HELP: HOT trailer hub on good bearings

[SteveB]

I installed hydraulic trailer brakes 4 years ago, primarily for safety. I haven't had any trouble until this summer. The passenger-side hub sometimes gets VERY hot on long tows to the point of driving out the grease through the bearing buddy. It always gets hotter than the driver-side hub.

I suspected a faulty bearing at first, so I pulled the hub and everything was fine inside. No pitting, good grease, smooth roll, no evidence of water. The brake pads seemed to be wearing evenly and were engaging.

I notice that after hydraulic action the brake pads rub a little on both hubs, but after the pressure subsides the wheels rotate without any brake pad rub.

The passenger-side hub is the one that is closest to the main brake fluid line. The other hub has about 4 more feet of brake line.

The best I can figure is that the passenger-side hub is getting more brake pressure and the braking action is heating up the hub AND that the brake pad isn't retracting quickly enough, rubbing further and generating more heat. The problem isn't consistent enough to draw any more conclusions. The only consistency is that the passenger-side hub is always hotter than the driver-side hub.

Any ideas for what I should check next?

thanks,
--SteveB

[Eye Dog]

I think there is a posibility of air in the line between the 2 wheels or in the drivers side wheel cilinder or a bad wheel cyl. on driver side. This would make One wheel work harder & overheat. Bleed them and I hope you got the problem solved, if it does not work check the cilinders. Contaminated or old brake fluid can wreck a new hydraulic system in 4 yrs.
Good luck, Eye Dog.

[Eye Dog]

By the way i'm also a Steve B.
Eye Dog

[Pitts]

Hey you could have one bearing nut tightened to tight. Make sure they are backed off from completely tight or they will run hot.
Pitts