DIY: Replacing Axle Seals and Brakes.

[carnolddsm]

I used the TR500s, the only difference between the 500s and the 501 is the length. The 500 is 1/2 inch longer than the 501.

 

[AlanEdie]

Well we have now joined the ranks of having greasy brakes. When repacking the wheel bearings we found a tire with the steel showing. We now have 4 new sailun tires. I wanted to get new steel valve stems at the same time but the one's the tire shop had the washers were too big to fit in the hole in the wheel. After numerous calls to part stores, and a rv dealer no one had anything that would work. Does anyone know how others have gotten it done. When taking the hubs off 2 were real loose. One you could turn the castle nut 3 turns in by hand before it took out the play. After the first rally we took the trailer in to Lippert to have self adjusting brakes put on. 3 of the wheels the brakes looked good but you could see signs that the seals had leaked but was old. Probably from before we had the brakes changed. We did find a lot of little silver flakes on the cages of the bearings between the bearings. Metal shavings, so we are also replacing all of the bearings with the races. The last wheel that had the most play, the hub would move in and out by about 1/2 inch. From having that much play the grease was able to get by the seal and contaminant the shoes, enough so that we are now also replacing the brakes. The grease wasn't runny but it did appear to have to much grease applied.
The hub that was the loosest was also the one that the tire had the belts that was coming apart (mentioned in Cate&Rob's tire thread in the Reflection general section)

Holly Molly!!!!! That much play in the wheel bearings sure would lead to a disaster!!! You are very lucky you did avoid a disaster like the entire hub coming off. Lippert service..... this is a least the 2nd time on this site I have heard about very poor Lippert service. I pulled the hubs about 6 months ago myself and found seals on the passenger side leaking on my 2015 GD Reflection 5200lb axles. I cleaned the bearings, put new seals on all wheels and regreased the bearings. I have put on about 4,000 miles since that job and no problems so far. ***we are in Cape Breton Nova Scotia right now on a trip from Fort Myers Florida. I plan on pulling the hubs next week just to check everyting again before we start the trip back to Florida. I keep the PSI at 80 on the Westlake E rated tires and try to keep my speed at max of 65mph......but for very short periods I do hit 70 mph if I am passing something.... So far, so good with the Westlakes(but I check everything often). Thanks for the wonderful info on the valve stems......

 

[WhittleBurner]

What amazes me on all this , is this work by Lippert was done following the first rally in 2014. We had taken 2 long trips (close to 13,000 miles) and a scoot to florida and back without loosing that wheel. It's mind blowing that somehow we did not become a statistic. Maybe we should go play the lottery!

Now I'm turning this post over to Gary...

Actualy it was somewhere from at least 3/8 to 1/2 inch, I didn't measure it. What it looks like to me is that when they packed the bearings they did not preseat them afterward. There was so much grease in there that after traveling down the road and they reseated on their own, it left that much play in there.

 

[Dave and Monica]

Actualy it was somewhesomewhere from at least 3/8 to 1/2 inch, I didn't measure it. What it looks like to me is that when they packed the bearings they did not preseat them afterward. There was so much grease in there that after traveling down the road and they preseated on their own, it left that much play in there.

Gary...the wear you observed in the bearing/outer races will also give you some of the looseness though that would have to be a lot of wear to get that much looseness.

Dave

 

[JCR GD]

Yikes, glad that didn't go really bad! Makes you wonder who you can really trust.

 

[WhittleBurner]

Yikes, glad that didn't go really bad! Makes you wonder who you can really trust.

Normally Gary would have done all that brake work himself. Initially we were going to bring home the brakes an install there ourselves. Then the sales girl at the rally mis quoted us $50 labor for all 4 , well we thought for 50 bucks they can do it. Guess we got what we paid for .

I really don't know for sure that Lippert did anything wrong. I'm thinking that when the trailer left the shop that everything felt fine. Some shops don't preseat the bearings. In that case though we should have been informed that the bearings should be readjusted after about 100 miles. Yes Dave I agree that with the little bit of play in the bearings and the wear on the races would have contributed to some of the play that was there.

 

[WhittleBurner]

Please let us know if the stems recommended by Colan, fit your rims.


Rob

The stems recreccomended by colan do not fit the Reflection rims (we have the 16"). The rubber washer was to deep. The shop we got the tires at talked to their Meyer rep and had a couple to try, one worked but we don't have a stock # yet. We plan on talking to the shop this week, then and I'll edit the post to add that info

 

[Fireguy42]

Just wanted to let everyone know that I upgraded to Disc Brakes on my Momentum 395M TH. Sure glad I did! Braking has improved DRASTICALLY!
Leaking seals is no longer an issue.
I really think this is something that should be standard on any Trailer greater than 35' in Length... at least have as an option when purchasing.

