- Joined
- Mar 8, 2013
- Messages
- 1,858
- Location
- Eugene, Oregon
- Tractor
- Toro D200, Ford 1715, International 884,
The internet is your friend for finding things like parts that one store says you can't get. However, if you have 4" or 5" shoes, they'll be expensive. Perhaps the store made a calculation, and the whole kit was only $20 more than the bare shoes. Nonetheless, you should be able to find shoes.If I could purchase shoes separately, I would have replaced them. Unfortunately, the shoes are only available with the backing plates and they cost $150 per axle. Times 3 axles.
I assume the OP has jacked up the trailer and isolated each axle during testing.There's no practical way to clean grease off of brake shoes or pads. Definitely not with with rags anyway.
Once oily or greasy they're junk. Drums and rotors are easily degreased with brake cleaner, though.
Either way, not relying on Bearing Buddys for getting grease to the bearings is a good idea.
I'm leaning toward grease contamination being a suspect. I might remove the shoes and try to clean them off of the trailer. Some notes suggest soaking in alcohol. Others suggest warming up the shoes in an oven before cleaning.
Shoes, drums, and magnets all need to be cleaned.
Or perhaps purchase an axle worth of new shoes to test.