Lower adjuster spring on brakes

[batt]

I pulled the drums on all my wheels and found that the springs on the adjusters were all broken, except one.Was this a common problem?

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by batt

I pulled the drums on all my wheels and found that the springs on the adjusters were all broken, except one.Was this a common problem?

That is a common problem with high mileage backing plates.

Replace all the brake backing plates, and save yourself some headaches, since the other parts in time, usually fail as well.

Check the drum face and the armature plate, the part that the magnets dies on, for gouging. If wo, have the drums turned.

Lastly, because of their age, check the axles for bad rubber rods. If they are defective, you might be better off changing the complete axles, so that you would have superior drums as well as more efficient brakes.

There is an article on how to check out the axles in the Airstream Central portion of this Forums.

Andy.

[batt]

The drums look great, as well as the magnets. I don't see any groves, so really no need to turn. God I really don't want to even think of replacing the axles, just got through replacing bad frame and skin due to the common problem with this series failure at the toilet to thank connection. An ungodly amount of work on something that has become a near obsession and now a matter of grudging discipline to complete this project which started out as just some exterior skin replacement and ended up with frame and floor replacement.

[batt]

brake shoes looked good as well as every thing else, I think the springs were perhaps not specked correctly from the get go.

[Ganglin]

If you don't want to deal with axles you could just replace the full backer plates. Sale Specials & Close-Outs at Trailer Parts Superstore is the least expensive place I've found them. And - they're on sale.

At the same time - we ordered shocks from Inland (see above) and replaced them also. It never ends - but it will get better....

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by batt

brake shoes looked good as well as every thing else, I think the springs were perhaps not specked correctly from the get go.

I disagree.

Electric brake springs often break, because they have been over heated all to many times.

That over heating is caused by the brake shoes getting very hot, over a long period of time.

When the springs break, it's really a good time to replace the entire brake backing plates.

Andy

[Mr & Mrs S]

Originally Posted by batt

brake shoes looked good as well as every thing else, I think the springs were perhaps not specked correctly from the get go.

If everything looks ok then just get you some new springs, if your comfortable with new springs and your sure of your own judgement then go with it. Im not one to replace everything because one thing goes bad. Springs break thats why you can buy replacements.

[batt]

I ran the wheels up on ramps both sides, the front axle did travel down about 3" , however the rear did not travel on the curb side and the street side went into neg angle. all torsion bars stayed at 0 or level. I take it from reading Andy's post that this pretty much means they are toast. I was a bit confused in reading that the axles could be loaded at angle from 0 to 20+ deg, so how would you know you had one that was set a 0 deg and would not be worn out?
I live on the east cost and need a supplier or manufacturer on the east cost as shipping is now prohibitive, anyone close to Virginia?

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, at this point it looks like you need to replace both axles. [complete with brakes] Springs can break from being overheated and rust. The adjuster springs, being on the bottom, are more likely to stay wet and rust. If the adjuster springs are broken, then most likely all of the brake springs are bad. An old time spring test was to drop them onto the concrete; If they made a twang sound or bounced, they were OK, but if they made a thud, like dropping a piece of clay, they are bad. Improperly made springs will break right away or within a short period, not years later.