Replacing drum brakes ???

[ilvtravln]

Need to replace brakes on my 5er, it has Lippert axles, drums are 12". Can I just replace the brake shoes or do I replace the entire backing plate, brakes, magnet all of it. Where do I go for parts?
Thanks

[Cummins12V98]

bpounds wrote:
Do you recommend reusing your drums? If so, how many times? Do you get them turned? Does turning include resurfacing the magnet track?

Might do brakes this spring. Not sure if I should do new drums, even though they look good. Seems like a set of drums with hubs and bearings costs as much or more than the brake sets.

If you plan on keeping your RV swap too Disks!!!

[Lynnmor]

bpounds wrote:
Do you recommend reusing your drums? If so, how many times? Do you get them turned? Does turning include resurfacing the magnet track?

Might do brakes this spring. Not sure if I should do new drums, even though they look good. Seems like a set of drums with hubs and bearings costs as much or more than the brake sets.

The maximum diameter of the drums should be on the drum, normally they will have plenty of material to allow turning. The magnet track (armature) is a different story, they are often grooved and only .030" is allowed for removal and few shops have the ability to get the high finish required.

When replacing bearings, use only Timken, not the cheap Chinese junk sold by most stores, eTrailer included.

When burnishing new brakes, the manufacturer suggests doing repeated hard stops to get them seated. The problem with that is the new magnets are not yet seated and hard stops will work them hard, causing grooving of the armature. Now the new drums are as ugly as the old.

[TxGearhead]

Get the entire brake assembly in a kit..shoes, back plate and magnets. I used eTrailer and upgraded to self adjusting.
You may as well get new seals and repack the bearings while you're in there.
Get some heat activated butt connectors for connecting the brake wiring. Use heat activated shrink wrap over the butt connectors to seal even more. Remember to slip the shrink wrap over the wires before you connect them. Harbor Freight heat gun works good.

[bpounds]

Do you recommend reusing your drums? If so, how many times? Do you get them turned? Does turning include resurfacing the magnet track?

Might do brakes this spring. Not sure if I should do new drums, even though they look good. Seems like a set of drums with hubs and bearings costs as much or more than the brake sets.

[ilvtravln]

colliehauler wrote:
Agree with others replace the entire assembly.

I priced it both ways, its a no brainer, get the backing plate with all new parts. Thanks to all who wrote.

[ilvtravln]

edbehnke wrote:
replace the whole things with self adjusting.

Good idea, as I am 72 and it used to be a lot easier to adjust the brakes.

Thanks

[bobsallyh]

Several years ago, when I was going to replace the shoes, the supplier here told me the whole backing plates with the parts already mounted was cheaper that piece mealing it. He was correct and so easy to do as no cursing the springs. Go to www.etrailer.com

[romore]

I priced out the shoes vs the backing plate assemblies, for the difference in price shoes only wasn't worth my time. Plus I got new magnets and hardware.
I once replaced the shoes and turned the drums on my car. On a subsequent trip, it had to be a Sunday, a return spring broke and completely destroyed everything. I stuffed a nail in the brake line and nursed it home. Never again.

[fj12ryder]

I planned on replacing just the brake shoes on my toyhauler when necessary, but the price for brake shoes is ridiculous. You could easily spend $400 for the brake shoes for a double axle trailer. Of course the the whole brake kit could easily set you back $600. Or go cheap and get by for about the same as just the shoes would cost.

[colliehauler]

Agree with others replace the entire assembly.

[frizfreleng]

I replaced the brake assemblies and bearings last winter on my 2004 Keystone Cougar. If you have any mechanical ability it is fairly easy.

Dexter 10' electric brake assemblies (4): $175
Wheel bearings for 4 wheels: $54

This time I used a company named Sturdy Built Trailer (online). I believe they were cheaper than etrailer for the same brand assemblies.

[Roger10378]

You also need to inspect the drums for wear on both the braking surface and the magnet surface. You can get parts at most anyplace that has trailer parts.

[edbehnke]

replace the whole things with self adjusting.

[azdryheat]

Sounds as though you've never done this before. Find a friend to help you through it as you'll also have to do the bearings.