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Old 12-11-2015, 06:33 PM   #1
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Self adjusting (drum) brakes.

I am thinking to replace the brakes on our trailer. Magnets are about due as well as shoes, and everything is quite rusted.

For that reason I was thinking I would be best to buy complete brake assemblies mounted on new backing plates for an easy installation.

Our trailer has brakes with manual adjusters at present, but I think for a few $$ more, you can now buy brake assemblies with automatic adjusters.

I'm wondering - is there any downside to going with the automatic adjusters? If not, I would prefer going with them.


Also - no idea if they come with instructions. Is there anything special I would need to do to get them to do their initial adjustment once I install them?


Appreciate any comment /advice!


Brian
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Old 12-11-2015, 06:58 PM   #2
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Touch base with Dexter. Another option is to go to a rally where the Dexter person is present and have them do it. Last year at Alumaflamingo I had Dexter check out my axles and brakes at a very reasonable price.

>>ron<<
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Old 05-01-2016, 07:43 PM   #3
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Sooooo... did you go with the self adjusting brakes and how is that working out?? I am looking at this option as well..
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Old 05-02-2016, 05:28 AM   #4
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Converting the stock 2015 23D 10" manual adjusting drum/brakes to auto adjusting starting 9 May along with the stove upgrade to a Dometic CU434 stove and a refrigerator upgrade to a Vitrifrigo DP150iL refrigerator. The 23D will be fully modified as far as we are concerned, unless we find that a 15K BTU air conditioner would be a good idea in the desert Southwest as an upgrade to the stock 13.5K BTU air conditioner.
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Old 05-02-2016, 09:52 AM   #5
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Updated the brakes to "Never Adjust" in February for this year's trip West. Installation was painless. Went for a long, stop and go ride in the boonies to test and all the brakes set right up in no time. Presently 1800 miles out from Miami and all is well.

For the small cost premium, I think it is a "no brainier".

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Old 05-03-2016, 03:44 AM   #6
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The small incremental cost to have initially installed the self-adjusting brakes on our 2015 23D International Serenity at the frame factory would probably have added $50 to the Airstream's cost. To retrofit will probably cost way over $500 with labor to dismount the originals, replace all the wheel bearing sets and seals with Timken products and install new assemblies with new brake pads.

Most folks would not consider the new 23D International Serenity list price of way over $75,000 chump change. And yet, we can find many instances where corners were cut to save costs even on this upmarket trim line. The better brakes could have been advertised as a feature of the higher trim line to help justify the $5,000 premium to still end up with formica cabinetry.
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Old 05-04-2016, 04:31 PM   #7
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^^^^ Until the consumer demand is to the point of being concerned about running gear in a vehicle designed to "go camping", many higher technology items will go ignored.

Consumer demand and the need to go further than skin deep has driven the auto industry. Well that and a heavy dose of government regulation. However I wish that on no one.

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Old 05-05-2016, 12:39 PM   #8
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so is this a larger size hub. I was thinking the brake assembly attached to existing hubs.. where does the need for new bearing etc come from??

where do you get the self adjusting brake assemblies for the 30 ft units..

but I agree a $50 dollar deal that set them apart for the SOBs. some of the new 5th wheels are coming with disc brakes.. now that is progress..


Quote:
Originally Posted by switz View Post
The small incremental cost to have initially installed the self-adjusting brakes on our 2015 23D International Serenity at the frame factory would probably have added $50 to the Airstream's cost. To retrofit will probably cost way over $500 with labor to dismount the originals, replace all the wheel bearing sets and seals with Timken products and install new assemblies with new brake pads.

Most folks would not consider the new 23D International Serenity list price of way over $75,000 chump change. And yet, we can find many instances where corners were cut to save costs even on this upmarket trim line. The better brakes could have been advertised as a feature of the higher trim line to help justify the $5,000 premium to still end up with formica cabinetry.
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Old 05-05-2016, 08:47 PM   #9
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You can buy complete, "Nev-R-Adjust" backing plate assemblies from e-trailer, Inland RV! or Out Of Doors Mart...

4 bolts per wheel, two wires to connect.

Reuse your current hubs If in good shape so just replace the grease seals and repack the bearings.

I replaced my hubs because they were well out of tolerance and couldn't be turned so new bearings and races.

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Old 05-05-2016, 09:03 PM   #10
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At less than 2,000 miles from the dealership (the new trailer was delivered on a flat bed truck top the dealership from Apple so had virtually no miles on the running gear), the trailer was entering the modification shop. I suggested we check the wheel bearings, just in case.

We found one set of bearing scored from lack of grease from the manufacturer. The other three were low on grease. We replaced the one set of bearings with Timken.

I decided that since all four wheels would be off again for the new backing plates for the auto-adjust brake conversion complete with new pads and mechanical parts, that we should go ahead and replace all four wheel bearing sets and seals at the same time using made in the USA Timken bearing sets and seals.

