Troubleshooting Trailer Hubs Where One is Hotter Than the Other

Question

Question:

I backed off brake shoes on hotter side and checked castle nut as you recommended!! The drum temperature is the same on all 4 drums110 degrees when brakes are NOT being used and just driving down road! When I use brakes one side is 50 degrees hotter??? You see a problem or is that the way it is going to be?? Thank you!!

asked by: James N

1

Helpful Expert Reply:

If you turn the wheels by hand do you notice one wheel dragging more than the other? If so that would indicate additional friction which would create more heat. I imagine you'll find this to be the case. If the brake adjustments are the same and are good the other thing to check would be that the castle nut isn't too tight on the hotter wheel.

Also make sure the grease seal is intact on the hotter hub and that the grease didn't leak out.

expert reply by: Jameson C

1

James N.

9/8/2021

I backed off brake shoes on hotter side and checked castle nut as you recommended!! The drum temperature is the same on all 4 drums110 degrees when brakes are NOT being used and just driving down road! When I use brakes one side is 50 degrees hotter??? You see a problem or is that the way it is going to be?? Thank you!!

Reply

Jameson C.

9/8/2021

It is odd that the one hub gets 50 degrees hotter when the brakes are used but even at that temperature it would be fine. It would indicate that the hotter side is still adjusted tighter than the other side but if the other side wasn't tight enough it would eventually adjust to the same tightness since they are both self adjusting brake assemblies.

Reply

Answer 1

Yes, the temperatures you mentioned are normal. If you were getting over 200 degrees that would be a bad sign. But typically if all of the hubs are the same temperature you're good and it's only really an issue if one of the hubs is hotter…

view full answer...

Answer 2

Hubs will heat up when driving, but if it feels like they are getting too hot, then you will want to look at a few things on your hub. My guess is that the spindle nut is too tight and the added stress on the bearings is overheating the bearings and…

view full answer...

Answer 3

The issue seems to be different adjustment than the other side. Most likely the time delayed onset of the braking pressure is locking up the one side of the trailer before the other due to it being a tighter adjustment. What you can do is tow the…

view full answer...

Answer 4

It sounds like there is an electrical short on your trailer wiring that is activating your left rear brake assembly and that is why the brake continues to drag and get hot. Since you have swapped the brake assembly out and still had the problem you…

view full answer...

Answer 5

When installing a seal at the back of a hub the outer part of the seal will need to be flush with the hub. I have linked a video that should help. You could watch the whole video or fast forward to the 1 minute, 50 second mark to see the seal…

view full answer...

Answer 6

Adjusting the brakes is the first thing to check. I've linked a video on article that might help you adjust them. On the video skip ahead to the 4:40 mark to see the adjustment process. You can use a flat head screwdriver or we also carry an…

view full answer...

Answer 7

There are a few things that could cause one side of your brakes to drag after adjusting. This could be either a broken spring, faulty adjuster screw, or possibly a pinched wire on that side but you would hear the magnets buzzing if this was the case.…

view full answer...

Answer 8

So long as a hub uses the correct bearings that match the dimensions of the spindle that is on the axle there is no worry about using two different brands of products, such as a Dexter hub on a Lippert axle. That in itself is not a concern. When a…

view full answer...

Answer 9

The number of leaves on a leaf spring does not dictate strength or capacity, so as you said, a 3000lb rated leaf spring (6,000lb axle capacity) can have various numbers of leaves since it is up to how the manufacture designed it. I wouldn't look…

view full answer...

Answer 10

We have the Timbren Silent Ride Suspension for Tandem Axle Trailers #TSR14K35T01 that has a 14k capacity just like what you have that would be a great and easy solution for everything. This will be much smoother, quieter, and feel more controlled…

view full answer...

Answer 11

Hey Brian, if you grab the magnet and move it in the direction of the arm that it is attached to far enough it will click and it will adjust the star wheel tighter. This will be the easiest way to move the shoes out. Or you can install them and then…

view full answer...

Answer 12

A replacement tang-style spindle washer like part #5-101 is intended to be installed behind the castle nut and have its prongs bent down so that they prevent the castle nut from rotating on an E-Z Lube type spindle. The castle nut holds the washer in…

view full answer...

Troubleshooting Trailer Hubs Where One is Hotter Than the Other

Product Page this Question was Asked From

Continue Researching