Forum Discussion

howardwheeler's avatar
howardwheeler
Explorer
Jan 08, 2014

Odd Repetitive Trouble with my Alpenlite brakes

I have Neverlube Dexter hubs that came with the fifthwheel that are rated at 8000 lbs per axle, though the Alpenlite trailer literature says I only have 7000 lbs axles. I don't know why that is, and it's probably irrelevant. I'm glad I have big brakes because it's a heavy 16000 lbs trailer. Anyway I started losing my brakes on my last trip of around 600 miles. Scary! Upon checking them back home, one magnet was no good, drawing no amps, but the odd thing is that my passenger side front brakes had no lining left at all. All other hubs had great lining. The oddity is that three years ago on a trip to the Canadian Rockies (if you've never been, go!) my brake on the same hub locked up. We dismantled it in the Banff campground (fun) and discovered that the brake lining had come loose from their metal backing and just jammed the whole hub. This is the same hub that once again has lost all the lining. I don't know if they fell off again (we replace the entire backing assembly with a new one we found in Calgary), or if they just wore down, but they were gone and it was metal to metal. What's happening on that hub? Tires all wear evenly, but for some reason that hub gives out. This time, we also found a questionable ground connection where the brake wires first connect with the wires that then go to each brake. It seemed corroded. We are redoing each wiring connection, but we don't really know if any were really bad. So, does anyone have an idea about why that hub does this while all the other brake lings look great? The hubs are 12.25x3.375.
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Jan 08, 2014
    howardwheeler wrote:
    I wish my assemblies were so cheap but they are close to two hundred fifty dollars a piece. They are very large. We are redoing all the wiring and did check voltage at each magnet. That's how we found the bad one. The bad magnet was on the same axle as the hub that eats brake linings. I did just begin to wonder that if that magnet has been bad four years could that cause the first failure?


    Where are you getting that price quoted? from a dealership.
    If they are really that price my first suggestion is to dump the antiquated brake design and go for disk brakes. Total cost is only around 2000 dollars plus some labor. If your the least mechanically inclined it is a DIY job. And well worth the time and effort.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Jan 08, 2014
    howardwheeler wrote:
    My hubs have self adjusting brakes. We did though readjust them when we had the failure a few years ago.


    Self adjusters......
    Then is sounds like the one that over wears is over-adjusting (or the others are not adjusting when you brake)

    That and along with low voltage/amps on magnets.
    Magnets have to grab contact surface in order to engage primary shoe which then rotates and applies secondary shoe. This action also adjusts shoes via cable/lever moving and turning star wheel
    If surface is rusted or low voltage/amps to magnets they can't grab
  • howardwheeler's avatar
    howardwheeler
    Explorer
    Jan 08, 2014
    My hubs have self adjusting brakes. We did though readjust them when we had the failure a few years ago.
  • the_bear_II's avatar
    the_bear_II
    Explorer
    Jan 08, 2014
    Maybe that one brake has been doing all of the work, due to incorrect adjustment, wiring problems on the other wheels.
  • howardwheeler's avatar
    howardwheeler
    Explorer
    Jan 08, 2014
    I wish my assemblies were so cheap but they are close to two hundred fifty dollars a piece. They are very large. We are redoing all the wiring and did check voltage at each magnet. That's how we found the bad one. The bad magnet was on the same axle as the hub that eats brake linings. I did just begin to wonder that if that magnet has been bad four years could that cause the first failure?
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Jan 08, 2014
    Need good voltage at each magnet and 2.5(+) amps when fully applied via manual lever on brake controller.
    That means good battery and tight clean connections to/from magnets and ground on trailer frame

    And that one hub that is wear faster......probably adjusted to tight and had a better magnet connection then others.

    Each wheel needs to be adjusted initially and then again as shoe linings wear down.
    Jack each wheel off ground.
    Adjust star wheel on adjuster screw (bottom of drum thru slot) while turning turning tire until tire stops
    Then back off star wheel just until tire rotates with a slight drag on shoes.

    As for the 8000# vs 7000#
    8000# is an upgrade option----------7000# standard.
    Literature reflects standard equipment
  • B_O__Plenty's avatar
    B_O__Plenty
    Explorer II
    Jan 08, 2014
    Junk all of the complete brake assemblies and start all over from the backing plates out. They only cost around $50-75 per wheel. Then scrap all the wiring and replace it with new. You have an old trailer, why waste a buch of time on it when you can just replace it all for not much money..

    B.O.

About Fifth Wheel Group

19,006 PostsLatest Activity: Feb 18, 2025