New brakes for our 2014 303 RLS

[Flat top]

After finding that my brakes are once again covered in grease, we have decided to switch to disc brakes. Ordered a complete Kodiak setup from E Trailer yesterday and looking forward to getting our RV back with new brakes and second AC installed. Hope to get a couple more trips in before the weather turns bad. Have decided we should name our 2014 Reflection 303RLS “ The Money Pit “

[J&G garage]

You'll have to pick a new name. That name has already been bestowed upon our 29RS.

[Flat top]

New Kodiak disc brakes have arrived and front AC installed. Can’t wait to hit road and try it out, hope I can afford some fuel after all this.

[TucsonJim]

What I find curious is the brakes being "once again covered in grease". I hope you won't mind some questions.

When you had the problem corrected the first time, did you do the work yourself? Did Lippert do it? A dealer's service department? Mobile tech?

Did they completely clean out the old grease and pack the bearings with new high quality grease?

Were new grease seals installed?

The reason I ask is that if this is an ongoing problem even when the problem is supposed to be corrected, the scope of the greasy brakes situation increases dramatically. If it was an oversight of lack of training on the first repair, it's not nearly so worrisome.

Jim

[Flat top]

Good morning Jim, the brakes were replaced by a local RV shop here in Lodi California. Lippert furnished all the parts including seals. The bearings were reused and repacked, hubs were cleaned out. Shop did say that they used a good quality grease that they have been using for years and have had zero failures. I think converting the brakes to disc is just a smart thing to do. We do a lot of mountain travel and that creates a lot of heat. Someone had mentioned to me about oil bath hubs, need to do some research on that. Has anyone had any experience with these?

[TucsonJim]

Thanks for the info Steve. I'm going to be inspecting my bearings in a couple of weeks. I'm very curious if the brakes stayed dry this time.

Jim

[Cate&Rob]

I think that a key part of stopping grease from getting past the seals is polishing the spindles. Where the seals have failed, they leave distinct tracks of seal material transferred to the spindle. If identical new seals are installed, they will run directly on top of these tracks and likely also fail. It may be that different seals work better because they have a different lip configuration which allows then to run on clean sections of the spindle. Polishing the journal that a seal runs on is "engine building 101" . . . but should also apply to axle spindles.

Also . . . make sure that the new seal to spindle interface is well lubricated with bearing grease!

Rob

[Flat top]

Good information Rob, thanks

[Retread68]

I have read where numerous people have changed their brakes to disc type vs OEM drum type because of grease leakage, or at least that is the inference by what is said. My question to folks that have done this is: How are the disc brakes better if the grease seals are still leaking? Not being a S.A., I'm just curious because I have no problem with either brake system. It is the wheel bearing lube system that gives me concern. I'm wondering whether converting to a "never lube/sealed" bearing system is the way to prevent further braking issues.

Thanks in advance for any/all replies.

[Ron_ster]

Steve, you'll love the new brakes. Had mine done Labor Day weekend. Only one leaking. the stopping difference is incredible.