Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Fleet | Keystone RV Models > Travel Trailers
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 10-16-2014, 08:19 PM   #1
BadDogWillie
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Lakeland, TN
Posts: 24
Brake adjustment

Can anyone help in recommending information on how to check adjustment on my 2013 Laredo brakes. My brakes are very slow to warm up and react. I have to turn up gain on controller almost all the way up and it takes a lot of driving applying the brakes ( not constant ) before I can feel them grabbing. If this not it the next is to check for leaks on axle.


Bad Dog Willie
__________________
Bad Dog Willie
2013 Keystone 29.6 RL Laredo
Ford 150 with Ecoboost 6 cyl.
Moving down the road!
BadDogWillie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2014, 08:29 PM   #2
chuckster57
Site Team
 
chuckster57's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,237
I would START at the brakes. Jack up the tires one at a time, using the junction of the springs and axle as the jack point. Once the tire is off the ground, you can access the star adjuster from the back side of the backing plate. There may be two slots with rubber plugs. Remove the forward one, and using a flat blade screwdriver or a brake "spoon" adjust the shoes so they just drag the drums.

Once the screwdriver/spoon has contacted the adjuster, moving the tool DOWN will tighten the brakes. Once all 4 wheels are done you can take a test drive.

One test we use when we do an axle service is to pull the break-away pin, activating the brakes. Then using a torque wrench, tighten the lugs to 120 ft/lbs. If the wheel still turns we tighten the brakes.

With a good jack and jack stands you can do one side at a time. We use 4 jack stands and lift the entire trailer for ease, but we have done one side at a time with BIG heavy units.
__________________

2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.

Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
chuckster57 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 10-17-2014, 06:16 AM   #3
Bluewater
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Spokane, Washington
Posts: 368
I thought most all now have automatic adjusters like your car. My 2011 does for sure. I'm not happy with the way they work and it makes manually adjusting very difficult.
Bluewater is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-17-2014, 06:26 AM   #4
chuckster57
Site Team
 
chuckster57's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,237
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluewater View Post
I thought most all now have automatic adjusters like your car. My 2011 does for sure. I'm not happy with the way they work and it makes manually adjusting very difficult.
I haven't seen any auto adjusters installed from the factory yet. I know they are available in the aftermarket.
__________________

2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.

Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
chuckster57 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 10-17-2014, 06:36 AM   #5
hankpage
Site Team
 
hankpage's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Venice
Posts: 5,346
Bad Dog Willie , By driving a distance and "warming up" your brakes, you are scraping off rust that has built up so that magnets can work properly. Your brakes are electric so the only "leaks" you may find are wiring connections that have come loose.
Even after adjusting brakes (like Chuck described) each time the trailer sits for a while you will have to warm them up again.
You may have self adjusting brakes, BUT you will never back up enough for them to work. (Just like cars that have them) JM2¢, Hank
__________________
Hank & Lynn
2007 Cougar 290RKS, E-Z Flex, 16" XPS RIBs ( SOLD .. Gonna miss her ... looking for new 5r)
2004.5 Dodge 2500 QC, LB, 5.9HO, WestTach gauges, Ride-Rite
hankpage is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 03:02 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.