Axle question

[TomC_AZ]

I’m hoping someone on here might be able to help. We took our trailer out today from AZ to CA. After we setup we noticed that we had a squeak every time we walked around in the trailer. In looking the noise seems to be coming from the passenger side of the axle. Nothing looked loose and all the lug nuts are at spec. The brakes and axle area were cool. But it does look like possibly some grease came out onto the wheel. It looks kind of like brake dust from disk brakes but of course these are not. See pic and the little black spots.


We have a single dexter torsion axle.

Any ideas on where to start to correct? I don’t have a grease gun etc but can go get one if needed. Have never greased a axle before but there is always a first. Anyway not sure if that’s it but hoping someone else has experience like this as well.

[JFlightRisk]

Tom, I found the same question on this site. It will explain the reason for the squeaking, and it must be a common complaint for the torsion axle trailers. I hope this helps.

https://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/...lem-52485.html

[TomC_AZ]

I found a Airstream forum that has a bunch of issues with the same axle. Sounds like it’s one of a few possible things most I can mess with. I tried one (tapping the backplate) earlier today and it seemed to work so it leads me to believe the break pads need to be lubed. They have contact points where they touch the backplate and that needs lube.

[Forester2]

Do you not have a grease gun to lube your wheel axle bearings?. If not, you should get one with the proper grease for wheel bearings. Also, be very careful where (and if) you put lube by the brake pads! There is a special high temp lube used when doing caliper maintanence on disc brakes but I don't recall using ANY doing drum brakes. If tapping back plate worked, it sounds like a build up of brake dust or rust might be the only issue and pulling drum and cleaning might solve the problem. Just some cautionary thoughts.

[TomC_AZ]

I do and have used the Lucas red n tacky. It meets the spec dexter said to use.

I had not ever heard of lubing the drums either but seems like they are more prone to rust.

Here is the link for the photo that the other forum provided
https://www.amazon.com/photos/shared...EG9RQKGUPQGZLq

[Forester2]

Sorry, thought you said you didnt have a grease gun. I would NEVER put any lubricant on the drum; would ruin stoppong friction.

[Stainless]

I was a certified mechanic for almost 20 years
There is grease for the contact points in drum brakes (same as disc brake grease)
My personal favorite is Sil-Glyde from NAPA and I find uses for it all over the place

[Forester2]

Makes perfect sense but certainly not on the DRUM?....

[Stainless]

Originally Posted by Forester2

Makes perfect sense but certainly not on the DRUM?....

Nope, not on the drum. I highly doubt the drum itself is squeaking. It could be "telegraghing" the sound

[Forester2]

Good point; I'm constantly thinking a noise is from a certain source and it turns out to be in quite a different spot.

[Stainless]

While on the subject, I don't think brake grease/shoes is the issue but probably more the axle itself or mountings

[TomC_AZ]

To be clear the grease should be used VERY lightly and only on the metal parts noted in the previous picture. Not on the pads at all.

The noise went away when I tapped firmly but lightly with my hand on the backplate. So it might have been some dust or dirt etc. but gone now. I will however add the grease to the points when I get in and look.