Trailer brakes locked up after sitting a couple months?

Sometimes rocking the trailer doesn't work. So then you release the trailer brakes( make sure the tractor brakes are still set) and whack each brake drum with a big hammer. Do not hit the brake shoes just the drum. That usually does the trick.

 

Another way is to wait until your air tanks are completely full of air (air dryer purges), then supply air to the trailer. This high pressure of air can help unstick the brake shoes from the drums. You can also try hitting the drums with a hammer.

I’m starting to think that perhaps another way is to manually force the brake shoes off the drums by turning on the bolt on the back of the slack adjuster.

 

The brake cams only exert force in the applied position.
So backing off the slack adjuster would not be effective.
There is no brake cam force exerted to the brake shoes when released.
Only the brake shoe springs retract the shoes from the drum.
Usually the shoes rust to the drums and won’t release.
Hitting the drums as you stated above is usually 99 percent effective to cure a stuck brake shoe issue.

 

Sorry none of that is correct if shoes are stuck to drum

 

So not even hitting the drums with a hammer would work?

 

Sorry I missed that part, yes hitting drums with hammer will work.

 

If space allows and safe to do so, I'll usually back about a foot or so first when hooking on to a long dormant trailer. If that doesn't do the trick it's hammer time!

 

And if the guy's a cheapskate that doesn't maintain his equipment you could have seized up cams. Have fun getting those freed up.

 

All good info I hope I’ll never need.