Forum Discussion

Timeking's avatar
Timeking
Explorer
Jan 07, 2020

Dexter Nev-R-Adjust hub out-of-round

I read the long and very informative post from 2010 about the need for the hubs when using these self-adjusting brakes to be within 0.015 specification. When I hit the brakes it seems like there is a pulsing going on like one of my hubs is not exactly OK. Since I travel 1,000s of miles per year, would like to make sure all is as it should be.

I googled all about to see about measuring and perhaps turning my drums to spec, but all the info shows drums off of autos ... which don't have bearing races in them. Can a shop that turns auto drums, also turn drums from a TT? Answers I've got so far from calling range from "what is turning" to "sure".

How can I be sure that pursuing this won't damage the races in their lathe?
  • fj12ryder's avatar
    fj12ryder
    Explorer III
    Jan 08, 2020
    Why would a machine shop, whose business is machining hubs, tell you they wouldn't need turning? Seems unlikely they would turn away business.
  • Timeking's avatar
    Timeking
    Explorer
    Jan 08, 2020
    Even new hubs can be out of spec, out of round, from being dropped or stored on their sides rather than flat. Further, if you replace the hub, you do not need to replace the brake shoes, only sand them a bit. Further further, if a hub is slightly out of round, it will wear unevenly and progress to more out-of-round as the miles mount up.

    So..... When I get time (my wife's Mom died last night) I'm going to go to a few machine shops and see what they say in person, then I'll post whatever back to this site.
  • edbehnke's avatar
    edbehnke
    Explorer
    Jan 08, 2020
    just replace the whole hub on the wheels. pretty straight forward, not worth it to turn and replace the brake pads.


    while at it have the bearings greased, they should be anyway annually at least
  • deltabravo's avatar
    deltabravo
    Nomad
    Jan 08, 2020
    I'm switching to Nev-R-Adjust brakes...... sounds like I should have the drums turned or just replace them all.

    I'm replacing the brakes because I have one wheel the keeps locking up, even after adjusting the brakes multiple times this summer. (brakes / beargings were inspected / repacked in July)
  • Timeking's avatar
    Timeking
    Explorer
    Jan 07, 2020
    I remove the hubs, repack and check the brakes annually.

    If you look at the 2010 post (see below), you will see that the WORRY is that a sufficiently out-of-round hub will make the self-adjuster over-adjust, heat up, and likely fail one way or another. That would suck coming down a mountain in the middle of nowhere.

    https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/23458294/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1.cfm
  • K_Charles's avatar
    K_Charles
    Explorer
    Jan 07, 2020
    Anyone that can turn a drum can turn your drum, where the brakes ride. The part where the magnet rides is a different story, not everyone will, or can do that part.
  • MFL's avatar
    MFL
    Nomad II
    Jan 07, 2020
    Have you or anyone actually removed the hubs to check the brakes? A pulsing brake is more common with a rotor being bent, rather than an out of round drum. I suppose, if out of round enough, could pulse, but may be best to just replace the drum, if that is the actual problem. OTOH, could be a wiring short, causing intermittent operation.

    Jerry

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