In order to cheapen the smaller trailers, they did not install the auto-adjust brakes. The wide body trailers (25' and longer) supposedly get the auto-adjust electric drum brakes.
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Old 05-06-2016, 06:40 AM   #11
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right , i remember now reading that and just thinking how lame. It's hard to blame AS as i bet the axles come from dexter already assembled short of tires so that goes back to the axle manf right.. ??

glad you caught that before the hub caught on fire possibly.. but that, replacing bearing etc, is not the norm.

dont think they stock or sell them at ODM as i was not able to find them on the site http://odmrv.com/catalog/index.php?m...ort=20a&page=1

might need to check inland i guess..??

edit
I did find some at this place for 46 bucks which for dexter is not bad as a complete deal per side..
http://www.easternmarine.com/review/.../list/id/5268/

for the pair with shipping to NC was $115.00


Quote:
Originally Posted by switz View Post
At less than 2,000 miles from the dealership (the new trailer was delivered on a flat bed truck top the dealership from Apple so had virtually no miles on the running gear), the trailer was entering the modification shop. I suggested we check the wheel bearings, just in case.

We found one set of bearing scored from lack of grease from the manufacturer. The other three were low on grease. We replaced the one set of bearings with Timken.

I decided that since all four wheels would be off again for the new backing plates for the auto-adjust brake conversion complete with new pads and mechanical parts, that we should go ahead and replace all four wheel bearing sets and seals at the same time using made in the USA Timken bearing sets and seals.

In order to cheapen the smaller trailers, they did not install the auto-adjust brakes. The wide body trailers (25' and longer) supposedly get the auto-adjust electric drum brakes.
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Old 05-06-2016, 07:30 AM   #12
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What is the design difference between 5200 and 6000 lb rated brakes? What harm might befall installation of heavier capacity brakes?
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Old 05-07-2016, 07:40 PM   #13
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Not an expert, but was chatting with a friend who also works on the axles in the vintage Airstream world. As the capacity of the axle load increases, so do the spindles that support the bearings and wheels increase in diameter. So my bearing sets and seals for the 10" drums used on our 23D would be too small for the 12" drums used on the wide body trailers. The 20 something models share a common axle part number since the GVW are are 7,300 or 7,600 pounds. There is a different one for the 30' FC and International models with GVW around 8,800 pounds. The Classics get 5,000 pound rated axles.
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Old 09-21-2019, 11:04 AM   #14
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I have a 2012 FC 28ft and my trailer came from the factory with self adjusting brakes. I am confused by the poster whom said their 2015 had manual adjusting. I do not think AS would go backwards? BTW, I have 42k on the trailer and other then check the bearings for tightness, have never looked at the brakes and they work perfectly.
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Old 09-21-2019, 11:14 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rgwatkin View Post
I have a 2012 FC 28ft and my trailer came from the factory with self adjusting brakes. I am confused by the poster whom said their 2015 had manual adjusting. I do not think AS would go backwards?
Self adjusting may be optional. Especially on shorter trailers. Smaller brake drum less adjustment needed.

A 28 is a big guy. Something less than 24 may not have features of a larger trailer.

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Old 09-21-2019, 11:44 AM   #16
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I went with the self adjusting brakes from E trailer last April. Since then we have been to Alaska and to Montana for the summer. The brakes seem to work fine. I also put in new hubs. I did toss the bearings that came with the hubs and bought Timken. The issue I am having is keeping the brake wires connected. Going to address that issue again next week.
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Old 09-21-2019, 12:06 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rgwatkin View Post
..... BTW, I have 42k on the trailer and other then check the bearings for tightness, have never looked at the brakes and they work perfectly.
Hi

At the point we hit 20,000 miles, I had replaced all 4 wheels worth of self adjusting brakes on our trailer...... (Yes, that's all 4 brakes in under 2 years)

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Old 09-22-2019, 06:58 AM   #18
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Yes, our 2015 23D International Serenity came with 10" manual adjust drum brakes and 14" tires and wheels. The parts to upgrade to auto adjust brakes were less than $25 per wheel. One would think that the multi thousand dollar upgrade from Flying Cloud to International Serenity trim would have included this safety upgrade. I believe the following year the 23D got factory installed 15" tires and wheels and maybe auto-adjust brakes were included.

I had the wheels checked during the initial conversion work after towing the new trailer from Colonial in New Jersey to A&P Vintage Trailer Works near Dallas, TX or a distance of about 2,000 miles (our 23D and another one were trucked on a flat bed from the factory to Colonial). We found scored wheel bearings from lack of grease. So we did the upgrade while also installing made in the USA Timken wheel bearing sets all around. I brought with me to the dealership the 15" SenDel T03-56545T wheels and mounted 15" Michelin LTX (P) 235/75R15 XL tires with Dill TPMS installed. They new tires and wheels were installed before I left the dealership.

This is a typical penny wise and pound foolish move by Airstream.
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