RV Trailer Brakes are likely to get uncared for till there’s a catastrophic failure that might have been prevented.
Just just like the brakes on your truck, RV Trailer Brakes should be changed at common intervals to make certain they’ll work whenever you want them too. Going down hill with an additional ton or 5 behind you will not be the time to comprehend you must have changed them.
The very first thing it’s essential do is work out what RV Trailer brakes you may have, with the intention to order the replacements.
What RV Trailer Brakes Do I Need?
You want two key items of knowledge to get the precise brakes in your Fifth Wheel or Travel Trailer.
First it’s essential know what measurement axles you may have. Somewhere in your axle ought to be an info tag that exhibits what weight axles you may have. Ours are Dexter 7,000 Pound Axles.
The subsequent piece of knowledge you want is the scale of your brake meeting. Different measurement axles and rims could have totally different measurement assemblies. Our axles have 12 inch x 2 in brake assemblies.
Ordering Replacement RV Trailer Brakes
Just like all the things else, there are several types of trailer brake assembles. There are handbook adjustment brakes, and self adjusting. We selected to make use of the Dexter 12×2 Nev-R-Adjust Self Adjusting Trailer Brakes.
These self adjusting brakes imply that I don’t have to recollect to positive tune them each season earlier than we hit the street. The brake assemblies will regulate themselves to keep up the correct amount of spacing between themselves and the brake drum.
On your Fifth Wheel or Travel Trailer, your brake drum is all a part of your Hub Assembly. Replacing your brake drum and bearings is simply as vital as changing your RV Trailer Brakes. If your bearings give out your wheels can snap proper off your axle.
The brake drums are topic to a situation known as glazing. This is when the hub absorbs a lot warmth that making use of the brakes acts extra like a sprucing wheel than a brake pad. The contact floor of the hub turns into as easy as glass stopping the brake pads from truly slowing you down.
We ordered these Dexter Brake Drum And Axle Bearing kits. They include the brand new hub, new inside and outer bearing, grease caps, lock nuts, lock ring. The complete deal.
RV Wheel Bearing Grease and a top quality Grease Gun are the subsequent issues you’ll want. My grease of selection is Lucas Red n Tacky. It has nice thermal properties, and after doing a upkeep greasing of my axle bearings final season the trailer towed simpler and I even picked up half a mile per gallon on my gasoline gauge.
Removing your current RV Trailer Brakes
Start by eradicating the Dust Cap. Tap it from the within out with a hammer and it’ll finally come out of your Hub.
Then take away the cotter pin or lock ring that’s holding your spindle nut.
Next take away the nut and washer, and pull your entire Hub Assembly out and off the spindle.
Once the Hub Assembly is off, wipe off any remaining grease with a paper towel.
Now take discover of the 2 wires going via the again of the brake meeting. You are going to chop these two wires, on the trailer aspect of the wire nuts.
Finally, take away the mounting bolts that maintain the brake meeting on.
Now all it’s important to do it pop the brand new brake meeting on, and set up the brand new lock nuts. On the again aspect it’s essential reconnect the 2 brake wires. I extremely suggest utilizing shrink tubing for a water tight connection.
Now slide your drum again onto the spindle, and reinstall the washer, luck nut and lock tab.
The ultimate factor to do it faucet the brand new mud cap on and grease the axle. There IS a proper option to grease an axle, and if you wish to see tips on how to do it, Check out our youtube video the place we do exactly that.