no trailer brakes

[Bama Rambler]

Originally Posted by dbledan

My guess...After it was delivered to dealer they lube the axles as part of their "inspection" using an automatic grease gun and blew your inner seal greasing the brakes along with the bearings.

Well intentioned maybe, but bless their hearts. At least they looked? This way you can blame the dealer that already said they were working when they were not.

Our RV had the same problem but not quite as severe, and I believe the same thing. They probably had someone "grease" the hubs before delivery and I really do believe that they just went out there and 'shot' some grease into the zerks without following the proper procedure and that caused the grease to force past the seals.

Having said that, I would be very suspicious of the grease on the shoes to be the only problem. Especially given the fact that you pulled the breakaway cable and got no braking. Even if the shoes were coated with grease by applying 12 volts to the magnets you would get a little braking. I'm sure you plan to, but be wary once they say they have it fixed. You've heard that before.

[ppine]

I just picked up a used Rockwood and had no brakes on the way home. It turned out to just be tarnish on the plug in to the TV. A red dot but no numbers were showing on my Draw Tite brake controller. Now it is working fine.

[Iwannacamp]

I think the award goes to DBLEDAN... makes perfect sense to me. Dealer service would include a grease job to "ensure no bearing problems" and help a valued customer.

[JohnD10]

Don't always blame the dealers for this...

I stopped at a Big O tire store to get a tire patched on my previous TT and caught the tire guy getting ready to spritz the EZ Lubes as part of their service.

Glad I was standing there so I could stop him ..

[upflying]

Originally Posted by Iwannacamp

I think the award goes to DBLEDAN... makes perfect sense to me. Dealer service would include a grease job to "ensure no bearing problems" and help a valued customer.

Thanks for that, it sure feels like I am getting a premium lube job.

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by upflying

Good catch, I do not recall seeing an EZ lube Zerk fitting on the center of my hub caps. My TT has those fancy aluminum wheels and all I recall seeing is a plain center cap.
And yes, I have electric brakes, not hydraulic surge brakes.

If your TT has the EZ Lube the zerk will be under the center cap. Not all trailers have them but they are one of the reasons for improper lubrication.

[babock]

Originally Posted by Scrapper

If your TT has the EZ Lube the zerk will be under the center cap. Not all trailers have them but they are the reason for improper lubrication.

If his trailer has a brand new Lippert frame and standard leaf springs, he will.

[upflying]

Originally Posted by babock

If his trailer has a brand new Lippert frame and standard leaf springs, he will.

Good to know, perhaps too much grease was applied with a grease gun by a well meaning service technician. We will never know.
BTW, since my batteries will go dead while it sits at the dealer, will the total discharge damage them?

[babock]

Originally Posted by upflying

BTW, since my batteries will go dead while it sits at the dealer, will the total discharge damage them?

Absolutely yes!


Just disconnect them.

[upflying]

Originally Posted by babock

Absolutely yes!


Just disconnect them.

Ok, I'd rather remove them and let them sit on the Battery Tender at home.
I will stop by the dealer tomorrow.

[MtBiker]

Your dealer sounds as if they are completely incompetent. I would pickup my trailer and find a good independent mechanic to fix the brakes.
The drum brakes in a Lippert axle are about as simple as brakes get.

[babock]

Originally Posted by MtBiker

Your dealer sounds as if they are completely incompetent. I would pickup my trailer and find a good independent mechanic to fix the brakes.
The drum brakes in a Lippert axle are about as simple as brakes get.

Me too...or just fix the damn things myself. I would never bring my trailer to a dealer and let it sit for any amount of time.

[upflying]

Originally Posted by babock

Me too...or just fix the damn things myself. I would never bring my trailer to a dealer and let it sit for any amount of time.

