Electric trailer brake grabbing

[DonandJudy_12]

We have 1 of 4 trailer brakes that grab or lockup when applied- The wheel bearings were professionally repacked before we started for home from Az- The magnets and brake shoes were good to go- One brake started dragging and locking up after we had been on the road for 1 day- The wiring that is visible at the hubs seem to be ok- Is there anything an old man [me] can do until we can find a garage? Any ideas? All replies appreciated- THANX in advance- We are parked for the weekend as we do not travel on the weekend if at all possible- Bad things have happened to us when we have traveled on the weekend- Bad things happen on weekdays also but help is usually available- JMHO- Don

[dieselguy]

Just a couple of possibilities to throw out ... perhaps they adjusted one brake up too tight or the small clip that holds the magnet on the brake arm has failed and allowed the magnet to work towards the brake drum. If you have a jack, place it between the spring ubolts and jack the axle up just enough to spin the tire. If it drags considerably ... remove a small rubber plug from bottom of the backing plate (inner side of brake drum). This allows access to the brake adjuster star wheel. You'll need 2 screwdrivers (or a brake adjuster wrench). One screw driver will be needed to slightly push away the adjuster arm (sometimes it is just the straight part of a spring before the hook end) and the other to rotate the star wheel. I can't recall which direction is looser and which is tighter, but you'll figure it out by spinning the wheel. Anyways ... loosen the brake adjustment to where there is a very slight drag ... it may not be a 360 degree drag, but just where it does touch the drum. If it happens to be the magnet retainer clip ... the wheel will have to come off ... a bit more complicated. Just my 2 guesses for now.

[DonandJudy_12]

The tech told me the grabbing brake was 3 clicks tighter than the others, but all were in need of adjustment- All is good now- THANX for the reply- Don