TundraTower
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Re: replacing brakes on 1 of 4 wheels?
Just to close the loop, replaced brakes on both ends of that axle last night using backplate assemblies from Dexter. Took it today for the 20 stops required to burnish them in and then readjusted. Next camping trip is next Friday. Thanks for the comments and insights. (PS:. For what it's worth, Dexter has modified their brake assembly slightly since I bought these axles 3/17. Now 1 long spring between the shoes on top that replaces 2 springs between top post and each brake shoe. Same dexster part #)1.1KViews0likes0CommentsRe: replacing brakes on 1 of 4 wheels?
No wiring problems - my problem was caused by grease leak. I've already taken that hub apart a few weeks ago when I swapped the tire. No question the shoes and drum were coated with grease. That's when I cleaned everything up hoping I could salvage the shoes. I took the trailer out for a 20 mile drive yesterday to be sure it worked and.....well, it didn't. That tire still slides. But I can manually apply the brake slowly and the trailer will slow the truck down, but if I come down hard on the brakes that one blasted wheel still slides. And yes, I checked the adjustment on all 4 during my drive yesterday. The left front is grabbing, and the other 3 are working as they should. I have to admit that you created enough question in my mind that I went and found our trip logs and added it up actual mileage. Setting my declining memory aside, these new axles and current shoes really have 3,400 miles on them, not the 1,800 miles I put in the original post. 3,400 miles is a long way from being worn out, but even I have to admit it is significant. As bad as I hate to, I'll go ahead and replace both sides on the forward axle. And for those of you old enough to remember the ORIGINAL Saturday Night Live: In the immortal words of Rosanna-Rosanna Dana: "Never mind".1.1KViews0likes0CommentsRe: replacing brakes on 1 of 4 wheels?
OP here. Thanks for the input so far. The axles are 18 month-old Dexters and I have in stock TWO complete backing plate brake assemblies, left and right, bought from Dexter. So surely the brake material would be the same. I am not familiar with this phenomenon mentioned of the trailer pulling the truck to one side due to uneven braking. I'm not saying it isn't real, I've just never heard of it nor experienced it. This is a 8K TT being pulled by a 3/4 ton diesel chevy that weighs 10K. On the last trip, with this one tire locking up enough to ruin the tire, I never felt anything (didn't hear it either). As far as I can tell the original seal that came with the axle failed. This axle was ordered special WITHOUT the zerk fittings, and without the auto adjust nonsense. Just a good old plain axle with electric brakes. Doing both sides is a PITA and with the low miles I question if needed. Yes braking will be somewhat uneven until seated, but at least I'll have 75% of my brakes. If I replace both, then I'm down to 50% normal brakes until they wear in. Thanks for your comments. I'm still deciding.337Views0likes0Commentsreplacing brakes on 1 of 4 wheels?
Relatively new 5,400 # Dexter axles and drums on our TT, have less than 2,000 miles. I developed had a grease leak on one wheel and that brake locked up so much it ruined a tire in 350 miles. I took it apart and replaced the grease seal, and cleaned shoes and drum with red-label brake cleaner, then laquer thinner, then more brake cleaner. Just took it for a test drive today and that one wheel is still grabbing. SO, looks like I need to replace the shoes on that one wheel. I've never replaced brake shoes on just one side of an axle, but given how new the axles are I can't see why not. The other side of this axle is doing fine. I know the braking on that axle will be uneven for awhile until the new shoes on one side conform to the radius of the drum, but I was thinking about using a belt sander to try to shape the new shoes to hasten that wear-in. Anyone ever tried just replacing brakes on one side of an axle? Any reason not to? Am I missing anything else to stop the grabbing/sliding on this side? Thanks4.3KViews0likes26CommentsGood quality steel trailer wheels?
I need ONE more steel spoke wheel 15x6 to have a set of halfway decent wheels after changing suspension. Went thru 8 wheels to find the first 4 that where halfway straight. I ruined a tire on the last trip and now really want to get a reliable wheel/tire for the spare. I talked to a company that owns one of the brands and asked if he could get me a good wheel and he gave me a surprisingly honest "no". Said a few months ago that brought a pallet into the shop and went thru every wheel and only found a few halfway acceptable. I can't be the only one fighting this battle. Has anyone had good luck with a particular brand on a recent purchase where the wheels were round and true? thanks1.1KViews0likes6CommentsRe: I24/I75 Interchange in Chattanooga, Tn Construction
I'm looking at a different option to bypass chattanooga east/west on the south side. Wondering about Highway 2, Battlefield Parkway, from it's intersection with 93 on the west side, over to the intersection of 2 with 61 just east of Varnell, Ga. Is this Highway 2 between these 2 points something you could make time on, or is it a red light every 500 feet?1.4KViews0likes0CommentsRe: I24/I75 Interchange in Chattanooga, Tn Construction
I subscribed to Chattanooga 511 and one of the TV station traffic accounts on Twitter after above exchange and noticed that 153 has darned near as many traffic disruptions as I-24. So, we went thru Dayton and Dunlap both ways, arriving home last night. As we went up and as we returned, a check of the traffic map indicated red on I-24 in our path, as well as lots of orange on the 153 route. They REALLY need to build a bypass around Chattanooga, but it won't be done in my lifetime. Thanks again for your help.1.4KViews0likes0Comments
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