We took our KZ TT to the dealer to get a few warranty items attended to. Just got a phone call from them saying the brakes are all contaminated with grease inside the drums and all the parts need to be replaced. The lady I spoke didn't think it would be covered under warranty. I've never had the drums off and I've never lubed the Ultru-lube axles. It's looking like it would in the order of $1,000 to fix it....Shouldn't something like this be covered under warranty, esp. on a 7 month old TT? We only did something like 1,500 - 2,000 miles on it which isn't much. Did all the seals go on them in that short a time?What's bothersome with this too is that we specifically ordered Al-Ko brakes because I know that they have been installing brakes called Axletek on their units in 2013. KZ lists Al-Ko brakes in their brochure and the units come with a tag inside listing Dexter brakes and our Owner's manual manual is for Al-Ko brakes. When we asked about this when we first picked up the TT they said it's one of those "subject to change" things that the manufacturer is entitled to do. Some would call that a bait and switch.Maybe if we had gotten the Al-Ko brakes we had in our purchase agreement, this wouldn't have happened. I'm pretty choked and it will be interesting to see what happens now that KZ is owned by Thor. WE will be heading out to our dealer on the weekend for sure and having words. The TT has otherwise been pretty good so far.

200 dollars worth of parts 800 in labor sounds pretty outrageous to me.

I don't understand why the brakes would not be covered just like the other items are.

your contract calls for a different brand that you wrote into the contract? if so I,d stand my ground and the manufacture would be eating the bill, even if I had to pay a att.

The problem is NOT your brakes. The grease is coming from axle seals that are leaking wheel bearing grease. Let me guess, you have axles that were manufactured by Lippert Components? If so, this is a problem that is recurring frequently as reported in multiple forums I've read. If not, I apologize to Lippert for the assumption. This is absolutely a product defect that should be covered under warranty. Do not let them talk you into paying for this yourself. Contact the manufacturer of your rig and pester them for a repair. This is NOT normal wear and tear on the brakes. If your axles are manufactured by Lippert, contact them at www.LCI1.com or 866-524-7821. Finally, this is a safety defect. You should file a complaint with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. If enough similar complaints are lodged, they will evaluate and potentially force a recall. Here is a link for filing a complaint:NHSTA Vehicle Complaint Form.

You might raise this in the TT forum as it is a warranty issue rather than a tech issue really, but even so---I have seen such things raised in the 5er forum before, where the dealer would not do the warranty thing so the owner had to call the trailer company and by-pass the dealer. Interesting results! Sometimes that works.The trailer company can then blame the axle maker, but you don't care about that, you just want justice at your end. In this case it sounds like the dealer isn't being very useful.

Defective brakes on 7 month old TT | Good Sam Community

39 Replies

path1
Explorer
Dec 04, 2014
myredracer wrote:
The axles are actually Al-Ko which makes it curious why we didn't get their brakes. Lippert frame though.

We might just be jinxed. Our first TT had brake problems and in the end it turned out to be cosmoline over all the internal parts. That got covered under warranty.

Surprised me also that I have Lippert written over some of my TT parts also. Lippert is into a lot I found out. Latest discovery was my doors.

I think just their 5th wheel frames are a bad name?

Look at what all they are into.

https://lci1.com/products-list/
myredracer
Explorer II
Dec 04, 2014
The axles are actually Al-Ko which makes it curious why we didn't get their brakes. Lippert frame though.

We might just be jinxed. Our first TT had brake problems and in the end it turned out to be cosmoline over all the internal parts. That got covered under warranty.
path1
Explorer
Dec 04, 2014
1. Go to AL-KO web site. Dexter bought them out to gobble up more market share IMO No big deal.

2. I'll bet on two things that (you) the end customer can probably never prove.

- RV delivery guy probably had one go bad sometime in the past and now over greases every unit he picks up till grease is about dripping on the ground. Not uncommon problem. And you have no idea what type of grease or quality. I'm sure he spent big bucks on it also:B

- Brakes were not defective when they left manufacture. But they were first time delivery guy stopped and shot a tube each in to each axle.

3 IMO, RV dealers should not sign for delivered unit till dealer gets on his back and inspects the axle seals to see if axle has been over greased. If delivery guy greased it, he should pay for damage he caused.

See if dealer and manufacture will each chip in 1/2 each. Then do the work yourself so you know it's done right. Do not let them talk you into cleaning up old shoes. Once grease is in, it is IN. No brake clean, gas etc. You need new shoes!
j-d
Explorer II
Dec 04, 2014
Warranty reads "Materials AND Workmanship," right? Whether it's the part or the assembly, they ought to fix it.

A friend just recently reported grease in all the brakes of a new TT also. Wonder if something systematic is going on here.
BFL13
Explorer II
Dec 04, 2014
You might raise this in the TT forum as it is a warranty issue rather than a tech issue really, but even so---I have seen such things raised in the 5er forum before, where the dealer would not do the warranty thing so the owner had to call the trailer company and by-pass the dealer. Interesting results! Sometimes that works.

The trailer company can then blame the axle maker, but you don't care about that, you just want justice at your end. In this case it sounds like the dealer isn't being very useful.
TucsonJim
Explorer II
Dec 04, 2014
The problem is NOT your brakes. The grease is coming from axle seals that are leaking wheel bearing grease. Let me guess, you have axles that were manufactured by Lippert Components? If so, this is a problem that is recurring frequently as reported in multiple forums I've read. If not, I apologize to Lippert for the assumption.

This is absolutely a product defect that should be covered under warranty. Do not let them talk you into paying for this yourself. Contact the manufacturer of your rig and pester them for a repair. This is NOT normal wear and tear on the brakes. If your axles are manufactured by Lippert, contact them at www.LCI1.com or 866-524-7821.

Finally, this is a safety defect. You should file a complaint with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. If enough similar complaints are lodged, they will evaluate and potentially force a recall. Here is a link for filing a complaint:

NHSTA Vehicle Complaint Form.
midnightsadie
Explorer II
Dec 04, 2014
your contract calls for a different brand that you wrote into the contract? if so I,d stand my ground and the manufacture would be eating the bill, even if I had to pay a att.
coolmom42
Explorer II
Dec 04, 2014
I don't understand why the brakes would not be covered just like the other items are.
donn0128
Explorer II
Dec 04, 2014
200 dollars worth of parts 800 in labor sounds pretty outrageous to me.

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Defective brakes on 7 month old TT

39 Replies

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