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Suspension
Suspension maintenance should be done as per the
schedule contained in this booklet. Regular lubrication
and inspection are critical, and the grease points are
indicated below. Regular checks of the torque on the
trailing arm bolts indicated will prolong correct wheel
alignment.
Trailing arm suspension should not be reversed up gutters
and obstructions in a heavy matter. Always use a ramp or
similar if you are backing over high gutters and obstacles.
Handbrake
A correctly adjusted handbrake should raise 1/3 to ½ of the allowable range at the handbrake handle. Poorly adjusted
handbrakes are dangerous. Under adjusted they may allow the trailer to roll and over adjusted can cause brake linings to
drag and overheat the brakes while driving.
Parking brakes are mechanically operated by cable means. The cable attachment occurs outside of the brake backing
plate. Cable force applied to the parking lever creates a torque through the pivot pin and cam assembly. Torque
transferred to the parking cam results in a spreading force between the primary and secondary shoes. The shoes in turn,
move towards the drum until contact is made. Friction generated between the drum and lining contact surface results in
parking brake capability.
Use the cable adjuster to give enough tension to be able to set the handbrake lever on the last two notches of the
coupling or handbrake is 1/3 raised when unladen. This needs to be checked again when the trailer is loaded. If the cable
is too tight, the brakes will be applied as the axle moves backward under spring deflection.
Adjuster
Early Models
To adjust the handbrake cable tension release locknuts A, B and C in the diagram Handbrake Adjuster 1 below. To
tighten the handbrake cable, turn the adjuster wheel D in a clockwise direction. Once adjusted retighten lock nuts and
test. Always ensure that wheels turn freely when handbrake is off. Overtightened cables can cause brakes to drag and
damage the brake linings.
Later Models