Trailer Brake Drum Life

[SiteSolutions]

Any idea what to expect from the drums as far as lifespan? I put new shoes on this week and still couldn't seem to adjust all the slack out of them. I'm guessing the drums must be worn away. They'll be three years old soon. Does this sound reasonable?

[bobcat_ron]

I got 4 years out of mine, and there was only 1/16" of the drum surface left.

[Gravel Rat]

Brake drums are cheap never replace brake shoes without changing the brake drums.

By the time your brake shoes break in the drums are too thin to handle the heat.

[ed2hess]

Brake drums are cheap never replace brake shoes without changing the brake drums.

By the time your brake shoes break in the drums are too thin to handle the heat.
You must be breaking some pretty big loads.

[Gravel Rat]

Its the steep hills in B.C. that requires good brakes. Thin drums means brake fade and brake fade is OH CRAP I'am not slowing down :dizzy:

Like I said brake drums are cheap then you know you will have good braking power new shoes and new brake drums will give you the best stopping power.

You get some woman slathering on lipstick, talking on her cellphone and not paying attention and cuts you off you want good stopping power when pulling a trailer.

Bobcat Ron should have lots of practice driving around the lowermainland :laugh:

[bobcat_ron]

Its the steep hills in B.C. that requires good brakes. Thin drums means brake fade and brake fade is OH CRAP I'am not slowing down :dizzy: Bobcat Ron should have lots of practice driving around the lowermainland :laugh:


Thank God for the BD Performance Exhaust Brake!!

[Gravel Rat]

Thats when the BD brake works mine doesn't even work I gave up on it :rolleyes:

[bobcat_ron]

Shoot some WD-40 in to the intake every 2 weeks depending on usage, that solved my problems.

[Gravel Rat]

I think my problems is the electronic controller is shot I have adjusted it the thing worked for 20 mins didn't work again. I already replaced the air cylinder because the original one packed it in.

I have a 6spd manual so I use the gears if I had a automatic then I probably try get the EB to work again.

[SiteSolutions]

Does that exhaust brake make a big difference?

I guess my next purchase will be a set of drums for the trailer. I just put some new pads on the truck; it's been having to stop too much of the weight by itself.

Anyone upgrade to aftermarket calipers or ceramic pads on their truck? I was looking at the SSBC V-8 brakes... 8 piston calipers! But is it just a gimmick or will it really help stop a heavy truck and trailer?

[bobcat_ron]

Does that exhaust brake make a big difference?


Hell yeah!!!

I can hold my truck & trailer with out using my foundation brakes (11,000 KGS) at 80 km/h on a downhill 8% grade in 3rd gear at only 2400 rpm, flip the system off and it speeds up to 90 in 4 seconds flat.
Some corners in my route back home I can go around with out even using the brakes, just wait for it to kick off at 30 click and get back on the gas.

[Gravel Rat]

The exhaust brake works good when it does work but the BD brake is a little mickey mouse when it comes to controlling the brake. There should be a better way of sensing the throttle position to turn the compressor on to apply the brake. A switch that you can turn the compressor on with your foot off the throttle flip the switch back down when you stomp on the throttle again.

[bobcat_ron]

What year was your BD brake installed?

I never have that issue, mine is just the relay that controls the air to the cylinder not working until there is enough heat to make it move, then the air cylinder moves.

[Gravel Rat]

Mine was on the truck when I bought it but the paper work in the glove box says 2005.

I ordered a new turbo for my truck today it finally crapped out so I have to change it. No warranty left but the dealer said if the turbo is gone there would be some warranty but I won't get any warranty because I have a exhaust brake.

They don't need to know I have a exhaust brake because they might say my core isn't anygood and keep the 400 dollar core charge :cry:

[k911lowe]

Any idea what to expect from the drums as far as lifespan? I put new shoes on this week and still couldn't seem to adjust all the slack out of them. I'm guessing the drums must be worn away. They'll be three years old soon. Does this sound reasonable?

no,it sounds kind of premature.are you sure you adjusted them the right way?i know,dumb question.

[SiteSolutions]

no,it sounds kind of premature.are you sure you adjusted them the right way?i know,dumb question.

Pretty sure. I had them apart and was looking at them. Then when I put them back together, I had the slack adjusters turned all the way in, so I couldn't have turned them the wrong way... they could only turn one way at that point.

It could be something else but I am going to buy a pair of drums tomorrow and see if that fixes it.

[SiteSolutions]

Finally saved up and got some new drums. Put them on and the brakes adjusted a lot easier, only a few turns until the shoes were making contact with the drums... then I drove it and still no brakes.

Got under it with a ohm meter and found a shorted magnet. So now I've got three brakes working until I get some new magnets.

[Jason Rose]

The problem I have with trailer drums isn't the drum wearing out where the shoes contact it, they were out, or at least very unevenly, where the magnet rides. There's no way to machine it back smooth so when I need to replace the shoes and magnet the new one won't "bite" onto the drum. Is there better brakes out there? I believe I have Dexter axles, and I buy replacement parts to fit them, including new drums last fall, and I still have a hell of a time getting all the brakes to actually WORK at the same time.

[SiteSolutions]

Yeah, they are a compromise for sure but they work mostly, and don't require much modification to the tow vehicle...

I have to agree that every time I sink a couple hunnert bucks and a half day of sweaty greasy work in em, they only seem to work for like two weeks and then they just get progressively more useless.

When I get big time I am hiring out brake maintenance.