Travel trailer or fifth wheel brake failures and the importance of a wheel bearing pack service. Here I’ll explain the importance of a wheel bearing pack service and will show you what we found on a unit recently on our lot. When was the last time you inspected your brakes and bearings?
During a recent wheel bearing pack service we found the following items on an RV unit:
- The brake shoes were worn down on three out of four brakes. This also caused damage to the drums.
- The roadside rear brake magnet wiring was cut in half and the backing plate/shoe and the drum were rusted.
- All bearings were burnt and loose in bearing cages due to lack of lubrication.
Causes of brake failure
Making sure that the brakes and suspension are in good working condition is key for any RV. With that being said, a lot of braking and suspension systems go unchecked and can cause accidents and trailer fires.We want to make sure this is prevented so trips can be enjoyed with family and friends. Trailer brakes should be inspected at yearly intervals or more often, depending on performance.
There are many causes for brakes not to work properly:
- Poor connections
- Open circuit
- Insufficient wire size
- Broken wires hanging below the axle
- Improperly set up controller
- Internally shorted magnets
- Defective controller
- Brake wire shorted to ground somewhere in the system
- Corrosion between the ground wire and the brake wire in the electrical connector plug
Wheel bearing pack service
A wheel bearing pack service is recommended every 12 months or every 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. Whether you are a DIY guy or gal or you utilize an RV repair shop, be sure to get this service done if your RV are due (based on mileage and/or time) or question the functionality of your brakes.
A thorough service will include:
- Inspection of brakes and bearings for wear or damage
- Cleaning and repacking of wheel bearings and replacing the seals
- Cleaning and adjusting the brake shoes as well as testing the operation
- Adjusting tire pressure and torquing wheels to specifications
- Inspecting shackle links, springs, hangers, all welds and wiring at axles
If you would like to see a wheel bearing service completed from start to finish, watch the video below.
More from Dustin
Dustin owns and operates California RV Specialists, an independent RV repair shop located in Lodi, CA. He thrives on sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm of RV repair and maintenance with his team, customers, and virtual friends.
Be sure to check out his YouTube channel where he shares what’s going on in the shop and the product offerings in the store. Dustin is also very active on Facebook. Join his group, RV Repairs and Tips – What’s in the shop!
