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Old 07-24-2018, 07:55 AM   #1
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Brakes and Never Lube Seals

Long story short -

We stopped by the factory in late March on our return from Florida and had some warranty work done and I also paid to have the wheels rotated and asked that the hubs be pulled to check on brakes etc. The left side (curb) had blown both never lube seals and brakes were covered with the lube - non functioning. Never knew and did not know when it happened. Dexter covered 100%.

Then this past week on a trip I noticed by TST Tire sensors showing the right rear wheel building up pressure. The other three were running about 86f, the right rear was running about 125f. So I pulled over and we heard a clinking noise. Middle of no where, not even cell coverage. So, pulled the trailer connection and ran without brakes or lights to the PA State Rally, 100 miles. No issue, but that wheel stayed hot, not as hot but hot.

Called Coach Net, they contacted a on road repair company who came out as scheduled the next morning. He pulled and sure enough the adjuster had broken in half, and messed everything else up. He pulled everything out, put and torqued the wheel back on and when we left the Rally we drove home with three brakes and lights. No issue at all as the F350 did it's job.

So, I called Dexter yesterday - only a few questions as to serial numbers etc and new assembly and drum on their way. They set up a repair facility near by or would have sent a road tech to do the job where our trailer is stored. Exceptional customer service and response.

The advice in the owners manual says to pull and check all four wheels and brakes every year or 10,000 miles - I think we will adhere to this policy, but we only have 8,800 miles on our trailer so the yearly check is important in my opinion.

Bud
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Old 07-24-2018, 08:08 AM   #2
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And don’t forget that your TPMS alerted you to higher pressure from heat. That paid off well.
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Old 07-24-2018, 03:02 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by GCinSC2 View Post
And don’t forget that your TPMS alerted you to higher pressure from heat. That paid off well.

It sure did and was actually the notice that probably saved us from anything worse. A great product.
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Old 07-26-2018, 09:47 AM   #4
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Originally Posted by paiceman View Post
Long story short -

We stopped by the factory in late March on our return from Florida and had some warranty work done and I also paid to have the wheels rotated and asked that the hubs be pulled to check on brakes etc. The left side (curb) had blown both never lube seals and brakes were covered with the lube - non functioning. Never knew and did not know when it happened. Dexter covered 100%.

Then this past week on a trip I noticed by TST Tire sensors showing the right rear wheel building up pressure. The other three were running about 86f, the right rear was running about 125f. So I pulled over and we heard a clinking noise. Middle of no where, not even cell coverage. So, pulled the trailer connection and ran without brakes or lights to the PA State Rally, 100 miles. No issue, but that wheel stayed hot, not as hot but hot.

Called Coach Net, they contacted a on road repair company who came out as scheduled the next morning. He pulled and sure enough the adjuster had broken in half, and messed everything else up. He pulled everything out, put and torqued the wheel back on and when we left the Rally we drove home with three brakes and lights. No issue at all as the F350 did it's job.

So, I called Dexter yesterday - only a few questions as to serial numbers etc and new assembly and drum on their way. They set up a repair facility near by or would have sent a road tech to do the job where our trailer is stored. Exceptional customer service and response.

The advice in the owners manual says to pull and check all four wheels and brakes every year or 10,000 miles - I think we will adhere to this policy, but we only have 8,800 miles on our trailer so the yearly check is important in my opinion.

Bud
Hi

If you have PA plates on the trailer, it gets inspected every year. I'm *sure* that they pull all 4 wheels as part of that inspection ......

Bob
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Old 07-26-2018, 10:51 AM   #5
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Hooray for the TPMS! And kudos to Dexter for their service, though not for their parts that failed.

How hot do your tires get on a hot day? Do you think your tire was exposed to greater heat than ever before? Heat can harm rubber, but I don't know what the limit is for tires. There are a couple of tire engineers on the forum, but I am not one of them.
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Old 07-26-2018, 11:19 AM   #6
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Brakes and Never Lube Seals

This type of situation underscores what a TPMS really is good for, the unexpected.

You could have easily started this trip with a pre trip inspection including tire pressure and all was well.

But later as the brake problem heated up, this w/o TPMS could have been much worse.

My rig has internal sensors that monitor temp and pressure separately.

Also this is a reminder that periodic brake inspection is a good thing.

Safe travels.
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Old 07-26-2018, 12:05 PM   #7
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Hi

If you have PA plates on the trailer, it gets inspected every year. I'm *sure* that they pull all 4 wheels as part of that inspection ......

Bob

We do have PA plates.

I do have PA plates, but pulling the plates is not part of the trailer inspection. "Checking the brakes is". Therefore, most places simply jack the trailer up and pull the safety cable out. So, your tongue in check comment is correct. Plus, pulling and checking the hubs is not part of any inspection and the broken spring which caused the adjust to snap would not have been picked up unless it had broken when inspected.

Bud
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Old 07-26-2018, 12:13 PM   #8
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We do have PA plates.

I do have PA plates, but pulling the plates is not part of the trailer inspection. "Checking the brakes is". Therefore, most places simply jack the trailer up and pull the safety cable out. So, your tongue in check comment is correct. Plus, pulling and checking the hubs is not part of any inspection and the broken spring which caused the adjust to snap would not have been picked up unless it had broken when inspected.

