Re: [VACList] brakes

[Jim Dunmyer <jdunmyer@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Red,
  Inspect the components when you repack the wheel bearings. The shoes 
need to have a bit of material above the rivet heads, and there should 
be brake material showing on the face of the magnets. If those 
components are badly worn, replace them, either with "loaded backing 
plates", or individually. The shoes and magnets are available at your 
local NAPA store.

If things LOOK OK, apply power to the brake circuit by either pulling 
the pin from the breakaway switch or shorting the appropiate pins in the 
umbilical cord. Check to see if the magnets are working by holding a 
piece of metal near them. Don't keep them energized too long, but they 
won't overheat in just a few minutes. Naturally, you'd replace the 
magnets if the wires appear to be in bad shape.

While you're at it, inspect the wiring to the brakes that's near the 
axle and look at the connections between trailer wiring and magnet 
pigtails. Those connections are often made with wirenuts and become faulty.

Remember that this stuff doesn't have to look like brand-new, it just 
has to be good enough to last for THIS season. You should be pulling the 
drums every Spring to repack/inspect the bearings, so if the lining 
looks like it'll last for your intended mileage, don't replace it.

                                 <<Jim>>