Alko brake shoes

busybee · 21 April 2013, 19:10

Today thought that i would look at my one year old single axle braked trailer.
First i was horrified how rusty it was after being careful to really flush out the drums using the flushing holes with the garden hose, but i found one brake shoe had its brake lining fallen off. The linings just looked glued on ! are they all like that now or can I get ones with rivets through the linings to the metal shoe ? I need to order an axle pair but the numbers on the shoe ALKO 384294
and 32 j 10 don't look like part numbers that i have found on the internet.
Is there a trailer dealer in the Portsmouth/Havant area that might have stock ?
Would i have been better off not using flushing ports as it left the brakes sitting wet rather than dry after the trip back home from the slipway.

kerny · 21 April 2013, 19:24

Nasty stuff that seawater!! I always take the grease gun with me and after nearly every dunking I top up the bearings. Not sure what you can do with brakes exept what you are already doing by flushing them out.

jyasaki · 21 April 2013, 20:05

Ideally, you want to flush the drums just after dunking. Generally, nobody manages to do that. Even if you do, I suspect they won''t last a lot longer than flushing when it's convenient.

Which reminds me, it's been a couple of years, so time to look for new backing plates.

jky

Trailer Guy · 21 April 2013, 20:18

They're all glued nowadays. Back when I started in this game they were all riveted on, with brass rivets (soft metal, so the rivets wore down and didn't score the inside of the drums as the lining diminished). Economics prevail I'd have thought.

Give me a tick, I'll see what I've got in stock and see if I can match your numbers.

busybee · 21 April 2013, 20:19

I am wondering that after the drive home the brakes would dry out so rinsing
out at home leaves them wet and they may never dry out and cause even more rust !

Trailer Guy · 21 April 2013, 20:21

It's the salinity that does it, rather than the water. Keep flushing, you're doing the right thing.

busybee · 21 April 2013, 20:27

Ok thanks what about those brake linings they fell off after about 100 miles
are the not fixed with rivets now?

busybee · 21 April 2013, 20:28

Sorry TG reply crossed thanks very much

Trailer Guy · 21 April 2013, 20:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trailer Guy

They're all glued nowadays. Back when I started in this game they were all riveted on, with brass rivets (soft metal, so the rivets wore down and didn't score the inside of the drums as the lining diminished). Economics prevail I'd have thought.

Give me a tick, I'll see what I've got in stock and see if I can match your numbers.

No Sir, as above - all glued nowadays.

Got some in stock. Just taken a couple of pics (on the kitchen sideboard

, sorry), to make sure we're talking about the same thing.

Look familiar?:

busybee · 21 April 2013, 20:41

TG thanks they look correct, yes please let me know cost and delivery
you're a star thanks

Trailer Guy · 21 April 2013, 20:54

OE Alko kit is £50 for the boxed set (two pairs of shoes and two sets of springs)

If you're in Fareham tomorrow I can leave them on the doorstep and you can pop the money through the letterbox, or if you can wait til later on in the day either I or one of the lads can drop them off, if you're Portsmouth / Havant way.

If you'd like them, just drop me a text - 07921 853190

All the best, Ben

stul · 26 May 2013, 08:46

Are they sticking on,do a lot of miles no trouble so far linning falling off
Stuart

wavelength · 26 May 2013, 20:48

Quote:

i was horrified how rusty it was

a fact of life like death n taxes I think

And personally I found that the boat trailers which we did least miles with gave most trouble with bearings and brakes, never ran far enough to dry things out I suppose.

busybee · 27 May 2013, 20:25

Brakes were not sticking as I have to move boat by hand when I get home about 5 miles home, I think rust inside drum rips the brake linings off, why do trailer brakes still
look like 1930s technology ? why not hydraulics disc brakes easier to flush and would think not much more cost plenty are car parts to choose from so no need to manufacture
anything has anyone made their own ?

wavelength · 27 May 2013, 20:51

I think more likely that the rust gets between the shoe and the lining, spreads n grows and prises the lining off.
Been there done that with a loose lining in the drum. Beggar to get off, tried for an hour or so in falling snow, couldnt get the drum off no matter what I did.
Stomped off for a brew and a mutter, came back an hour later and the drum virtually fell off in m' hand.
So if at first you dont succeed give up!, swear a lot and then come back later when you've calmed down!

Trailer Guy · 27 May 2013, 21:23

Welcome to my world

busybee · 27 May 2013, 21:35

So why not disc brakes and end the problem

Leapy · 27 May 2013, 22:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by busybee

So why not disc brakes and end the problem

... and start some new ones ;-)

Rogue Wave · 10 June 2013, 22:28

I think RM do a disc braked trailer.

BTW that seems a fair price for those shoes