Trailer brake problem-air over hydraulic discs

[Mark Faul]

Thanks for the reply. It's plumbed with hard lines to brackets on the frame, then rubber flexible lines to the calipers, and braided steels flex hoses on a couple that broke (free replacement from Performax, thanks Ronnie!)

The outer pads don't have any tabs (at least on the ones I've found at a very good brake supplier near me) and the little pins on the back of the tabs to locate in the caliper are pretty short. I've used a lot of the spray adhesive too.

I'll try calling. Did once before but must have got the wrong guy....

[sc180b]

Originally Posted by Mark Faul

Thanks for the reply. It's plumbed with hard lines to brackets on the frame, then rubber flexible lines to the calipers, and braided steels flex hoses on a couple that broke (free replacement from Performax, thanks Ronnie!)

The outer pads don't have any tabs (at least on the ones I've found at a very good brake supplier near me) and the little pins on the back of the tabs to locate in the caliper are pretty short. I've used a lot of the spray adhesive too.

I'll try calling. Did once before but must have got the wrong guy....

Sorry I could not have been of more help. There must be something that is not allowing the caliper to slide and causing outside pad to wear quickly. You mentioned broken brake hoses, are you sure hoses are long enough and not stretching to far when axle moves up and down? what is weight capacity on axles, how many lugs per wheel?

[Mark Faul]

Originally Posted by sc180b

Sorry I could not have been of more help. There must be something that is not allowing the caliper to slide and causing outside pad to wear quickly. You mentioned broken brake hoses, are you sure hoses are long enough and not stretching to far when axle moves up and down? what is weight capacity on axles, how many lugs per wheel?

Re-reading my original post, I guess I wasn't real clear about what's going on. It's not so much of a problem with the outer pad wearing quickly, it's completely missing! Or is that what happens when the caliper doesn't move? When I removed the caliper it slid very easily on the bolts and bushings.

The hoses do seem to be long enough. Have a little play in them and not being stretched.

It's a 3 car, 36' stacker. 3 8000lb 8 lug axles. It's close on weight. Have 23,400 on the axles.

Thanks again for your help!

[sc180b]

Originally Posted by Mark Faul

Re-reading my original post, I guess I wasn't real clear about what's going on. It's not so much of a problem with the outer pad wearing quickly, it's completely missing! Or is that what happens when the caliper doesn't move? When I removed the caliper it slid very easily on the bolts and bushings.

The hoses do seem to be long enough. Have a little play in them and not being stretched.

It's a 3 car, 36' stacker. 3 8000lb 8 lug axles. It's close on weight. Have 23,400 on the axles.

Thanks again for your help!

When the caliper doesn't slide the outside pad wears quickly, this is the only way I could see the pad coming out of caliper. I have seen a failure when the bonded brake material has come off the steel backer and pad has come out. I have gone to all riveted pads on my trailer for that reason. Napa should have riveted pads (pads from a 1985 Cadillac Deville along with calpier are the same as Kodiak parts). Check the wear on the inside and outside pads to be sure they are wearing the same or close. when I service this style brake I pull rubbers and sliders and make sure they are clean and no debri. make sure to use disc break slide grease on all slider bolts.

[Mark Faul]

Originally Posted by sc180b

When the caliper doesn't slide the outside pad wears quickly, this is the only way I could see the pad coming out of caliper. I have seen a failure when the bonded brake material has come off the steel backer and pad has come out. I have gone to all riveted pads on my trailer for that reason. Napa should have riveted pads (pads from a 1985 Cadillac Deville along with calpier are the same as Kodiak parts). Check the wear on the inside and outside pads to be sure they are wearing the same or close. when I service this style brake I pull rubbers and sliders and make sure they are clean and no debri. make sure to use disc break slide grease on all slider bolts.

Great, thanks. I did maintenance on the brakes over the winter and did as you suggested with the grease and tried to be really clean and make sure it operated correctly. I'll check the rest of them to see if they're wearing equally. Just a bummer I can't do any diagnosing on the one that's screwed up. Makes perfect sense what you're saying. Frustrating and expensive to fix when you think you've done it right the first time

But I'll definitely double check all the hose lengths as well.