Flat Tire

Les White

Les White

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My 10 year old 14' enclosed trailer had been making a noise like a bearing was on it's way out. The BIL borrowed it anyway for a dump run and I mentioned the potential bearing issue.

About an hour later he texts asking which side I thought had the problem - he's a mechanic by trade - I said I thought DS, he said the PS rear locked up and he didn't notice.

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Yeah baby!!

It wasn't a bearing, the brakes just locked.

That adjuster is NOT supposed to be on top.

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The good news is a complete bolt-on brake replacement is only $200 - bolt on brake assembly, new bearings and hubs, new drum, includes all hardware. And only the rear axle is equipped with brakes. He'll get me another spare from his shop.

Now to find the time.
 
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We had two vehicles that sounded like the brakes needed work...the front brakes on my 2005 LeSabre and maybe a full brake job on the 2003 Focus ZTW wagon.

The LeSabre went quick and easy...I've done all the brake jobs on it since I bought it.

The Focus, however, was turning out to be a problem right away. It's been making a squeeking noise, making me think brakes. So I went to Auto Zone to pick up pads/rotors for front and shoes/drums for back.

And Auto Zone can't get the back shoes. It's not that they're just not in stock...they can't get them AT ALL.

So I said heck with it, gimme the front brakes and I'll inspect the rear when I'm done and go from there.

Turns out the front brakes are perfectly fine...plenty of pads left and rotors in great condition. So I returned those parts.

BUT...when taking the wheels off, we found the morons who last put tires on that car SERIOUSLY over torqued the lug nuts, probably because they impact wrenched the f*ck out of them. It took serious muscle with the 1/2" breaker bar to get them loose.

Even then, two on one of the back wheels were a lost cause.

I bought 16 new lug nuts, replaced the 14 I could, then took it to Firestone and let them deal with it. Had them do a rear brake inspection and replace the last two lug nuts.

Turns out the back brakes are fine, too (though they recommended replacing the cylinders...like calipers, it seems every place that does brakes wants to replace these).

I had them put it together and called it a day. They didn't charge me anything.

SO...no brake job required at all on the Focus. I'm betting the squeek I need noise is because the people who did the previous brake job didn't use the brake lubricant on the front pads.

And, since I was planning to spend that money on a full brake job for the Focus, I've decided the money saved is going towards my .475 Wildey Magnum fund for this year!

😁😁😁
 
RetiredUSNChief said:
We had two vehicles that sounded like the brakes needed work...the front brakes on my 2005 LeSabre and maybe a full brake job on the 2003 Focus ZTW wagon.

The LeSabre went quick and easy...I've done all the brake jobs on it since I bought it.

The Focus, however, was turning out to be a problem right away. It's been making a squeeking noise, making me think brakes. So I went to Auto Zone to pick up pads/rotors for front and shoes/drums for back.

And Auto Zone can't get the back shoes. It's not that they're just not in stock...they can't get them AT ALL.

So I said heck with it, gimme the front brakes and I'll inspect the rear when I'm done and go from there.

Turns out the front brakes are perfectly fine...plenty of pads left and rotors in great condition. So I returned those parts.

BUT...when taking the wheels off, we found the morons who last put tires on that car SERIOUSLY over torqued the lug nuts, probably because they impact wrenched the f*ck out of them. It took serious muscle with the 1/2" breaker bar to get them loose.

Even then, two on one of the back wheels were a lost cause.

I bought 16 new lug nuts, replaced the 14 I could, then took it to Firestone and let them deal with it. Had them do a rear brake inspection and replace the last two lug nuts.

Turns out the back brakes are fine, too (though they recommended replacing the cylinders...like calipers, it seems every place that does brakes wants to replace these).

I had them put it together and called it a day. They didn't charge me anything.

SO...no brake job required at all on the Focus. I'm betting the squeek I need noise is because the people who did the previous brake job didn't use the brake lubricant on the front pads.

And, since I was planning to spend that money on a full brake job for the Focus, I've decided the money saved is going towards my .475 Wildey Magnum fund for this year!

😁😁😁
Click to expand...

I've heard over torqued lugs can warp a rotor. I've never experienced it tho.
 
RetiredUSNChief said:
Turns out the back brakes are fine, too (though they recommended replacing the cylinders...like calipers, it seems every place that does brakes wants to replace these).

I had them put it together and called it a day. They didn't charge me anything.
Click to expand...
In my experience, firestone tends to charge for more work than they do... not the other way around!
Where is this fabled place?
 
Les White said:
I've heard over torqued lugs can warp a rotor. I've never experienced it tho.
Click to expand...

The only things I've ever experienced with over torqued lug nuts are split sockets, rounded/damaged lug nuts, twisted crossover wrenches, sore muscles, and more chances to use foul language.

No warped rotors.
 
GoWolfpack said:
Why are only the rears braked? Seems backwards to me.



Its usually a cost saving measure on lighter trailers not uncommon on landscape trailers as well. For reason its on back axle depending if someone properly leveled hitch point or not the front axle is more likely to have less weight and slide if they dont level trailer properly which most dont on light trailers.
Click to expand...
 
For reason its on back axle depending if someone properly leveled hitch point or not the front axle is more likely to have less weight and slide if they dont level trailer properly which most dont on light trailers.
Click to expand...

I guess I can see the logic at work there. Assuming someone didn't load their trailer correctly, it would only make things harder if you're dealing with a wobbly trailer and the brakes lock up and slide too.
 
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