When I tow a trailer with my old Dodge, after braking to a stop the right rear brake is always smoking. I dont notice it except when I am towing a heavy trailer. Any ideas what is going on?

 

Possible wheel cylinder seized or axle seal leaking and brake shoes are contaminated with gear oil. Need to pull drum to check out.

 

Oh...that's not good..when the drum is hot and smoking...I had this once...One side was mis-adjusted...I backed off the adjustment,it was to tight..

 

01 should be disk- my new rear disk axle had one stuck piston and it only smoked the pads after a heavy haul as well. I just stuck a Napa caliper on there- been working just fine since

 

01.5 will have disc brakes.

 

Yes it is a Disc brake model. No seals leaking....so I assume the caliper is sticking. Are they hard to change out?

 

They are not difficult to change out. I recommend you grease the caliper pins and slides with synthetic brake caliper grease. Never use petroleum-based greases on caliper sliding pins.
Failure in observing this best practice may swell and deteriorate the rubber seals and covers , leading to premature brake component failure. You must also bleed and exchange the brake fluid as it's likely been boiled.

 

Fairly easy job.. Reman calipers that are pre loaded Wagner thermoquiet pads can be found at O Reilly with lifetime warranty..
I have done all 4 on my truck, it seemed once one failed or stuck the others weren't far behind to fail and start smoking..

 

Easy to do. Like the front only lighter. I'm not familiar with how the emergency brake works on rear discs though...

Change the brake hoses while you're in there. Bleed the whole system till all the taps run clean fluid. Speed bleeders are great, so are the one way check valve catch bottles if you don't want to spend for the Speed Bleeders.

If the rotor is blue or heat checked I would replace both.

 

e brake is the same, only a tiny drum brake hidden inside the disk

 

^^^That is about it, right there...