a new axle not really an option if it can be avoided as I’m trying to make the trailer safe/healthy enough for the sale.
1984 tandem axle with 8 lug, 12 inch drum brakes all around; either 5k or 6k axles.
2 years ago I replaced all 4 backing plate assemblies, new master cylinder, all new brake lines and had the drums turned.
Rear axle on both sides have no temperature issues (ambient temperature around 90, rear axles show 107-112 and barely warm to the touch). Right front brake runs about 20 degrees hotter than rear brakes.
Trailer used mostly in saltwater entire life that I am aware of.
Recent history: I check hub temperatures using the feel method each time getting to the ramp and no issues this year until July when I found that during the 40 mile drive to the ramp, the left front bearing buddy departed somewhere on the drive. Installed a spare greased bearing buddy at the ramp and made it home later that day with no other issues.
Pulled the hub/drum off and threw away the bearings and races which were burnt, installed new races, packed new bearings (25580-14125A) and since I had a new/complete backing plate, installed that also along with a new Bearing Buddy Spindo Seal kit that trailer uses since I bought it in 2010.
Test drove it around the streets for about 7 miles and in checking the hub temperatures with my IR gun, the outer bearing area of the left front around 150-160 degrees and inner bearing area around 250 degrees; obviously something is wrong. No smoke being seen but for sure a slight burn smell.
Thought maybe it might be the hub/drum itself so bought a new drum along with new bearings and new Spindo Seal kit. Adjusted the shoes in on both front brakes so they were not engaging at all but had the same temperature results.
Thought maybe the left front bearings might be too tight so I removed cotter, loosened the axle nut, pulled out the hub slightly, pushed it back on, spun the hub forward while tightening to 20 foot pounds to seat, loosened nut then fully hand tightened and inserted cotter pin. Shoes still loosened so they won’t engage.
Drove around the streets again with basically the same temperature readings with the hub area where the shoes would be around 250 degrees but top and bottom over 200 degrees also.
When I bought that new drum, it already had the races installed, I did not double check that they were fully seated nor did I think I needed to take the drum and have it turned.
What to try next in hopes of getting that drum temperature down?
thanks.......Mark
As I’m looking to downsize to a smaller boat very soon, switching over to disc brakes, buying a new axle not really an option if it can be avoided as I’m trying to make the trailer safe/healthy enough for the sale.
1984 tandem axle with 8 lug, 12 inch drum brakes all around; either 5k or 6k axles.
2 years ago I replaced all 4 backing plate assemblies, new master cylinder, all new brake lines and had the drums turned.
Rear axle on both sides have no temperature issues (ambient temperature around 90, rear axles show 107-112 and barely warm to the touch). Right front brake runs about 20 degrees hotter than rear brakes.
Trailer used mostly in saltwater entire life that I am aware of.
Recent history: I check hub temperatures using the feel method each time getting to the ramp and no issues this year until July when I found that during the 40 mile drive to the ramp, the left front bearing buddy departed somewhere on the drive. Installed a spare greased bearing buddy at the ramp and made it home later that day with no other issues.
Pulled the hub/drum off and threw away the bearings and races which were burnt, installed new races, packed new bearings (25580-14125A) and since I had a new/complete backing plate, installed that also along with a new Bearing Buddy Spindo Seal kit that trailer uses since I bought it in 2010.
Test drove it around the streets for about 7 miles and in checking the hub temperatures with my IR gun, the outer bearing area of the left front around 150-160 degrees and inner bearing area around 250 degrees; obviously something is wrong. No smoke being seen but for sure a slight burn smell.
Thought maybe it might be the hub/drum itself so bought a new drum along with new bearings and new Spindo Seal kit. Adjusted the shoes in on both front brakes so they were not engaging at all but had the same temperature results.
Thought maybe the left front bearings might be too tight so I removed cotter, loosened the axle nut, pulled out the hub slightly, pushed it back on, spun the hub forward while tightening to 20 foot pounds to seat, loosened nut then fully hand tightened and inserted cotter pin. Shoes still loosened so they won’t engage.
Drove around the streets again with basically the same temperature readings with the hub area where the shoes would be around 250 degrees but top and bottom over 200 degrees also.
When I bought that new drum, it already had the races installed, I did not double check that they were fully seated nor did I think I needed to take the drum and have it turned.
What to try next in hopes of getting that drum temperature down?
thanks.......Mark
