by smeerkees » Mon Sep 14, 2015 7:32 am
Hello Pete,
I know that the possibility of relining the brakeshoes does exist. Esspeccially in the "oldtimer" world.
I considered the possibillity briefly, but only if possible in conjunction with both glue, and rivets.
My estimate however was that the layer thickness of the friction material of this type of brakeshoes was maybe to thin for rivets . (Apart from the question if i would have enough space for rivets on the brake shoes.)
So it probably would be only glueing anyway.
This type of axle, brake combinations however are still widely used in the utility trailer world in Europe.
A complete set of (Original Bpw. brand) brakeshoes cost about € 82,- inclusive tax , and trailer garages have these sets in stock perminently.
And since i want to have my brake sytem in optimal shape if possible, i purchesed a brandnew set.
About the adjustmend of the brakepad sets, each component of this kind of surge braking system is individually adjustable. So the pullrod, as well as the cable's, as well as the drumbrake sets themselves. For adjusting the drumbrakes, You need 2 temporary lockingpins (2 small phillips screwdrivers will do) and than you can turn the adjustingbold on the inside of both the wheels. There is a good description of the brake adjustment setting with the brakingpad set. When you grease up the pulling boom regularly (grease nipples) and ones in a while the cables, and make sure that the cables are hold up a bit (under the trailer chassis), so there is no change of standing water inside them, it's a simple, and reliable system.
However adjusting the system is typically a case of READ THE MANUAL FIRST. And Don't do it by feel or hearing!!
In my honest opinion the breakdown of the brakepads in this situation, has indeed more to do with the use of the handbrake system.
In 2 of the 3 broken brakepads i found also corrosion on at least part of the glue surface area of the brakepads.
That tells me there was something going on for a longer time.
My theory is that the pressure and duration with the "handbrake on" situation on the brakepads and glue is maybe a bit higher than we think, but in itself not to much. The glue is designed for high pressure and heat. But when there would be some water intrusion between the brakepads (read: the frictionsurface) and the brake drums, in that "long park" duration, by for instance rain, or even condensation, there will be some kind of corrosion. Effectively the friction material can corrode on the breakdrum.
Now: when you would want to move the trailer in this situation , and you loosen the handbrake lever you won't notice anything, but the brake pads can still be "sticking" on the drumbrakes.
only when you move the trailer you would hear a loud "CLUNK" noise before it moves.
That could mean 2 things. Either the corosion layer between the friction material and the breakdrum breaks, or the glue between the breakpad, and the friction material breaks. In most cases probably the corrosion layer between the friction material, and the brakedrum will break, but in doing that, damaging the glue layer between the breakpad, and the layer of frictionmaterial would be quit possible.
(Add the expand, and contract charasteristics of temperature fluctuations on the materials, and even the possebillity of frost, and you would probably have your answer on the "how come" of the situation.)
In that respect when i wash my car ( Yes the Fiat 500), i later properly would make a drive around the block first instead of the next day.
In one night the brakepads of the front discbrakes will "corrode" on the disc. when i would wait for a drive for about 3 days after a carwash,
the loosening klunk of the diskbrakepads is significant, and almost scary.
With my last car (a Peugeot 306 (google that one...)), i never heard a klunk what so ever.
That could mean 2 things. A. the Fiat discbrake system is much more "open" for water or standing water , and/or B: the space between the braking pads and the front brakediscs of the Peugeot is significant bigger.
The advice to avoid the use of the handbrake of the trailer in longterm parking situations, though a little bit strange,
now sounds a lot more understandable to me.
Greets, Kees.
Last edited by
smeerkees on Mon Sep 14, 2015 3:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.