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Old 05-11-2015, 09:29 AM   #1
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Aggressive Brakes

I have a 2013 Jayco 304 BHS. I recently repacked the bearings by hand and checked the brakes to ensure adequate amount of lining is left. I took my first trip over the weekend and noticed that the brakes were a lot more aggressive (almost grabby) than before. To complicate matters, I just changed vehicles from 2014 Ford Expedition to a 2015 Ford Expedition. Both vehicles came with factory installed brake controllers. The old expedition had the gain setting at 7.5, the new one, even with the gain setting at 4.0, still seems more aggressive. Could it be that I got tiny bit of grease on the drum? I'm usually careful to wipe down the drum after repacking the bearings. Thanks in advance.
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Old 05-11-2015, 10:04 AM   #2
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There might be a High and low setting on the Factory brake controller. High is for TT over 10,000 lbs and low for under. You might have to play a bit with the Brake controller settings.
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Old 05-11-2015, 10:07 AM   #3
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The factory brake controller doesn't seem to come with high or low setting. It just has the gain setting. I'm still trying to figure out why there is such as variability between the 2014 model and 2015 model Expeditions. Could tiny bit of grease getting on the brake shoe be a cause for the aggressive braking? Thanks.
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Old 05-11-2015, 10:20 AM   #4
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I would think that if you got any grease or the drum/shoes that the brakes would seem to slip. Did you happen to over tighten the axel nut when you reassembled the hubs?
Did you adjust the brakes? and if so did you over adjust them?


To me the only thing that was different was that you took things apart and then put them back together. That is where I would look first. Also knowing how ford does things I would say that there isn't any difference in the factory installed controller from a 2014 model to a 2015 model.
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Old 05-11-2015, 10:25 AM   #5
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I torqued the axle nut to 50ft-lbs and then backed it off and hand tightened per Dexter's owner manual. These are nev-r-adjust brakes so will adjust automatically. It looks like I'll probably have to take the hubs off again to see if anything is sticking.
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Old 05-11-2015, 10:41 AM   #6
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Did you tow the TT with both Fords? It could be possible that the programing of the controllers is different form one year to another year. Check with ford to see if the computer can be reprogramed.
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Old 05-11-2015, 11:01 AM   #7
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My suggestion would be to drive on gravel and apply the brakes. If only one wheel skids, then probably that one wheel has contaminated brake linings. If all the wheels skid, then there is something going on with the adjustment of the brake controller.
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Old 05-11-2015, 11:17 AM   #8
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How tight did you adjust the brakes? Did you adjust when reinstalling the drum and possibly over tighten them. That would have them grabbing sooner than orginally.
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Old 05-11-2015, 12:31 PM   #9
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These are Dexter Axle's Nev-R-Adjust brakes where you do not adjust after the initial adjustment (it adjusts automatically).
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Old 05-11-2015, 12:44 PM   #10
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Quote:
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These are Dexter Axle's Nev-R-Adjust brakes where you do not adjust after the initial adjustment (it adjusts automatically).
Right, just wondering if they might be too tight. Being they were apart it's possible that they need to be adjusted to just rubbing (initial). I would jack one wheel up and see how it spins. They will only tighten and not loosen on the never adjust.
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Old 05-11-2015, 01:22 PM   #11
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Just to confirm you fears, drum brakes badly contaminated by lubricants do get grabby.

But, it takes quite a bit of contamination (axle seal failure on a powered axle) to cause it. A small amount of grease, wiped off will not be noticed from the cab.

I would suspect brake controller setting first (as most others have suggested).
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Old 05-11-2015, 01:44 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RVhiker View Post
My suggestion would be to drive on gravel and apply the brakes. If only one wheel skids, then probably that one wheel has contaminated brake linings. ...snip
If possible, start here before pulling wheels randomly.

Do you know if you have one or more wheels locking up and skidding on the pavement? If you've experienced this, make sure it didn't cause flat spots on your tires.

I have a Ford OEM brake controller, too. I've never experienced anything like grabbing on any gain settings.
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Old 05-11-2015, 02:11 PM   #13
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Mike837go,
That is what I needed to know. I know the brakes cannot be badly contaminated. The controller in the new Expedition is more sophisticated and may control the brakes differently.

OldmanAZ, I haven't seen the wheels lock up, but the braking force seems a lot higher than what I'm used to. It doesn't seem to matter if I have the gain setting on 7.5 or 4.0.
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Old 05-11-2015, 02:23 PM   #14
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As an electronics technician, the problem I'm seeing here has too many variables.

You need to split the problem down the middle: is it to tow vehicle or the trailer?

If this was an amplifier and record player, I'd pull out my "known good" equipment and swap modules until I found the "good" and "bad" halves.

Do you have access to another trailer or tow vehicle? Even ones that you'd never consider going any distance with?

If two trailers on the same tow vehicle show the same problem *or* no matter which tow vehicle pulls your trailer the trailer shows the problem, will conclusively prove which side of the hitch the problem is on.

Once you know that, the repairs are unique to each side.
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Old 05-12-2015, 06:58 AM   #15
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I just got a 2015 Ford F250 and yes it does have three modes for the controller, separate from the gain control. check your manual and make sure your expedition does not have this setting. On the F250 it's changed while viewing the trailer in the info display that is dead center of the instrument panel.
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