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Billinwoodla · 03-20-2025, 01:35 PM

I’m not sure if i have a problem or not. I took my Timber Ridge 23dbs in for bearing service. This is with a trusted shop. They found one of the seals blown with grease burned into the brake pad. They cleaned it up, put in new seals, and serviced the bearings.
Normally, I’ll use my trailer brakes to slow me down when comimg to a stop. After the bearing work, the brakes just don’t grab like they did at the same setting in the truck. The shop assured me they didn’t make any changes to the brakes. I can increase the sensitivity on the truck controller, but its strange to me that the brakes are not grabbing like they did before. Maybe some cleaner needs to burn off? Any thoughts?

Gooma · 03-20-2025, 01:39 PM

Did they adjust the brakes? Did they replace the shoes that were soaked with grease?

Alpine36 · 03-20-2025, 01:43 PM

It could be the shop cleaned off all the rust from inside the brake drums.
Also, drum brakes that are way out of adjustment (loose) can tend to “grab” when applied, where properly adjusted brakes will apply smooth and steady. This is assuming you have conventional drum brakes, not disc.

Old-Biscuit · 03-20-2025, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gooma

Did they adjust the brakes? Did they replace the shoes that were soaked with grease?

Bingo.......THIS^^^^^^^^^^

In order to pull drums you need to back the brakes shoe off
Brakes shoes coated/soaked in grease have to be replaced
Afterwards brakes need to be readjusted

*new brake shoes need to be 'burnished' by several repeated hard braking events
https://www.lippert.com/blog/burnish-trailer-brakes

ttavasc · 03-20-2025, 01:54 PM

You should have self-adjusting brakes - my 23DBS came with those. It can take a bit of use for those to adjust if they were manually loosened up during the maintenance work. That said, I lean towards the greased shoes not being replaced too. My 23DBS had two blown seals when I opened things up to do the first bearing re-pack. I cleaned things up and replaced the greased shoes and things worked noticeably better than when new.

Billinwoodla · 03-20-2025, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gooma

Did they adjust the brakes? Did they replace the shoes that were soaked with grease?

No, they did not change the shoes. They said they cleaned them up, and that the grease had burned into the shoe, but they felt the pads were ok and did not need to be changed out. They said they did not adjust the brakes. Like i said, prior to the service, the brakes seem fine to me. I do have self adjusting brakes.
I was going to take the trailer for a good spin Monday to see if anything changes with use. It will be a few weeks before we go on our first trip post winter.

SafariBen · 03-20-2025, 03:01 PM

I've never had a problem rinsing grease off, and you said they worked before, even if replacing them is the right thing to do.

I'd do some stop and go driving to get everything adjusted in, then a downhill brake drag, or long slowdown with the trailer brakes dragging, just enough to get medium hot, don't need to smell them or smoke them, then get out and see if all four are equally hot.

tpaul · 03-20-2025, 05:54 PM

The last time I had bearings lubed they didn't manually re-tighten the shoes afterwards. So it took a while for the brakes to self-adjust back to their prior state. But a little scary for the ride home when I tried to use the trailer brakes manually.

Cumminsfan · 03-21-2025, 08:37 AM

One drum with cleaned brake shoes shouldn't make a huge difference but it's not good.
Depending on how far out they had to adjust the shoes to remove the drums is the question.
They should've readjusted them after they were done packing the bearings.
They also should've replaced the greasy shoes.
Some could be out much further than the others and may take a long time to adjust. When I do my bearings I prefer to adjust the shoes after I put the tires back on. The axles already jacked up at that point so it's only a matter of a few mins to reset the shoes on that wheel.

Billinwoodla · 03-21-2025, 09:18 AM

I appreciate the feedback. Thanks fellas!

Blazing zipp · 03-22-2025, 11:41 PM

Same thing here--bearings repacked and the brakes didn't work well.
I carefully went for a drive of about 100 miles, using the trailer brakes as often as I could. They turned out O.K. Being the great mechanical person that I am, I'm assuming the self adjusters worked.
Since then, we've completed over 2000 miles with no issues.
See ya out there--------------

Vintage465 · 03-24-2025, 10:24 PM

If they didn't change the shoes, they should have. If they did then there is always a seating time for the shoes to "round themselves" to the drums. Also, when they to seat in, then it's likely you'll need to adjust them up a bit. There should be the slightest drag of the shoe to the drum.