Do Brake Shoes Need to be Replaced if Grease Spilled on Them

Question:

When I pumped in the grease on the EZ Lube spindle I after a while realized too much had gone in and not come out the front bearing. I removed the drums and realized the grease had been leaking out the back of the seals, as I incorrectly installed the new inner seals, pressing them all the way in instead of flush with the drum surface. Quite a bit of new, clean grease was on the inside of the brake assembly, mostly up near the cylinder and on the spring at the bottom. A small amount had worked onto one shoe as I rotated the drum. I scraped most of it off and wiped it with a paper towel. I will next spray the inside and shoes with brake cleaner and wipe dry. Is this sufficient or is there something else I need to do, like perhaps another additional solvent? I obviously put in new seals, this time just flush with the drum.

asked by: Peter I

Expert Reply:

I empathize with you because accidents do happen but if grease got on the brake shoes of your Hydraulic Trailer Brake Kit # AKUBRK-35-D to be safe you need to replace the shoes in order to ensure proper braking.

For that you will need two of the Hydraulic Brake Shoe/Lining # BP04-120; this shoe will fit single servo 10" diameter x 2-1/4" wide shoes like your kit has.

expert reply by: Kyle S