How to Video - Remove and Replace Trailer Brake Shoes
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How to Remove and Replace Trailer Brake Shoes
Taking apart the brakes
This one in particular is a twelve inch drum, we're using that one because its large and easy to see. This applies to virtually all electric brakes from this size on up and down to the smaller sizes. We'll go over how it comes apart and the tools you'll need to do it with.
Before we get started here, we'll go over a couple of notes. First off, this brake assembly isn't attached to an axle so just for clarity we just left it off. We'll work with it as is, all the steps pertaining are the same, however you will have a bit more leverage when you have a axle. You'll need a few specialty tools also, you can pick them up at a local auto parts store, you're going to spend around twenty to twenty-five dollars well worth it. You'll need this adjustment tool to be used on the adjuster right here, you'll also need this shoe spring tool which will be used on these spring tensions right here, and this tool here will be used to remove the spring here which actually keeps all the tension. These three tools are basically all you need to take it apart with.
First step in what we're going to do is you have to start on the back side of the backing plate. In our case we're going to flip it over, but go behind your axle and take of the cap for the adjuster and this adjuster here you'll want to spin it down as close as possible to take out a lot of the tension. Then we'll go back to the front side of the plate and take off these tension springs here. Once you have this loosened up, you can actually pull it apart a bit and get some tension off. When you get some tension out you can actually pull this apart and get your adjuster out of there. That way you don't have to worry about these pin points, it's just a lot easier to do it that way. Last but not least, go ahead and take out your shoe retainer springs which is a technical term. This just sets on and you just spin them and they come off. That's pretty much the extent of taking them apart. Just reverse the procedure we'll show you that, and put it back together.
Putting the brakes back together
Once you have your new shoes ready to go on, just go ahead and repeat the procedure and start by putting your shoe back in place. Get your retainer springs ready to go. In my case we're going to have to get underneath of it to push this pin back to hold it in place. It will be a little bit easier when you have it on the axle. By the way, quarter turns is all it takes to put them on or off. Now put your adjuster back in there. Start with the spring. What you can do here, same principle, since there's no tension there just sneak it back in there. Now we'll start moving on this spring here. Give it a quick test by moving it back and forth, center it and you'll be ready to put your hub back on. After you get your hub back on, go to the back side and use your adjuster to adjust the brakes as you need to.
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