Frozen brakes

Build your air pressure up and release the brakes, just the trailer at first, then tap on the drums. You should see and hear the linings separate. Set the trailer brakes and release the tractor brakes and repeat. It would be even better if you had tire chocks before getting in a dangerous spot.

 

I would dump a double load of airline deicer into the trailer line and send it back to the air valve. It may sound like it’s circulating but may not be.

Was it wet out when you parked? That’s when you get in trouble if it’s been raining and going to get very cold over night.

I keep a spray bottle of antifreeze and give my drums a couple sprays then move forward and back about 10 feet before setting the brakes.

Change out your air dryer cartridge while your at it if you hadn’t in a long time.

 

How hard on things you reckon beating them with a hammer and torch is? lol.

It won’t hurt anything at all. I’ve done it many times and so have truckers since air brakes were invented.

Your air dryer won’t do much for the trailer, so I’d say that’s your problem. Truck is probably fine. If you want to know then put n low and drag the rig forward and see if your truck wheels turn or not.

 

If you are certain you are not losing air in your emergency braking system, then you would need to get a solid metal bar and hammer, (a good 2lb hammer) place the bar on the bottom brake shoe and hit a couple of time since that is the one one that always freezes to the drum. Works every time. Really hit it hard, Won't help on the drum, you'll be there for a while.

 

As long as all that someone is hitting is the drums that’s not hard on anything.

That airline antifreeze should only be used if there is ice in the lines. It should never be used as a preventative measure, it is not recommended by the valve manufacturers.

Air dryer does everything for the trailer far as air is concerned. The truck supplies the trailer to the air, if he pulls the same trailer all the time and there isn’t any moisture in the tanks on the truck there won’t likely be any in the trailer. If he does a lot of drop and hook then there’s the possibility of ice in the trailer.



I have had brakes that needed a little heat to get them to pop loose.

 

Smack the drums & shoes.
Rock truck back & forth. ( reversing pops shoes off the drums nicely )
Rinse & repeat

Sometimes they pop free fast.. other times it takes effort.

 

What I used to do, if the brakes were wet, and I knew they might freeze overnight, I'd ride the Johnny Bar for a while to get them warm. I've had some that were really stuck. I did carry a small propane torch, and if it wasn't too windy, that usually did it. If you hear air leaking, it's probably the 4way valve stuck open and won't release the brake.