preacher
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We have finished the restoration/remodel of our '68 Frolic. We hope to see you on the road.
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Post by preacher on Jan 4, 2023 14:19:33 GMT -8
I put new brake units and drums on my 68 Frolic.
This forum was a lot of help.
I pulled the trailer 7,000 miles with no issues that I could detect.
When I pulled it in October, I noticed a grinding sound when the brakes were applied. I unhooked the brake controller and finished my trip sans trailer brakes. I am just getting around to investigating. I thought I would see something obvious, but don't. The curbside brake had a tiny (matchhead size) piece of metal, I think, that fell out when I pulled the drum. It doesn't look like enough to cause that much racket and the drum was not really scored. A couple of places maybe 3/8 of an inch long. Random. The brake shoes don't look worn. Bearings look good.
Here is what I put on:
Dexter Nev-R-Adjust Electric Trailer Brake Kit - 10" - Left and Right Hand Assemblies - 3.5K
Trailer Hub and Drum Assembly - 3,500-lb Axles - 10" Diameter - 5 on 4-1/2 - Pre-Greased
I got the parts from etrailer.com.
Any help anyone can offer will be appreciated.
Preacher
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PT
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1964 Aloha & 1962 Holiday House
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Post by PT on Jan 4, 2023 15:22:30 GMT -8
That small piece of metal may have been the culprit. Now that it's gone I'd tow it around with the brakes and see if it still makes the noise... Maybe it was at the far edge of the pad and didn't make much of a mark on the drum? I know towing on gravel roads can sometimes toss a small pebble into the mix and cause a racket too. If a close inspection shows nothing else on the pads/drums and nothings bent/broken or seriously out of adjustment I'll bet the sound goes away after you put it back together.
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Post by Teachndad on Jan 5, 2023 5:42:13 GMT -8
Hi Friends,
E trailer.com has really good customer service. Might be worth it to call them and ask about the noise if you don't mind the wait on hold. How loud is the grinding sound? Anyone think it might be related to the magnet?
PT could be right, too.
Rod
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preacher
Member
We have finished the restoration/remodel of our '68 Frolic. We hope to see you on the road.
Posts: 42
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Post by preacher on Jan 5, 2023 8:42:13 GMT -8
Thanks, PT & Teachndad.
I plan to do some further looking today. Try to check springs, etc.
I sent an email to etrailer. I got a response that showed that the tech hadn't read all my email. I wrote back.
The noise was loud enough that I could hear it from the driver's seat of the tow vehicle. At first I thought it was locking up and the noise was the wheel sliding. It wasn't.
I didn't say so previously, but there was also jerkiness, a grabiness about the brakes. At first I thought the controller was behaving too aggressively and did some adjustment. That didn't seem to make a difference. So I just unhooked the power to the controller and finished my trip without tailer brakes. I did not notice any racket after that. That and the fact that the bearings seem to do fine indicate it is a brake issue.
One other question, could be critical. I may post a picture of this. I can see marks on the face of the magnets that seem to indicate some contact with the drum. Is that normal?
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PT
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Post by PT on Jan 5, 2023 9:33:08 GMT -8
I think you're probably seeing remnants of the manufacturing process on the magnet. I looked at photos of a few new trailer brake setups online and they have scratches on them before they are even sold. There is also a video of your brakes at etrailer you can watch and compare what they show on new ones to what you are seeing.
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preacher
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We have finished the restoration/remodel of our '68 Frolic. We hope to see you on the road.
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Post by preacher on Jan 5, 2023 9:36:00 GMT -8
Thanks, I'll check it out.
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preacher
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We have finished the restoration/remodel of our '68 Frolic. We hope to see you on the road.
Posts: 42
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Post by preacher on Jan 5, 2023 13:58:31 GMT -8
OK, I'm educating myself with your help. Until now, I didn't really understand how these brakes work. Now I understand, of course, the face of the magnet rubs on the flat part of the drum. That in turn pulls on the lever and applies the brake. I can see some circular wear on the drum where the magnet contacts it. I think I see the place where the afore mentioned piece of material came from. If what I think I see is correct, it is a piece of friction surface on the magnet. A couple of new questions: As my Dad used to say, "This time and one time more will make twice that I'm doing this." 1) How much noise is common for this magnet against the drum rubbing? 2) The brake drum surface where this drum to magnet friction takes place is pretty clean. The magnet surface looks less so, but OK to me. I don't see anything that looks broken loose, or frozen. I'm attaching some pictures.     Maybe it's just like a little leauguer who gets hit by a pitch. Maybe Frolic just needs to walk it off. Thanks, Preacher |
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PT
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Post by PT on Jan 5, 2023 14:47:19 GMT -8
OK - I'm getting an education too and after looking through a few posts on other sites it looks like the magnet in the photo is getting a good bit of uneven wear and may need replaced. Many people recommend that you replace the drum at the same time. I believe etrailer has some good phone support so maybe you could email the person you're speaking with the photos while you're talking and get professional advice that way.
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preacher
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We have finished the restoration/remodel of our '68 Frolic. We hope to see you on the road.
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Post by preacher on Jan 7, 2023 6:05:52 GMT -8
Thanks, PT.
Yes the bottom side of the curb-side magnet is worn more than the rest. It is also a bit jagged. If I were a jagged magnet, I'd make noise, but maybe that's just me.
I'm moving toward putting a couple of new magnets on Frolic. Maybe that'll make it more attractive.
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Post by Teachndad on Jan 7, 2023 6:24:15 GMT -8
No pun intended, LOL. Try the new magnets before new hubs. That sounds like the cheaper of two options. Read this thread. vintagetrailertalk.freeforums.net/thread/4241/where-buy-brake-magnets in it, John Palmer posts about making sure the brake assemblies are on the correct side. Would it be possible that the new drum assemblies were placed on the wrong side? For discussion, might that develop into to the rattling noise? Just a WAG. I am no expert, but just wondering. The new assemblies should have had a sticker on them for left and right. And yes, it could have just been the errant metal particle wreaking havoc. Rod |
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preacher
Member
We have finished the restoration/remodel of our '68 Frolic. We hope to see you on the road.
Posts: 42
Likes: 16
Currently Offline
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Post by preacher on Jan 7, 2023 14:17:56 GMT -8
I did check the right-left thing. Actually, when I received the parts I noticed that they had sent me two lefts. The supplier straightened it out. I checked them again the other day.
Thanks, though. I can see how that mistake could easily be made.
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Jan 12, 2023 11:25:22 GMT -8
The grinding noise is the magnet dragging on the drum plate which is normal. That's how those systems work. You can clean all of that up and it will make less noise.
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preacher
Member
We have finished the restoration/remodel of our '68 Frolic. We hope to see you on the road.
Posts: 42
Likes: 16
Currently Offline
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Post by preacher on Jan 16, 2023 5:35:38 GMT -8
Thanks, Mobiltec, for the encouraging post. Since I have to sit & lay on the ground (getting old and stiff), I'm waiting for a warm spell to clean up, repack, & put everything back together. I'll let everybody know how it works when I take it for a test tow.  |
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