Attention: TDR Forum Junkies Well last night and this morning I was helping a friend (and fllow TDR member) move his shop. We had put a bunch of misc parts and boxes and what not in the bed of my truck. We also put behind my truck his 2 axle car hauler. On his trailer we put a 6cyl Mercedes-Benz Diesel, transmission attached including the front part of the frame for a Uni-mog (one piece) A Nussbaum above ground hoist and a sneeker wheel lift. Everythign hooked up, and I have no trailer brakes. Humm must be something goofy with the trailer. A bit later I was running a bit behind, as the rest of the guys were already at the storage facility. I get going, and about 30 miles from home (mostly back roads) I have a car and a truck infront of me comming up to a stop sign with a T. We have to go left or right. I tap the brake to shut off the cruise and slowly start to apply the brakes..... nothing... all the way to the floor! :--) CRAP! Truck in the right turn lane, car in the left. I pick the right (no shoulder) and hope that the truck takes his right. He goes, and by now I have scrubbed off enough speed down shifting and pumping the brakes to follow him around the corner. About the 5th or 6th time I pump the brakes I start to get a pedal. I get stopped on the side of the now HWY and wait for my heart to slow down. I push on the brakes, everythign seems ok. 
So I proceede to the next stop light, and slowly stop. I then pulled into a parking lot and inspected the truck. I found smoke comming out of the left rear drum. Humm... Last night I had parked slightly up hill and applied the parking brakes. Let off the brake, then put it in park. Guess what..... It tightened my brake shoes up so tight we couldn't turn the drum! The self adjuster actually worked! The brakes had gotten so hot that it had boiled the brake fluid. Monday... I'll be doing a brake fluid flush! Shoes showed a bit of heat, and the drum had some heat cracks, but nothing serious. I'm just glad I gave enough distance!
Josh
Sorry for the long post... I'll try to post pictures
So I proceede to the next stop light, and slowly stop. I then pulled into a parking lot and inspected the truck. I found smoke comming out of the left rear drum. Humm... Last night I had parked slightly up hill and applied the parking brakes. Let off the brake, then put it in park. Guess what..... It tightened my brake shoes up so tight we couldn't turn the drum! The self adjuster actually worked! The brakes had gotten so hot that it had boiled the brake fluid. Monday... I'll be doing a brake fluid flush! Shoes showed a bit of heat, and the drum had some heat cracks, but nothing serious. I'm just glad I gave enough distance!Josh
Sorry for the long post... I'll try to post pictures
