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Old 11-24-2022, 07:35 AM   #1
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Bald Spots on Single Tire

Hi All,

We towed our AS FC 30FB Bunk from Wisconsin to Tennessee. Upon arrival I did an inspection of the tires and found that the right rear tire had two bald spots on it - the tread completely worn off. See photos.

I had the tire replaced with the spare using roadside assistance but then I got to thinking more about what would have caused that to happen to just one tire.

My hypothesis is that the brake on that wheel locked up at some point - probably twice considering there were two bare spots while the tread on the rest of the tire was just like the one next to it.

Here are some photos. It’s Thanksgiving and we are scheduled to head back home tomorrow. I don’t have the right tools to pull the drum.

Wondering if I don’t call roadside again - they will dispatch a mobile mechanic (Coach-Net) who can at the very least diagnose the problem so we know what we need to have fixed first thing Friday (if parts can be had.)

Thanks in advance.


Photos: https://share.icloud.com/photos/0b1U...PnIJAY9RQs7yQw
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Old 11-24-2022, 08:02 AM   #2
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Are the two bald spots 180 degrees apart?

I'm thinking you might have an out of round drum causing lock ups.
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Old 11-24-2022, 10:44 AM   #3
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Or an out of balance tire/wheel with a shock that is not dampening.

Look for thrown weight on that wheel.

On that kind of wear, once it starts, it gets worse fast.

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Old 11-24-2022, 11:21 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by richard5933 View Post
Are the two bald spots 180 degrees apart?

I'm thinking you might have an out of round drum causing lock ups.
Yes, seems that way. Maybe not exact but close and one side is worse than the other.

I put the spare on.

If this is the problem, can the drum be replaced easily?

Thanks!
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Old 11-24-2022, 11:24 AM   #5
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If the mounted wheel rattles when rolled, some guts of the brake assembly may have caused a brake to lock-up.

I've been in a situation in which parts could not be had. My wheel was not out of round but the guts of the brake assembly had deteriorated. I removed the guts myself. Traveled from central GA to north GA across to AL then up to northern Tennessee with just three brakes. That's where I finally parked on a level enough campsite to make the repair. Now I carry a left and a right brake assembly.

You don't have to use the Dexter assembly. I bought a Lippert right hand assembly at the Airstream dealer in Atlanta. They guaranteed fitment and no Dexter in stock.

Upon inspection of the three other brakes after returning home, I found another disintegrating brake assembly. I went ahead and replaced the remaining three assemblies. My 2017 came off the line in August of 2016 but it lived its early years somewhere in Florida with its previous owner.
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Old 11-24-2022, 11:24 AM   #6
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Wanted to mention the gain on my Ford OEM brake controller was set to 5.0. Could that cause unexpected lock ups?
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Old 11-24-2022, 11:28 AM   #7
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In the mean time I would back off on the gain.
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Old 11-24-2022, 11:30 AM   #8
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No.

The design of the system (correctly functioning) sends same power to all electric brakes equally.

I like the internal brake components have caused the brakes to jam. Several threads show the failed adjuster fall to the bottom of the drum.
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Old 11-24-2022, 11:53 AM   #9
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I found a tool place open on Thanksgiving here in Pigeon Forge and grabbed the tools I need to pull everything apart and inspect.

Could I just remove the brake assembly on the one wheel to get home? I have plenty of stopping power with my TV. Hmmmm.
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Old 11-24-2022, 12:12 PM   #10
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Originally Posted by WiscoRV View Post
I found a tool place open on Thanksgiving here in Pigeon Forge and grabbed the tools I need to pull everything apart and inspect.

Could I just remove the brake assembly on the one wheel to get home? I have plenty of stopping power with my TV. Hmmmm.
That's what I would do. All you need to do is remove the drum/hub/tire all together by removing the hub cap, retainer or pin and castle nut, then replace being careful to get the right bearing preload then back off for clearance and insert new cotter pin or replace retainer. (It's much easier to get the proper feel for runout with the wheel and tire still on the hub anyway, so no need to separate it) It will be a bit of a greasy job so be prepared for that.
If the problem only occurs during braking I would just snip one of the wires behind the backing plate and not even remove the wheel, but you'd have to be sure it isn't something loose inside the drum causing the problem.
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Old 11-24-2022, 12:43 PM   #11
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I'm betting that this AS has Nev-R-Lube bearing system. No cotter pin, no adjustment is required for drum/bearing installation.

Tools 1 7/16" 1/2" drive socket, and a stout breaker bar. These are torqued to 145-155 lb-ft. Its on a tag on the spindle.

After removing the drum yes you could remove the entire backing plate, cut the one magnet wire tape it up and reinstall drum. I'd also be prepared to take pics of the brake as soon as the drum comes off. Might come in handy.