Yes, I know my way around drum brakes too. It's fun having the service "advisor" tell me what's wrong when I know it's BS. I would love to fix the brakes myself but there is something about using the factory warranty as it was intended, to pay for screwups caused by the factory.
For now, I will play the warranty game since I am entitled to it.
The finance manager hard selled an extended warranty for $2000 (later dropped to $1500) when I bought the trailer. Fortunately I declined the offer. I can't imagine going through all this hassle after the factory warranty expires next February.
As it is, I am mad at myself for the missed PDI checks and driving away with no brakes when I took delivery.

[upflying]

I stopped by the dealer today to remove the batteries and have a look at the brakes. The trailer was up on jack stands and both wheels/drums were removed. The brake parts and backing plates were clean, new and fresh looking, just like you would expect with any brand new part. There was no brake dust on any of the components.
The friction surface of the shoes on both the right and left sides had a jet black, glossy smooth contamination on the center two-thirds of the arc of the shoe. The ends of all four shoes were clean and undisturbed tan color friction material.
The black material left an ink like transfer on my fingers.
Both drums looked clean and undamaged with no scoring or heat discoloration.
If I had to make an educated, amateur mechanic guess as to what happened, the brake installer at Lippert failed to wipe down and clean the brake drums before sliding them onto the spindles.
Failing to remove the metal preservative commonly known as "Cosmoline" with Brake-Kleen subsequently contaminated the brake shoes.
A set of new shoes would get me back on the road within the hour. I am tempted to forget the warranty claim bureaucracy and just paying outright for the $60 pair shoes.
Of course I would most likely learn the shoes are not in stock and are on back order.
I wanted to take a photo but the service "advisor" was breathing down my neck. I will sneak back over after they close to snap a photo.

[babock]

Originally Posted by upflying

I stopped by the dealer today to remove the batteries and have a look at the brakes. The trailer was up on jack stands and both wheels/drums were removed. The brake parts and backing plates were clean, new and fresh looking, just like you would expect with any brand new part. There was no brake dust on any of the components.
The friction surface of the shoes on both the right and left sides had a jet black, glossy smooth contamination on the center two-thirds of the arc of the shoe. The ends of all four shoes were clean and undisturbed tan color friction material.
The black material left an ink like transfer on my fingers.
Both drums looked clean and undamaged with no scoring or heat discoloration.
If I had to make an educated, amateur mechanic guess as to what happened, the brake installer at Lippert failed to wipe down and clean the brake drums before sliding them onto the spindles.
Failing to remove the metal preservative commonly known as "Cosmoline" with Brake-Kleen subsequently contaminated the brake shoes.
A set of new shoes would get me back on the road within the hour. I am tempted to forget the warranty claim bureaucracy and just paying outright for the $60 pair shoes.
Of course I would most likely learn the shoes are not in stock and are on back order.
I wanted to take a photo but the service "advisor" was breathing down my neck. I will sneak back over after they close to snap a photo.

I would just buy new shoes, seals and USA bearings while you are at it.

[RCW]

One of my concerns as far as the dealer goes would be that they led you to believe that they were function checking the brakes and they were working for them. The problem they have found would not be an intermittant problem.

[upflying]

Originally Posted by RCW

One of my concerns as far as the dealer goes would be that they led you to believe that they were function checking the brakes and they were working for them. The problem they have found would not be an intermittant problem.

The dealer service technicians told me they checked the proper operation of the brakes by lifting a wheel with a jack and attempting to turn the wheel by hand. If the wheel could not be turned, they assumed the brakes were working.
I remain skeptical especially since one of their diagnosis showed zero voltage at the wires leading to the magnets. This was shown to me in my presence.
I also think shoe contamination with grease would "burn off" during break in.

[babock]

Originally Posted by upflying

I also think shoe contamination with grease would "burn off" during break in.

I wouldn't think that.

[upflying]

Originally Posted by babock

I wouldn't think that.

I hope you are right.

[Boomerweps]

There is a spray on brake cleaner available at auto parts stores. If you buy expensive pads or shoes and accidentally get some grease on them, you gonna throw them away?