(R Barry) wrote in message . com...
J.J.
Let me put it this way, I definetly didn't leave the house with the
hand brake on. Where I have to hook up at the house I must pull the
trailer about 5' to my truck. So I know it rolled free. At some
point on the freeway (about 15 miles from home) traffic slowed to
about 10 mph and some guy pulled up next and gave me the finger point
at the trailer and some other gestures. There was somke comming from
the right wheel and tire, the brake drums were so hot it melted my
plastic hub caps. The brake handle was in the up position at this
time. I'm very consious about the brake handle when hooking up and in
transit, I'm assuming that upon leaving my driveway and making a
u-turn down the street it might have pulled the break away cable and
set the hand brake and pulling up in front of the house I should have
checked it again.
I (thanks to the guy that I oue at least a 12 pack of beer or more)
caught the problem before it destroyed the bearings, races and
spindles. The tire was hotter than hell and if I had of had a tire
catch on fire I'd have been calling Costello on Monday (got a fire
extingusher now)

(JJ Sinclair) wrote in message ...

Anybody know where to source Cobra trailer brake shoes, return springs
& grease seals.

We didn't drive with the hand brake on, did we?
:)
JJ Sinclair


Advise: In a recent safety speech at a contest, John Murray described
pretty much what you are talking about. The later production trailers
use seaaled bearings which will fail after overheating you have
described. The bearings are virtually impossible to get quickly and
locally. As a result, you would be well advised to get a set of brake
drum assy's with bearings and have on hand. If it got as hot as you
describe, the grease will be lost or at least compromised ndd failure
is very likely to happen sooner than later.
Tow Safely UH