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Post by Teachndad on Sept 19, 2014 14:50:10 GMT -8
Hi,
I was going up to a trailer rally today and I am noticing a vibrating or rattle sound coming from one side. Sometimes it seems like it tugs but I can't be sure. Anyone got any ideas? These are dexter 7inch electric. New assemblies we reinstalled about 6 years ago. I only have put on maybe less than 5K since doing this.
thanks
Rod
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John Palmer
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Post by John Palmer on Sept 19, 2014 16:02:34 GMT -8
Hi, I was going up to a trailer rally today and I am noticing a vibrating or rattle sound coming from one side. Sometimes it seems like it tugs but I can't be sure. Anyone got any ideas? These are dexter 7inch electric. New assemblies we reinstalled about 6 years ago. I only have put on maybe less than 5K since doing this. thanks Rod And.......when you pulled the wheels and drums off for inspection......."what exactly did you see"?
The wheel bearings should be "cleaned" and repacked every couple of years because the grease cakes up with age. It's also a good reason to clean out the brake dust and inspect the brakes for wear, and to make sure the magnets and wiring is still intact.
At the very least, jack up each wheel and check for bearing adjustment looseness (play). Timkin (roller style) bearings need to be set with a very slight adjustment preload (no play). Ball bearings "need to have some play". It would help you to diagnose if you have a braking problem, or a wheel bearing problem?
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soup
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Post by soup on Sept 19, 2014 16:15:29 GMT -8
Okay, I'll play devil's advocate! (Also see above ^ post. John Palmer was typing the same time I was but it took me longer to post with the pix LOL!)
6 years may be the time and not the mileage.
Time and moisture = rust. 
The very first part to usually go bad on these electric brakes is the return spring at the bottom of the brake pack. They usually rust, then brake in the center, then drag on the bottom of the drum. Besides carving a nice deep little line into the wall of your brake drum in the center of the braking surface, with that spring broke it can make your brakes drag and chatter. Electric brakes make a dragging sound anyway with the magnets dragging the back of the drum too.
So to sum up, 6 years, 5000 miles? It's time to pull the wheels and drums off, inspect, and clean the dust and rust out of them with brake cleaner and take a look see to see what's going on.
Oh and by the way, while your there, might as well get the 2 new grease seals, tub-o-grease, and the box of rubber gloves too! Don't forget the 2 new cotter pins and to pre-load the bearings when putting it all back together too after you have cleaned, inspected, and re-packed the bearings too.
Don't hate me for causing you more work but 6 years is long enough between inspections!
There I said it......sorry! 
Before reinstalling put 12 volts to the magnets and make sure they charge too. You may have only 1 side sending power to the magnets. Hey Just an idea. We're just spit balling at this point! 
Here are some pix of different brake failures to get you in the mood to put on the rubber gloves! 
Good luck and keep us posted on what you find. soup
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John Palmer
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Hi, From a vintage trailer guy located in Santa Ana, CA. It's good to see lots of activity here.
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Post by John Palmer on Sept 19, 2014 19:03:31 GMT -8
If it looks like Soup's "grease explosion photo", just put it back together, and drive it over to Soup's shop, looks like he already knows how to fix a blown out grease seal! That's nasty looking. LOL
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soup
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Post by soup on Sept 21, 2014 3:26:57 GMT -8
If it looks like Soup's "grease explosion photo", just put it back together, and drive it over to Soup's shop, looks like he already knows how to fix a blown out grease seal! That's nasty looking. LOL Yeah, and now we all know what the box of rubber gloves is for too!  |
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Post by Teachndad on Sept 21, 2014 20:16:09 GMT -8
HI Fellahs, Thanks for the answers. I apologize for not writing more clearly. The 6 year date was not the last date that the brakes were serviced. I should have clarified that date was when the brake assemblies were mounted. Since then, I have worn plastic gloves  , removed, cleaned, inspected both the brake assemblies and bearings, relubed the bearings, pre-loaded the bearings, and replaced the seals and cotter pins every time I went in. That was at three previous times. Each time I went into clean the bearings, I replaced the seals with Japanese seals. The last inspection was last summer – June 2013. During that inspection, I discovered a bad magnet, which I replaced prior to a 1,000 mile trip. The trailer was only used in November for a 3 hundred mile trip and then this past July for a 700 mile trip. I don’t remember the sound during the November trip, but it was hot and the windows were up for the A/C. Maybe that’s why I didn’t hear it. Anyway, it’s there now. 3 days ago, it was cooler and when I took it to work before the trip, I had the windows open on my van and heard it for the first time. Of note, I installed Japanese bearings, no Chinese bearings, just for peace of mind. There is a bearing shop near my house. All they sell are bearings. Now, you can yell at me… for going on the trip even with the rattling sound. I am back with no issues, but yes, I am aware that one of the brakes at worst could have locked up and…. I am not gloating, I was lucky. I will burrow into the brakes next weekend to see if I can figure out what was clinking. Time to relube, inspect… Thanks for your help.  Rod |
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, removed, cleaned, inspected both the brake assemblies and bearings, relubed the bearings, pre-loaded the bearings, and replaced the seals and cotter pins every time I went in. That was at three previous times. Each time I went into clean the bearings, I replaced the seals with Japanese seals. The last inspection was last summer – June 2013. During that inspection, I discovered a bad magnet, which I replaced prior to a 1,000 mile trip. The trailer was only used in November for a 3 hundred mile trip and then this past July for a 700 mile trip. I don’t remember the sound during the November trip, but it was hot and the windows were up for the A/C. Maybe that’s why I didn’t hear it. Anyway, it’s there now. 3 days ago, it was cooler and when I took it to work before the trip, I had the windows open on my van and heard it for the first time.