One side axle brakes catching fire

There’s no warranty because of an inspection when parts fail they have no idea when they were looked at. A seized slack adjuster would most likely be from lack of grease indicating a poor preventive maintenance schedule. When a problem occurs first think what did or didn’t happen in the past week don’t automatically try to blame someone from a month ago.

 

I would say it was something closer to being cammed over too. There is a point at the very top of the cam that you cannot move the adjustment on the slack at all. Auto slacks do just that self adjust. The splined hub turning in the center is only moving part that’s only purpose is adjusting by turning the S-Cam. The chamber rod hooks to the slack adjuster and when brakes are applied diaphragm moves the rod out which moves the slack adjuster. When it moves that twist the S-cam in its bushings to spread the shoe rollers out causing contact with the drum.

The auto adjusters get to where they won’t stay adjusted due yo the lock not holding. The lock lets it turn one way but not the other. Lack of grease is the cause of that. In the days before auto slacks we had to turn the adjuster manually which you can do with an auto slack as well just most forgot how. When an adjuster locks up it just simply quits turning internally. Again the only reason the center hub turns is adjustment so it doesn’t turn every time they’re applied and when it does turn to adjust it’s very little. A seized adjuster is only going to cause that set of brakes to be out of adjustment and not able to adjust. They always wear loose not tight. Loose brakes loose shoe and wear the drum faster due to heat they cause. If the slacks weren’t being greased the odds are the S-cams weren’t either which movement their will allow a set of brakes with seemingly good pad left to cam over especially with a little drum groove.

An inspection is a government formality, plain and simple. No shop is going to do anything about it. If you really care about your equipment learn about it and look at it yourself. I’m not saying you need to own a wrench just be able to tell your shop what has noticeable wear on things that can be seen without disassembly

 

I had this exact thing happen to me once. The brake chamber actually ended up coming apart with the spring just kind of sticking out where the top part of the can should have been. IF it catches fire, evacuate the air. Mine was on fire but looked more like a candle flickering on the inside of the wheel. When I evacuated the air, the flame went out. My boss at the time (it was a company trailer this happened on) came out and used his tools to release the brake and we took it back to the yard and he had someone come out and fix it.

 

I honestly don't know. I know that sounds bad on my part but I have no idea. I know the entire chamber ended up having to be replaced, for obvious reasons. Just remember it was around 7p.m. that night and I took an exit and thought, I know that isn't dust I see coming all from around the rear of the trailer. Sure enough, it wasn't. I thought it was dust cause I was in a construction zone on Loop 12 in DFW. Until I noticed when I was on pavement that wasn't much dust to begin with then realized I had a problem.

 

You got any pics of this fire, or the damage?

 

Driving without releasing the brakes could have same result.