Trailer brakes won’t release.

Cams and clevis pins aren't seized?

 

I use a pipe wrench to ensure the cams are turning to start with.

My lowboy set for a while and it would lock up like that. I would beat the drums lightly and try to hit the frame of the brake shoes to break them loose, just in case they had rusted.

After I stated squirting some panther piss in the glad hands, problem went away, you may have a valve not functioning properly as I did….

 

Good point but do not see that much down here unless you are in the fertilizer business or have been running NE.
I would start by backing the slack adjuster off a good bit. The brakes have to be released first. Then look for away to put a pry bar between shoe ( steel part that has the lining attached to it and the drum ). That is on the s cam side and see if you can pop them loose. Some folks say hit the drums but I seldom had good results from that. In more severe cases I have beat on the side of the shoe with a hammer and a large drift. That worked but easy to damage lining. Have never pulled wheels to release brakes.

 

Times 2. This was my thinking also.

 

Is this your Panther Piss?

NOT asking for a friend.

 

lol, as long as it lubricates should work fine….

 

Takes time. We had a drop deck trailer that sat for a number of years in a ‘low spot’ in the yard were rain water would collect under for weeks/month at a time.
Dragged it forward enough to get a forklift behind it and lift the the rear enough, and got wheels to the pavement. Lots of hammering(bars, screwdrivers, wedges, etc) penetrating oil, swearing(lol) eventually got the pads to release from the drums.

 

Brakes are over rated. All they do is slow things down and bring progress to a halt......

Once you've made sure there are no bee's nests set up in the supply line that will keep full air from getting to the relay valve, determine whether or you have a hole in a diaphragm at any corner. Then follow what has been stated above and insure the cams are rotating.