Axle Service

boosTT wrote:
Thanks for the information everyone! I'm going to look into doing this myself.

Whatever your trying to do in your axle r/r do a you tube on that subject and be specific such as trailer hub service/bearings... or trailer axle service...there is a difference.

boosTT wrote:
Thanks for the information everyone! I'm going to look into doing this myself.

If you can take off a wheel and turn a wrench it is very easy. If you haven’t done it before it will be a full day for you. Once you do I wheel the rest will be easy!

Thanks for the information everyone! I'm going to look into doing this myself.

Grit dog wrote:


Speaking of prices, I needed 1 set of brake shoes last week to get me by on my snowmachine trailer. Typical 3500lb manual adjust Dexters.
Trailer place nearby was $40.....$$$$40 for one set of shoes. 2 shoes, 1 wheel!

Correct!

Not to mention, generally is always a good idea to change both sides at the same time, otherwise you have one side that is well bedded in and one side that needs bedded in for best brake operation.

That is why it generally has been said that it often is more economical over all to just buy new backing plates since you get all new parts including new magnets.

Acutally not a bad deal considering you get 100% fresh new mechanical parts and everything is assembled.

Just remove 4 nuts and the whole shebang falls off in your hand..

Over all a very quick change out.

What exactly are they doing? A simple repack with new seals? Or all new brake assemblies with new drums and bearings?

If it were me......I would just repack the existing bearings (if they show no signs of failure) and reuse the drums with new seals. And install new self adjusting brake assemblies. Shouldn't be no more than $250 in parts and maybe another $250 in labor.

BTW.......how old are your tires?

I did my own last year. 4 new bacing plates which include megnets, shoes, springs etc. $400. Easy to install. Drums were good. Just repack bearings. You should be able to buy complete axle asemblies for that price.

My word, more than a thousand dollars!? Look, I have a 2006 Airstream and I take mine into the Airstream dealer. Most of you are probably thinking that they must charge an arm and a leg for service. Not true. I have had this trailer since 2009 and always have the dealership work on it. To "service" an axle means to take off the wheels, repack the bearings, check the condition of the magnets and adjust the brakes if needed. They also told me that I should do this every 10K miles. Go by mileage and not time. Service is just this. If you need new brakes or new axles, then lots of money makes more sense. Last time it was about $100 per axle. I think it actually came in a tad under that. Will be due next year...probably will be more.

Gdetrailer wrote:

Man, I am glad I don't live where you do.

You can buy complete brake/backing plate assy's in left and right pairs for $95 HERE

Two axles takes two sets of the above so $190 plus shipping for all four wheels.

About $100 per drum (which gives you brand new bearings and seals) so four drums = $400 plus shipping..

So, to fully refresh all brakes, bearings and drums we are talking $600 plus shipping..

To replace all parts should take no more than 15 minutes per wheel just removing and slapping on all new parts..

Say 1 hr of labor at $150 per hr..

Most places do not "double" the cost of materials, more like adding about 25% on top of materials so call it $750 in materials and $150 in labor or $900 for all four wheels out the door cost..

However, I seriously doubt that full on replacement of brakes and drums will be needed.. Myself, I had to replace the backing plates a few yrs ago on a 30+ yr old TT and they WERE the ORIGINAL BRAKES!

I suspect it will be more like just check and adjust the brakes and clean and repack the bearings so in reality, the only "parts" would be needed is maybe $40 in new seals and a few scoops of grease.. maybe 1-2 hrs of labor (2hrs if they are padding the bill)..

Many auto repair shops typically charge less than $100 per wheel to "service" the brakes and sometimes you can catch a deal at $40 per wheel if you shop around..

Myself, it is an easy thing to do so I pull, check and adjust as needed instead of paying a mechanic..

You're right, prices are steep on most stuff around here.
But you're right, I was off by a factor of 2 on the brake assemblies. $100/pr not $100/ea if you get them on line.
Speaking of prices, I needed 1 set of brake shoes last week to get me by on my snowmachine trailer. Typical 3500lb manual adjust Dexters.
Trailer place nearby was $40.....$$$$40 for one set of shoes. 2 shoes, 1 wheel!

Every shop I've been around recently has about a 100% markup on the "average" parts price. Buddy is a mechanic at a small local shop. Same there too. And not specific to this area, had to pay someone to put a new clutch in my truck in AK. Shop owner was a solid, honest guy. Said, buy your own parts if you want, other wise I'll charge you double...
Anyway, yes it could be done for less than $500 in "dealer" parts provided drums/hubs are fine. Or under $300 in the driveway.

I'm a pretty good wrench, but it's still an hour a wheel all in if you're replacing bearings, brake assemblies.
But, yeah $1500 is also HIGH, even at Seattle prices.
Like you said, depends what it needs.

I would also question what you are asking them to do? What is service the axel? New brakes and new bearings, or just check and repack?

I paid $30 to repack bearings and check brakes when they were installing new tires a few months back. Very simple and took a few minutes. I think I have one bearing that is wearing a little, but they told me when I get tires next (5 years or so) I should change that bearing.