Need a Brake Expert, Please

[Keystone Keeper]

(A re-post as I'm still in need of advice.) 12-year-old 20’ 4,000 lb. dual axle camper purchased new. About 12,000 total miles. Indoor winter storage. Brought to a dealer for wheel repack. Found a problem with the brakes. “Front friction material separated from shoes" on one of the brakes. Replaced all four “brake backing assemblies” and “brake plates.” Dexter brake set 23-472401 (2) and 23-473401 (2) $679.96 total parts. Was shown the old brake assemblies and what apparently separated on one but wouldn’t begin to understand what was wrong. Brake replacement and wheel repack total labor was $562.47 (4.5 hours total, 2.5 hours for the brakes). Including seal kit (31.20), shop supplies ($64.18) and tax, the total out the door was $1,405. Thanks for thoughts on the life and failure of RV trailer brake assemblies. (BTW I’m told this particular assembly is no longer made.) And how can I tell if the brakes are adjusted correctly? Tekonsha Primus IQ Electronic Brake Controller. Thanks again.

[chuckster57]

I’m not an expert, but I have seen a couple of cases of friction material separated from the shoe. It is very rare and odds are you’ll never see it again.

Properly adjusted brakes, when replaced takes a couple of adjustments. First adjustment is done to “burnish” in the shoes to the drums. A few hard stops will do that. Then you’ll need to adjust them again. As far as your brake control, when you are traveling at about 30 mph and press the TV brakes you should have a slight “pull” stomping on the brakes should make the trailer brakes grab real tight.

[bsmith0404]

What Chuck said. The only thing I can add is how to adjust the brakes. You need to jacks up the wheel so you can spin it, there is a small plug/hole on the back side at the bottom of the backing plate. You will see a small notched, star wheel on an adjustment shaft, spin that little start wheel while rotating the tire until you hear a slight drag. If you go too far, the tire will become difficult to spin, just back it off a bit. If they were adjusted properly before you burnished them, it shouldn’t take much to adjust them.

[Jake's Keystone]

I'm no expert as well but make sure you are getting 12Vdc at each brake, magnets should draw about 3 amps per wheel magnet, I used a clip on meter when I checked mine, then as @chuckster57 said...
Sound like you are up against what I was dealing with April.

[gearhead]

That labor charge sounds low to me. Are you sure they removed the bearings, inspected, cleaned, and repacked?

[bsmith0404]

Originally Posted by gearhead

That labor charge sounds low to me. Are you sure they removed the bearings, inspected, cleaned, and repacked?

I need to start charging more I guess. I do it for $200 plus parts. Then again, I’m mainly doing work for customers who bought from me when I sold them and do it for cash to keep me busy. For the ones that are interested , I have them help so they can learn how to do it themselves

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by bsmith0404

I need to start charging more I guess. I do it for $200 plus parts. Then again, I’m mainly doing work for customers who bought from me when I sold them and do it for cash to keep me busy. For the ones that are interested , I have them help so they can learn how to do it themselves

Did bearing repacks for decades, developed various physical problems and started having my hand repacking done by a tire shop where I've known the owner decades. $120 for repack and $73 for all new bearings....guess they are trying to "do me right".

[bsmith0404]

Originally Posted by sourdough

Did bearing repacks for decades, developed various physical problems and started having my hand repacking done by a tire shop where I've known the owner decades. $120 for repack and $73 for all new bearings....guess they are trying to "do me right".

That’s a darn good deal. Typically a repack takes me about 3 hours by the time I clean everything up, inspect and adjust the brakes. Most shops now days are charging 2.5 hours labor at $130 an hour or more. I’m still about half price from the local dealerships. That shop is charging you less than $50 per hour. That’s 1990 rates.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by bsmith0404

That’s a darn good deal. Typically a repack takes me about 3 hours by the time I clean everything up, inspect and adjust the brakes. Most shops now days are charging 2.5 hours labor at $130 an hour or more. I’m still about half price from the local dealerships. That shop is charging you less than $50 per hour. That’s 1990 rates.

They pull my shocks and put in Bilsteins for $30 a wheel. Guess I'm living the good life.

[Keystone Keeper]

To all, thank you very much for your expert guidance and support.