Question regarding self adjusting brake shoes

Likes to tow

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 17, 2009
Messages
474
Location
Huntington, WV
When I bought my 5th wheel in 2017 I soon realized by reading this and other forums that a significant problem had been discovered with the grease used on wheel bearings in certain axles. This grease was too thin and leaked past the seals and onto the brake shoes! Long story short I contacted Grand Design and they sent 4 new brake cluster assemblies. The replacements were not the self adjusting type that were on my trailer when it was built but I did not complain. For them to step up and send new brakes was a pleasant surprise and I was not about to complain.

Now after 7 years of towing I'm about to put new brakes on the trailer and have considered going to the type that has the self adjusting feature. Does anyone know or have experienced a problem caused by self adjusting brake shoes??? Will it actually keep proper adjustment on the shoes but more importantly will this possibly cause over adjustment and thus overheating or premature wear of the shoes??
 
My 2017 was supposed to come with self adjusting (a mid-year update by GD). But it didn't. They must have had just enough of the old style to use on mine just as the switch was scheduled. When it came time to replace pads, I switched to the Lippert "forward self adjusting". Been almost 4 years now, and no issues at all. Note that they take time to burnish in and fully adjust - so brake a lot the first several hundred miles! But after than, they have been a non-issue. Maybe the best maintenance reduction improvement I've made to the trailer. Mine never had the bearing grease issue so many had back then. Now if there were permanently sealed bearings...that would be a #1 game changer.....
 
Changed mine out last year, purchasing the full kit from Lippert (hubs, drums brakes, bearings, etc.). Easy R&R and definitely improved braking after that initial run-in period. Safe Travels.
 
I simply would not have permanently sealed bearings! A friend of mine had them on his trailer and after about 4 seasons one bearing suddenly locked up when he was on a trip to the Rocky Mountains. He was always pro active when it come to maintenance but sealed bearings made it impossible to know how what shape they were in. I like having the ability to remove the drum and clean, inspect bearings/races and replace seals. Never had a problem with losing a wheel bearing on a trip. This is why I'm concerned about self adjusting brakes. I just always wonder if they would keep tightening up and wearing the shoes prematurely. Your comment leads me to believe they must be ok.
 
Forward adjusting brakes have been common on trailers for some time. I've had several over the years. For my Solitude, purchased new, I just waited until brake/bearing service was required and changed the whole mess out. Safe Travels.
 
We have about 3000 miles on our '22 17MKE and bought it new that August. How do I know if I have manual or self adjusting trailer brakes? Does that affect how I attempt to adjust the shoes myself? I've seen some Youtube videos on performing the adjustment and plan on doing it myself when I get some warmer temps. I also think I'll repack/check the wheel bearings while I'm at it.
 
You can get part number off the axle tag, and send that in an email to the manufacturer, i.e. Dexter or Lippert, and they will send you all the pertinent info on your axles.
 

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