Bud
Hi

The gotcha with the above procedure is them leaving the safety cable out through the whole jacking process. It does not do the batteries any good. Don't ask how I know this ....

Bob
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Old 07-26-2018, 03:27 PM   #9
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Yep, wonderful experience. Fortunately it’s part of our pre trip procedure. But then we once both missed the wire hook up and drove 200 plus miles with no lights or brakes, which is why I pretty much knew our recent experience would be ok
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Old 07-26-2018, 04:56 PM   #10
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Paceman. Our Classic 30 came out of factory the end of February 2017 and we had same issue two days before Christmas.
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Old 07-26-2018, 05:04 PM   #11
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Make sure they send you a new drum. They didn’t send ours first time around. And our repair guy said it need to be replaced because of all the damage from pieces flying around.
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Old 07-27-2018, 04:37 AM   #12
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Originally Posted by GCinSC2 View Post
This type of situation underscores what a TPMS really is good for, the unexpected.

You could have easily started this trip with a pre trip inspection including tire pressure and all was well.

But later as the brake problem heated up, this w/o TPMS could have been much worse.

My rig has internal sensors that monitor temp and pressure separately.

Also this is a reminder that periodic brake inspection is a good thing.

Safe travels.
To respond to your post - we are both CDL drivers, my wife of over 25 years school bus and I was a sub for five years and do a double pre-trip inspection. NO pre-trip inspection would have found this issue unless it involved pulling the wheel and then only if the spring had already broken.

All wheels were pulled and inspected 500 miles prior to this incident by the Airstream factory.

Our TST system monitors both air pressure and tire temperature.
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Old 07-27-2018, 04:39 AM   #13
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Hooray for the TPMS! And kudos to Dexter for their service, though not for their parts that failed.

How hot do your tires get on a hot day? Do you think your tire was exposed to greater heat than ever before? Heat can harm rubber, but I don't know what the limit is for tires. There are a couple of tire engineers on the forum, but I am not one of them.

Our tires on a normal summer day run about 90 degrees on the "shade" side and about 94 on the "sun" side.

The dangerous tire temperature according to TST is about 147 degrees. Our sensors are set, by me, to go off with an alarm at 135. We did not reach those temperatures.
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Old 07-27-2018, 04:41 AM   #14
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Make sure they send you a new drum. They didn’t send ours first time around. And our repair guy said it need to be replaced because of all the damage from pieces flying around.

We were sent by Dexter a full assembled brake plate as well as a new drum and an additional brake plate for the other tire on that side as I told them that we now have two new brakes on the left side done at the factory and now this one that broke so I would appreciate a new brake on the remaining forth wheel. The CSR stated "we have no problem sending you the additional plate with the brake assembly". I received all next day via FedEx.
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Old 07-27-2018, 05:41 AM   #15
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NO pre-trip inspection would have found this issue unless it involved pulling the wheel and then only if the spring had already broken.

All wheels were pulled and inspected 500 miles prior to this incident by the Airstream factory.

Our TST system monitors both air pressure and tire temperature.

Exactly my point, you could do everything right PTI included and the TPMS watched out for the tires and you after that.

Well done.
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Old 07-27-2018, 05:51 AM   #16
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Exactly my point, you could do everything right PTI included and the TPMS watched out for the tires and you after that.

Well done.

Yep the TST TPMS worked flawlessly. We purchased it after a small seminar at a Region 2 rally several years ago. In 40 plus years never thought we needed one. But, got it anyway. Now, will not pull without them on and synced.
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Old 07-27-2018, 06:37 AM   #17
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If you pull the hubs to check the drums and brakes do you need to replace the seals?
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Old 07-27-2018, 07:46 AM   #18
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If you pull the hubs to check the drums and brakes do you need to replace the seals?

No, seals are in "deeper" and will not be disturbed by pulling the wheel, and brake drum off. However, pulling the drum is not as easy as it was on the older cars and trucks. You'll need a 1-7/16" socket and a torque wrench that goes up to at least 150# as that is the torque needed to make sure the seals stay in place. Once the grease cap, cotter pin, and nut are off the drum pulls off as the old cars used to. The "plate" is then right there with all the brake components. On the plate are several springs, and a moving fastened part that needs grease, a small amount. But> prior to doing the grease I would recommend blowing off all the dust that has accumulated on the "plate" and the brake parts on the plate. If the seals are damaged or leaking you should see the lube every place. I've been told by Dexter that a small amount is expected and necessary.

Bud
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Old 07-31-2018, 06:13 AM   #19
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If you pull the hubs to check the drums and brakes do you need to replace the seals?
A tech at Dexter did "advise" carrying an spare sealed bearing. Not cheap. I was switched to the parts department at Dexter and they advised I buy from a Dexter Distributor as it would be less expensive than buying from them directly. The bearing cost $125.00 plus freight.
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Old 07-31-2018, 06:58 AM   #20
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I pulled them all this past weekend. All looked good and went well.
This was the first time I had pulled them to check the brakes. With 40000+ miles and a trip to Key West planned I thought is time
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