Will Improperly Adjusted Trailer Brakes Cause Hubs To Heat Up Too Much

Published 10/08/2021

Question:

Good morning! I have a 14k gooseneck enclosed trailer with two 7k torsion axles electric drum brakes. I recently replaced all hubs/drums due to grease penetrating the inner seal and filling the drum. After installation i initially had 0 braking power but after a few attempts only using the trailer brakes per the break in instructions the brakes seem to be working well. My question is, is there a way for me to manually adjust the self adjusting brakes to ensure they are all adjusted properly? When I got home from my test drive I hit all the hubs with a infrared thermometer and the hubs were 100,105,120, and 150F. Seemed a little odd that there was a 50 degree F temp swing between the hubs and I am assuming the warmer hubs and doing all the braking both 120/150F are on the drivers side of the trailer. I’d like some advice on what normal temperature ranges should be so I can keep an eye on them during long trips. Any help is greatly appreciated !

asked by: Brady K

Expert Reply:

In regards to trailer hubs, the maximum temperature is 200 degrees Fahrenheit. The average can vary but I'd say around 100 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit is normal. If you are experiencing abnormal temperature then the spindle nut is either too tight or the bearings are not properly greased. These are the two most common issues with increased temperature but issues with the brakes can attribute to this as well.

In regards to self-adjusting trailer braking assemblies, I'm not aware of any way to adjust them manually. You'll simply need to follow the break-in instructions in the manual. This usually entails hitting the manual override on the controller at full force a few times.

expert reply by: Conner L