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How do you know when your trailer needs new brakes?

Sep 28, 2020 | Trailer

What are the telltale signs the brakes on your trailer are worn and it’s time for an inspection? After a trip, or, once per year is wise. Even if the brakes have had little use, load and weight may cause uneven wear on your braking system.

Some obvious signs that your brakes are in need of replacement include noise, pulling, pulsing, and pedal depression during braking. In extreme situations of brake failure or brake component failures, your wheels can lock up while traveling, causing severe tire damage and it will smoke out drivers traveling behind you. This is what happened to the customer of this project. Fortunately for the client, nobody was injured. However, to get the trailer to Pro World, the customer disabled the brakes (not advised!) by draining the brake fluid from the reservoir. What this means is that the client was traveling with a trailer that had no active brakes which was not only illegal, it was unsafe.

Once Joe cracked into this project he said “The bearings are in shambles and partially seized, which is what rendered these brakes unmovable. I dealt with one that was so bad one time, the wheel actually came off the axle”.

After Joe cleaned all the debris out of the hub he had to make certain the spindle didn’t have any bad grooves which is what the bearings will ride on. Because brake pads are porous and there was grease all over the old brake pads, those had to be replaced along with the bearings. As you can see from the images below, the backing plates were heavily rusted and also had a significant amount of grease on them. Therefore bearings, brake pads, seals, races, and brake plates all had to be replaced. Often, it’s more cost-effective and better for the braking system to install new backing plates. The brake lines were old, brittle, and leaking, so we replaced those too.

Most importantly, when you perform brake replacements on an axle, both sides have to be replaced. When you hear or feel the first signs that something isn’t working right, it’s time to book an appointment for an inspection. If you are uncertain and have questions about your brakes, feel free to call us. We’re here for you. Learn more about trailer services here.

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Protection from the top down

Get Roof Preventative Maintenance for tip-top assurance. You'll avoid expensive and unexpected repairs or even replacement.

Includes: Inspect the roof seals. Seal the front and rear caps and roof fixture seams. If we discover extensive water leaks are present and require work beyond our standard preventative maintenance, you will receive a new estimate. Side molding seams are not included.

Leaky roofs wreak havoc

One of the most common issues with RV’s is a leaky roof. While you may think you can leave your recreation vehicle out in the elements like you would a small vehicle, this is a huge mistake. RV’s and trailers have large seams that weaken over time, due to the elements...

Airstream Buff & Shine

Buff and Shine: Restoring a Tired Airstream to Its Former Glory Transforming a neglected Airstream requires dedication and meticulous care. This particular 30-foot trailer sat idle for over 30 years, accumulating layers of grime and oxidation. Restoring its iconic...

Vehicle & Trailer Restoration

Many people today are interested in purchasing older RVs and trailers that have unique and nostalgic qualities. We understand the attraction, and enjoy working on all makes and the earliest models. For some people, their purchase is an obsession and they will stop at...

The top 10 things that go wrong with trailers

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As always, RV Pro came through again. They chased down an electrical issue I had with my class "C" and they finished a day early! The staff is very friendly and the Tech explained what he found and left the defective parts for me to see.

Bob T - Google Review

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