 

[Pwf000]

Fireguy42
I'm picking up our 397th next week and figured the first improvement I make will be disc brakes and possible upgrading to 17.5 tires.
Are you willing to share the cost and hassle level on your install of disc's?
Appreciate anything you might share

 

[TucsonJim]

Fireguy42
I'm picking up our 397th next week and figured the first improvement I make will be disc brakes and possible upgrading to 17.5 tires.
Are you willing to share the cost and hassle level on your install of disc's?
Appreciate anything you might share

If you're thinking of upgrading the brakes and the tires, you might also want to consider installing independent suspension or heavier axles at the same time.

Jim

 

[Pwf000]

If you're thinking of upgrading the brakes and the tires, you might also want to consider installing independent suspension or heavier axles at the same time.

I was hoping the upgrade to the brakes and tires would be sufficient to eliminate the axle seal issue and greatly improve stopping ability at a relatively reasonable cost.
I was assuming the factory axles were sufficient to handle the trailer effectively.
I take from your suggestion you might not agree.
I would certainly be interested in your thoughts and if you might have upgraded your axles.
I appreciate any input.

 

[TucsonJim]

Actually, you may be just fine, and I have nothing to base an upgrade on. But I have seen others with larger Momentums switch to MorRyde independent suspension and really liked the results.

 

[ChadandMel]

So why hasn’t this been recalled yet? Are they still having issues with these axles or have they corrected it?

 

[TucsonJim]

So why hasn’t this been recalled yet? Are they still having issues with these axles or have they corrected it?

1. Lippert changed their manufacturing techniques on 5/8/2017. No greasy brakes have been reported since that time and the date that GDRV changed suppliers.
2. GDRV changed to Dexter axles and brakes in the July/August 2017 time frame. Since that time, I've heard of one leaking grease seal that was due to a tear in the seal. The brakes were not compromised.

If you own a trailer with axles manufactured prior to 5/8/17, I'd suggest removing the wheels and hubs and doing an inspection. If you purchase a trailer with Lippert axles manufactured after that date or equipped with Dexter axles, I'd save the inspection until the end of the first year when it is due as part of routine maintenance.

Jim

 

[ChadandMel]

Ok. Thanks Jim

 

[ChadandMel]

Still thinking about this. Shouldn’t lippert have issued a recall and taken care of them?


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[Ram&Lab2]

Since owning our first GD but second fifth wheel, we have had both Lippert and Dexter axles. Both have had the seal issue! Plus there are a combination of issues here. Example our first fifth wheel was a Forest River Silverback that weighed as much as our GD Solitude 310. The Silver back had 6K Dexter axles, the Solitude has 7K Lippert axles. We had several issues with the Dexter axles, from leaking seals to lug nuts shearing off ( never over loaded trailer!). To fix Dexter seal issue went aftermarket and replaced all single wall to double wall seal. Dexter ended up replacing both our axles on the Silverback. I do think the industry as a whole needs better standards of mounting and sizing axles to their rigs. We love our GD but plan on upgrading to independent suspension and disk brakes.
Another thing to take into consideration is the quality ( or Lack there of) of our road systems today. Most states have gotten horrible at maintaining their roads, lowest bidder mentality. I would suggest our politicians look into a European model of you pave the road and are responsible for repairs for next five years? May help with some of the tire, axle and Rig damage issues people are having.

 

[Schuess]

Another thing to take into consideration is the quality ( or Lack there of) of our road systems today. Most states have gotten horrible at maintaining their roads, lowest bidder mentality. I would suggest our politicians look into a European model of you pave the road and are responsible for repairs for next five years? May help with some of the tire, axle and Rig damage issues people are having.

I have a friend who works for Tennesse DOT. The problem with the European model you propose is the problem is much deeper. On TN highways the major culprit to the poor interstate conditions is the drainage systems are inadequate or falling apart. Most contractors would not sign up for that guarantee unless the infrastructure is upgraded first. Or a clause that releases them if it can be shown that the cause due to other than their workmanship, which is generally where we’re at now.


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[deerislandbrew]

I am in the process now of swapping my stock 5200# axles to 6k axle and spring upgrade. Also MoRyde equalizer and cross members to strengthen the spring hangers. Also going to disc hydraulic -electric brakes. So far, the project is going well. I am thinking ahead about my brake line installation and wondering where is the best place to attach - support the brake line. I know a bunch of guys have done this or had it done. Do you attach to the inside of frame under the corplast cover or other ? Any ideas would help. Reflection 303 rls.

 

[Kevin2282]

I am in the process now of swapping my stock 5200# axles to 6k axle and spring upgrade. Also MoRyde equalizer and cross members to strengthen the spring hangers. Also going to disc hydraulic -electric brakes. So far, the project is going well. I am thinking ahead about my brake line installation and wondering where is the best place to attach - support the brake line. I know a bunch of guys have done this or had it done. Do you attach to the inside of frame under the corplast cover or other ? Any ideas would help. Reflection 303 rls.

Did you do a complete axle swap or did you keep the axle tube/spindles and replace the hubs and use the larger 15123/15245 outer bearing/race set? Also, did you use a 4 leaf or 5 leaf spring pack for the 6K upgrade? I am looking at doing the same modification to my 28BH.

Thanks, Kevin