5th Wheel brakes grabbing...

[msubobcats]

It has not been this way from the start.. I think it started around the beginning of our trip in August.....
Now I may know why. When I was washing the 5th Wheel a couple of weeks ago I did notice that the right front rim/wheel had heavy black grease around the rim spokes. Could that be causing a problem? I have tried adjusting the Prodigy but it does not seem to make a difference. Also, am I correct that they are drum brakes?
May need to take it in for the first real issue.
Thank you...

[PerryB]

You have a failed wheel seal. Grease and oil causes brakes to grab, as unlikely as that may seem.

[rjsurfer]

Those are the symptoms of grease on the brake linings.

Don't let them try and clean them up, once a lining is soaked with grease they are never as good as before. Make sure they replace them.

Have them check all the wheels.

Ron W

[gearhead]

Replace the brakes. How many miles on the 5th? I would say if you're getting near 8,000, to just replace with new brake assemblies....shoes, magnets, backing plates. For reference, eTrailer sells complete assemblies for less than $50 each. Give you something to bargain over with your dealer.
Since you're pulling the drums to get to the brakes, go ahead and repack the bearings and replace the grease seals. Have the dealer give you the bearing numbers and give you the old seals. Save one. Write seal number down and save it along with the bearing numbers. Go to your auto parts store and buy one set of bearings and a spare seal. Store in a zip lock bag somewhere dry with a small tub of grease.
And never ever use a grease gun to grease the bearings through the grease zerk on the spindle.

[msubobcats]

Replace the brakes. How many miles on the 5th? I would say if you're getting near 8,000, to just replace with new brake assemblies....shoes, magnets, backing plates. For reference, eTrailer sells complete assemblies for less than $50 each. Give you something to bargain over with your dealer.
Since you're pulling the drums to get to the brakes, go ahead and repack the bearings and replace the grease seals. Have the dealer give you the bearing numbers and give you the old seals. Save one. Write seal number down and save it along with the bearing numbers. Go to your auto parts store and buy one set of bearings and a spare seal. Store in a zip lock bag somewhere dry with a small tub of grease.
And never ever use a grease gun to grease the bearings through the grease zerk on the spindle.

Probably have 4000 miles, maybe 4500 at the most.....

[Bowti]

Just curious, if you have ever greased your wheel bearings with a grease gun?

[nellie1289]

when my grease seals blew in the first 12 months the dealer(after much argument) actually covered them under warranty. I am surprised yours would be grabbing, but I have to think they would not be giving much braking power at all. odds are if the brakes got sprayed you are looking at a new set all the way around. my non affected side (grease seals were good) were at 85% and the dealer insisted on fixing both sides regardless.

[Campy]

Grease leaking out on the wheel spokes tells me its grease from the cap, grease leaking at the seal will not been seen as it will be inside the drum. I have found that as the brakes wear they need to be adjusted at least yearly, when they wear and are not adjusted the clearance gets too big and when the magnet comes alive it grabs and "yanks" the brakes on hard. Check your adjusters and see how many clicks it takes to tighten them up, then back off 8-10 clicks.

[gearhead]

I tore into my brakes this morning. I had ordered 4 self adjusting assemblies from eTrailer. They came a bit messed up in shipping. Shoes shifted and adjusters not connected.
On disassembly...all seals looked good. Grease (Exxon Mobil 1 synthetic) was in great shape. Bearings good. Repacked and new seals. Oh...I'm not putting Loctite on the seals ever again. Jeez....I thought I would never get them out. Brake shoes themselves looked pretty good. Fair amount of material left. The magnets looked shot to me. Maybe I'm running the controller too high. I think I went through 4 cans of brake cleaner for just 2 hubs. Trying to get 3 wires into one butt connector didn't work. Resorted to wire nuts. I'll put liquid tape on them tomorrow.
That was one axle. Dive into the other tomorrow.
I told DW I ain't doing this no more. I'll pay.
Excuse me...I need to continue my conversation with Evan Williams.

[gearhead]

Done. And about half burnished. Fishing Thursday and Friday. Wash the 5th Sat and Sun.
Hook up and go......??? Hill country, east Texas....?

[gearhead]

Probably have 4000 miles, maybe 4500 at the most.....
Hmmm....do you trust your dealer or wherever you would take it for repair??
Let whoever look at it and tell you where the leak is. If it's just the cap a couple of taps with a hammer should fix it. If they say seals, I would watch them tear it down and show you what is wrong. This is one of those times you don't go to the waiting room and watch TV. You don't have to get in the shop and look over their shoulder...just stand out in the drive.
As many stories I have heard here about new axles with very little grease, I would lean toward servicing both axles. That way you know what you have.