Axle

[Dan]

Some of you might remember about a year and half ago I had problems with the bearings in all the axles and Redwood replaced under warranty they replaced chinese bearings with chinese bearings. Well we are on our way to arizona for the next 3 months, we got just 60 miles south of Redding and I hear a big bang I look back and I see smoke coming from the the drivers side, I pull over the the fastest I can. The bearings on the aft axle let go which in turn let the tire turn a bit side ways which caused the tire to blow which caused the axle to drop and take out the rim which bent bent the disk brake caliper bracket which caused the brake pads to be torn apart. Managed to salvage the bracket and caliper, got in touch with Redwood about the rim they say they don't make that one anymore.
So far:
A new axle, all new bearings and seals both axles, a temporary tire and rim as I don't want to travel without a spare and brake pads plus a $330 tow bill
One good thing nobody got hurt, will be glad to get to Arizona

[Don and Judith]

Sorry to hear of your issue Dan! I hope the rest of your journey is problem free

[Rick and Mindy]

So, were the bearings and seals replaced with the same Chinese bearings and seals as before? I know in previous discussions that someone mentioned replacing with Timken equivalent.

[Dave&Ginny]

Dan sorry to hear about this. I will be checking mine as soon as the temps get above 30

[atom ant]

Holy buckets - so sorry. Massive self destruction.

[spindrift]

Dan...glad to hear you folks are ok. There is another member of this forum who doesn't post but experienced even more destruction. His entire side let go, destroying everything and turning the hydraulic lines into spaghetti.
It really pays to perform at least annual inspections on the running gear.

[NW Snowbirds]

Just finished rebuilding my bearings and brake system on 7000 lb axles after 16000 miles.

4 Timken 14125A (made in USA) wheel bearings $51.60
4 Timken 25580 (made in USA)wheel bearings 50.76
4 Dexter 01003600 (made in USA) double lip seals 18.72
4 Dexter brake backing plate assemblies (made in USA) 331.80
Turn 4 drums (brake and magnet surfaces) 194.40
Labor 6 hrs

TOTAL $647.28

Cost of Peace of Mind PRICELESS!

[spindrift]

Hmmm...didn't realize anyone would turn the drums on these things anymore. That's nice.

[GA1817]

Originally Posted by NW Snowbirds

Just finished rebuilding my bearings and brake system on 7000 lb axles after 16000 miles.

4 Timken 14125A (made in USA) wheel bearings $51.60
4 Timken 25580 (made in USA)wheel bearings 50.76
4 Dexter 01003600 (made in USA) double lip seals 18.72
4 Dexter brake backing plate assemblies (made in USA) 331.80
Turn 4 drums (brake and magnet surfaces) 194.40
Labor 6 hrs

TOTAL $647.28

Cost of Peace of Mind PRICELESS!

Do you know whether these Timken and Dexter part numbers are good for a 2012 RW with 7K axles and disk brakes?

[Titan Guy]

I know the Timken numbers are good. Not sure on Dexter.

[NW Snowbirds]

If you have disk brakes then you do not have brake drums with backing plates. These Timken and Dexter parts fit the standard 12"x 2" brake drums furnished on 7k axles from the RW factory.


"Do you know whether these Timken and Dexter part numbers are good for a 2012 RW with 7K axles and disk brakes?"

[NW Snowbirds]

"Hmmm...didn't realize anyone would turn the drums on these things anymore. That's nice."

Many automotive brake shops and automotive machine shops can turn the (scored) inner circumference where the shoes ride. I found a local machine shop with a "brake drum" lathe that could also turn the circular faces where the electro-magnets ride. The magnet surface was just as scored which weakens the magnetic force thus weakening the brake action.

[travelin' texans]

If I'm not mistaken the drum & disc take the same bearings, but grease seals are different.

[Rick and Mindy]

Originally Posted by NW Snowbirds

Just finished rebuilding my bearings and brake system on 7000 lb axles after 16000 miles.

4 Timken 14125A (made in USA) wheel bearings $51.60
4 Timken 25580 (made in USA)wheel bearings 50.76
4 Dexter 01003600 (made in USA) double lip seals 18.72
4 Dexter brake backing plate assemblies (made in USA) 331.80
Turn 4 drums (brake and magnet surfaces) 194.40
Labor 6 hrs

TOTAL $647.28

Cost of Peace of Mind PRICELESS!

Am I missing something here? Is it true that our Lippert frames have Dexter Axles and Dexter brakes? If so, do you have the Dexter part numbers for the left and right backing plate kits?

[NW Snowbirds]

Originally Posted by Rick and Mindy

Am I missing something here? Is it true that our Lippert frames have Dexter Axles and Dexter brakes? If so, do you have the Dexter part numbers for the left and right backing plate kits?

No. They come with cheap Chinese grease seals, Chinese Lippert bearings and backing plates labeled Axletec (Chinese?)
I changed to Dexter because they are made in the USA. They are standard 12" x 2" brake backing plates. I acquired the Dexter parts from eTrailer.

http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Brak...er/23-465.html

Have them all installed since two weeks ago and working well. Now confident to head out on the road again.

[sinder]

Dan - sorry to hear about your troubles. There is no excuse for Redwood and Lippert using inferior safety related components in their product. If I were them I would be concerned about liability. I've had my bearings packed annually, but will now replace the inferior bearings my next opportune timeframe. I'm happy to hear you were able to bring the rig to a safe stop.

[COLJDM]

We replaced the entire suspension with MorRyde IS including 8K axels, disc brakes and, new brake controller.

[Dan]

As you know I had to replace my aft axle well here we are in Yuma and I was under the rig trying to do something with the fallen down crappy under belly and i look over and see 1 of the 2 bolts holding on the caliper missing and upon further investigation I noticed the bolts holding the disc brake bracket also loose and one missing. Took the rig down to a local suspension shop got everything fixed up. After bringing the rig back to the RV park we opened all the slides and no lights in the bedroom blown fuse put new fuse in and blows again, a dam @#$%^& short somewhere. Where will all this end!!!!!!

[spindrift]

Really sorry to hear about your continued troubles.

[Rick and Mindy]

Originally Posted by Dan

As you know I had to replace my aft axle well here we are in Yuma and I was under the rig trying to do something with the fallen down crappy under belly and i look over and see 1 of the 2 bolts holding on the caliper missing and upon further investigation I noticed the bolts holding the disc brake bracket also loose and one missing. Took the rig down to a local suspension shop got everything fixed up. After bringing the rig back to the RV park we opened all the slides and no lights in the bedroom blown fuse put new fuse in and blows again, a dam @#$%^& short somewhere. Where will all this end!!!!!!

I had a similar problem with my bathroom light and vent fan but it never blew a fuse. I would turn them on and then a short time later they would just go off on their own. Come to find out, there was a bad connection in the vent. The tech told me the connectors are not the best quality. No problems since.