Brake Life

robkelly · 03-26-2021, 04:31 PM

Interested in folks thoughts about how long brakes should last. We have about 10k mostly highway miles on the rig and are planning about a 5k mile trip this summer.

Dealer is telling us magnets and shoes should be replaced but wondering if that’s overkill. Clearly want to err on the side of caution, but don’t want to spend a lot of money on brakes if we don’t have to either.

Thanks in advance!

mokurt · 03-27-2021, 06:17 AM

Did the dealer inspect the brakes?

Here is some info....

https://www.etrailer.com/question-105042.htmlinfo

"A good safety rule is to check your brakes every time you head out, and certainly to replace them no less often than you replace your tires. I suggest no more than 12 months or 12,000 miles between changing brake parts that can wear."

Tunce the traveler · 03-27-2021, 08:28 AM

It’s 11 years old now ( inspected every year) and to date I have replaced 1 ( that’s 1 ) magnet. I’ve put over 50,000 miles on it and if you adjust them properly you’ll get plenty of life out of them.

ALJO · 03-27-2021, 08:39 AM

Any business is in the up-sell mode and want to steal your money. Just do the yearly Inspection, cleaning and adjusting.

AKRUEBBE · 03-27-2021, 10:30 AM

I have 12,000 miles on my brakes and they are fine. I have them checked and cleaned every 12 months when I have the bearings repacked. I only use my brakes when I absolutely need to. The tow haul mode and exhaust brakes contribute to at least 80% of my braking.

RogerR · 03-27-2021, 10:55 AM

Brake shoes should only be replaced if they wear past the manufacturers recommended minimum or are contaminated with oil/grease. Never heard of magnets. On my 195RB it was cheaper when I discovered grease on my shoes to just buy a whole complete system for $128 for both sides. Came with mounted shoes, all new hardware including magnets and actuator. Easy to install. While I had it off, repacked bearings and didn't over grease them. (Yep, I did it, to much grease).

Lmbrjk · 03-27-2021, 11:08 AM

Agree with all above - inspection is the key. If you ignore your brakes - bad things happen. Not familiar with the "over grease" issue though. Too much of a good thing?

Lake Huron · 03-27-2021, 01:15 PM

I had a seal blown out and it had grease all over everything in the drum. No stopping power on that axle side. I've never really worn out a set of brakes, but ive had to replace a defective magnet before. One of my first trailers I had with drum brakes on it was an enclosed snowmobile trailer. In the beginning I was "fixing" them with parts. Took too long, too much of a PIA. Time is money so it became a yearly thing because those were so rusted up from being out in the winter snow and salt I just replaced the entire backer assembly. 4 bolts/nuts and 2 wire connections. Done.
My 5th wheels I've never had rust issues and cleaned things up on our first one, the second one we never had long enough to have to monkey with it. Our current one they lasted 2 years and I ripped all that drum brake nonsense off and upgraded to disc brakes. Easier to work on and WAY better stopping power, but a trailer this size needs disc brakes. Should be a federal law.

mokurt · 03-28-2021, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RogerR

Brake shoes should only be replaced if they wear past the manufacturers recommended minimum or are contaminated with oil/grease. Never heard of magnets.

The magnets contact the side of the drum and can wear.

Sassy · 03-28-2021, 06:26 AM

Learn to take care of the RV yourself and stay out of the dealerships... My OEM brakes and Bearings have over 35K miles on them... THey are hardly worn when measured.. I do all my own work still at age 67

HecBec · 03-28-2021, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sassy

Learn to take care of the RV yourself and stay out of the dealerships... My OEM brakes and Bearings have over 35K miles on them... THey are hardly worn when measured.. I do all my own work still at age 67

Sassy - What is your general practice? Repack bearings annually or how many miles between?

Also, wondering if anyone has any long term experience with the Dexter Nev-R-Adjust brakes? We have a 335T that is only 10 mth old with ~1800 miles.

Thanks

Grumpy · 03-28-2021, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tunce the traveler

I’ve put over 50,000 miles on it and if you adjust them properly you’ll get plenty of life out of them.

X-2---

robkelly · 03-28-2021, 11:49 AM

Thanks all! We have an appointment in a couple weeks at a local RV service center to have bearings repacked and brakes inspected. Had another bad experience with our dealer and will NEVER be going back there again.

Will watch the YouTube video’s on how to do this and probably do it myself next year.

Marcm157 · 03-28-2021, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robkelly

Thanks all! We have an appointment in a couple weeks at a local RV service center to have bearings repacked and brakes inspected. Had another bad experience with our dealer and will NEVER be going back there again.

Will watch the YouTube video’s on how to do this and probably do it myself next year.

Just be careful and choose who you watch on Youtube with caution. There are many Youtubers that are dangerous and yet seem like subject matter experts.

robkelly · 03-28-2021, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcm157

Just be careful and choose who you watch on Youtube with caution. There are many Youtubers that are dangerous and yet seem like subject matter experts.

Absolutely. I’ve done that type of work in the past, but very rusty since it’s been ~35 years.

kayakkeith · 04-03-2021, 01:02 PM

I know that the brakes are for a trailer however this little story might add to the general knowledge. We purchased a Toyota Tundra in 2003 which included 2 years of maintenance "free". When we went in for the second service the service writer told me that we needed new front brake pads. Being a skeptic, especially with the kind of driving we had done, I ignored him and when I got home I checked and the brake pads were plenty thick. The funny thing is that over each of the next three visits the brake pads grew thicker according to the technician reports. Did not end up needing new brake pads until about 70,000 miles. I found out at this dealership that the service writers receive a percentage of any upselling they do and so the mystery of brake pads at 10,000 miles was solved. I guess they thought I was "gullible"; which, by the way, sounds like "oranges" if you say it slowly.

cekkk · 04-03-2021, 01:54 PM

Our Eagle had between 20 and 25k miles on it. Brakes checked out still good. I always tried to set the brake controller properly. We lived at 9000 feet so every trip started out downhill. That's what the exhaust brake was for.

curver900 · 04-03-2021, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HecBec

Sassy - What is your general practice? Repack bearings annually or how many miles between?

Also, wondering if anyone has any long term experience with the Dexter Nev-R-Adjust brakes? We have a 335T that is only 10 mth old with ~1800 miles.

Thanks

I have these and they work perfect. Except if you get an out of round drum which I got on one of the 4 I purchased from Etrailer... good news they sent me a brand new one no questions no cost.. the old one was beyond toast...

I have over 12k on them and they are just fine....

Dskyward · 04-04-2021, 06:38 PM

Well FWIW, sorry I can’t quote longevity on brake shoes, but I had upgraded to disc brakes from the start and just changed the Kodiak ceramic brake pads (DBC-250) with exact same after almost 5 years and 39.2K miles of full-timing on our 2017 NorthPoint 377RLBH. I’m guessing the old pads could’ve gone another 10K, but i just put on brand new Sailun S637s and figured I start again with fresh pads.

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