Gary
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Old 11-24-2022, 12:52 PM   #12
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If you do not hear any parts rattling in the assembly snip the wires at back outside of backing plate and you are good to go. I had similar problem with never lubes driving 400+ miles with 30' classic to JC to get fixed. 3 working brakes should be OK..
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Old 11-24-2022, 12:58 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WiscoRV View Post
Yes, seems that way. Maybe not exact but close and one side is worse than the other.



I put the spare on.



If this is the problem, can the drum be replaced easily?



Thanks!
If the drum hasn't been turned before, a shop with a drum lathe might be able to turn it and get it round.

There was a problem a few months ago getting drums, but a phone call to Out of Doors Mart should be enough to get one if needed.
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Old 11-24-2022, 12:59 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by GCinSC2 View Post
I'm betting that this AS has Nev-R-Lube bearing system. No cotter pin, no adjustment is required for drum/bearing installation.

Tools 1 7/16" 1/2" drive socket, and a stout breaker bar. These are torqued to 145-155 lb-ft. Its on a tag on the spindle.

After removing the drum yes you could remove the entire backing plate, cut the one magnet wire tape it up and reinstall drum. I'd also be prepared to take pics of the brake as soon as the drum comes off. Might come in handy.

Gary
^1.

Snap ring pliers come in handy too. Removing the snap ring. Removal can be done without the pliers but it's tedious. Don't forget to remove the snap ring before the breaker bar maneuver. You'll damage the snap ring and the nut won't come free. Don't ask how I know this. I ended up at a auto parts store wading through drawers of random snap rings searching for a replacement.

Stopping with three brakes will pull a little to one side. Drive carefully and you'll be fine. We went down some fairly steep grades with the three brakes.
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Old 11-24-2022, 03:43 PM   #15
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Thanks everyone. I got as far as getting the tire off and gave the drum a spin and out came a pile of brake dust. Definitely metal on metal sound now. I got as far as the plastic ring when I decided to stop and have a trailer guy come in the morning. He is going to pull the drum and remove the brake mechanism just to make sure nothing mechanical locks the tire up again.

My Airstream warranty is through 06/2023. The guy coming tomorrow said a new drum for this thing is $1079 alone. Hoping that by doing this I don’t void the warranty.

Here is a video of what I’m seeing/hearing.

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0dd3...n_kMwxqRacQGUQ
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Old 11-24-2022, 09:08 PM   #16
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Or an out of balance tire/wheel with a shock that is not dampening.

Look for thrown weight on that wheel.

On that kind of wear, once it starts, it gets worse fast.

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Old 11-24-2022, 10:13 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by WiscoRV View Post
Thanks everyone. I got as far as getting the tire off and gave the drum a spin and out came a pile of brake dust. Definitely metal on metal sound now. I got as far as the plastic ring when I decided to stop and have a trailer guy come in the morning. He is going to pull the drum and remove the brake mechanism just to make sure nothing mechanical locks the tire up again.

My Airstream warranty is through 06/2023. The guy coming tomorrow said a new drum for this thing is $1079 alone. Hoping that by doing this I don’t void the warranty.

Here is a video of what I’m seeing/hearing.

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0dd3...n_kMwxqRacQGUQ
That noise sounds very normal - inside the drum there are two brake shoes which contact the outer rim of the drum when the brakes are applied, and there is also a magnet which is in constant contact with the flat surface of the brake drum.

The magnet riding on the drum will make a noise like this when you spin the drum. But, the magnet can (and will) wear out so having the inner workings inspected is definitely a good idea.

Probably a good use of your money to have all four inspected and the bearings repacked while the tech is on site. You're already paying for the service call and his travel to you, so make the most of it. If one brake has trouble today, another might be due for trouble tomorrow.
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Old 11-25-2022, 01:52 AM   #18
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Since you have a 2020 there will be no bearings to repack, the newer airstreams have Dexter Never-Lube bearing and they can’t be repacked .
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Old 11-25-2022, 06:45 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WiscoRV View Post
Thanks everyone. I got as far as getting the tire off and gave the drum a spin and out came a pile of brake dust. Definitely metal on metal sound now. I got as far as the plastic ring when I decided to stop and have a trailer guy come in the morning. He is going to pull the drum and remove the brake mechanism just to make sure nothing mechanical locks the tire up again.

My Airstream warranty is through 06/2023. The guy coming tomorrow said a new drum for this thing is $1079 alone. Hoping that by doing this I don’t void the warranty.

Here is a video of what I’m seeing/hearing.

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0dd3...n_kMwxqRacQGUQ
That seems too loud to be normal brake shoe contact with the drum. Sounds more like metal-on-metal to me. But it is difficult to determine the actual volume in a video. I like the idea of having your mechanic inspect all four.

None of this precludes the possibility that the drum is out of round. It remains a possible cause of the tire wear you experienced.
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Old 11-25-2022, 07:08 AM   #20
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$1079 for a brake drum???
That seems just a little bit outrageous.
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