One trailer brake overheating and locking up.

[Blaze]

Yesterday coming back from the vet I had ONE trailer brake overheating and locked up once. Unplugged the electrical brakes-lights etc for the rest of the short way home and the problem persisted and the one brake was VERY hot to touch but not locking up any longer and just plain hot. Double axle electric brakes. Where should I look first?.. thanks

 

[eljefino]

Bad hardware like return springs or rust jamming the shoes.

 

[440Magnum]

Pull the drum and have a look. The last similar incident I had, a piece of lining had actually broken off one shoe and was wedged between the other shoe and the drum.

 

[Blaze]

Thanks for the info. I'll pull the wheel off and peek at the brakes. Luckily our local Big R store has a great trailer part section.