How do your brakes look after 7500 miles

[rob_fla]

Our last 5er a Jayco Pinnacle had 7K Dexter Axles and Brakes, springs had the same plastic bushings that the Redwood Lippert springs have. (I installed the MorRyde Wet Bolt Kit with bronze bushings on it too)
Our Pinnacle Brakes had a broken spring on one of the hubs causing some issues, Dexter shipped me replacement springs at no charge.
In 3 years of use and several coast to coast trips (our Pinnacle weighted in at 15,800 lbs.), no problems with excessive brake wear.
After a year of fulltime use with our Redwood (we move about every 2 weeks), our brakes are wearing normally, I replaced the hub seals (and replaced) and inspected the brakes shortly after we got our Redwood, no grease found.
A few weeks ago coming out of New York we had smoke on one wheel, thought it might be grease, it was a brake electrical wire caught in one of the leaf springs. Corrected the wiring issue, checked the brakes and seals, no problems found.

[danrn]

Originally Posted by travelin' texans

Did you clean those bushings before the photos? If you didn't, they were probably never greased or were like mine & wouldn't take grease. The rear spring eye on mine were worn out also.

I see you had the same problem I am having; trying to grease these fittings. Were you ever able to get grease in them, and if so what did you do?

[travelin' texans]

Originally Posted by danrn

I see you had the same problem I am having; trying to grease these fittings. Were you ever able to get grease in them, and if so what did you do?

No never could get about half of them to take grease, replaced with Mor Ryde heavy shackles & wet bolts, got rid out all the plastic bushings & all take grease now.

[atom ant]

Originally Posted by danrn

I see you had the same problem I am having; trying to grease these fittings. Were you ever able to get grease in them, and if so what did you do?

I remember on the wet bolts I put on my last rig, if the grease holes on the bolts happen to be down, they wouldn't take grease unless you lifted up the trailer to take weight off of the spring. Maybe raise the trailer and try it?

[travelin' texans]

Didn't help on mine. After tearing it apart it was the plastic bushings that wouldn't take grease.

[Rick and Mindy]

Iknow Lippert's instructons for installing the shackles and wet bolts specifically tell you to make sure the holes in the bolts are facing the front or the back so that they will take grease. I doubt that the original installer pays much attention to that. They also state that the zerks should be facing the underside of the RV, not toward the tires. This makes it much easier to grease. Mine came from the factory facing the tires which makes it very difficult to get the grease gun to it, even with a flexible line. Since it came from the factory this way I would assume the installer has never really been trained or educated on the proper install. No wonder some are having suspension/grease soaked brakes.

[Shane Wood]

I have had 2 major issues with ours. 1 the main door seperating which is a supplier issue and the other with the black tank which fell because it was not designed properly by r.edwood. All of the other minor issues are quality control and poor supplier parts I just spent the day at the California rv show and the only thing close to 5 he quality of the redwood was drv

[bull_chips]

One of my brake shoes and drum looked like yours, after about 8500 miles. The other three looked hardly worn at all, but had grease on them. I must assume they weren't adjusted properly.

Fred

[ChristianM]

Originally Posted by atom ant

I have to defend Redwood a little bit- they aren't alone in the plastic bushing issue. All of my Keystone products had them, and replacement of the bushing with brass was even an article in the last "Trailer Life" Magazine which said the life expectancy of of the plastic OEM bushings (trailers in general) is about 1,000 miles.

So Redwood isn't doing anything any worse than the others, but not any better either. If they have a fix, they are sure slow in getting it publicized!

I would have to definitely disagree on your conclusion on the brakes - this is not normal wear on drum brakes. You can argue they are insufficiently sized, but more likely defective, incorrectly adjusted, or inappropriately proportioned brake setting between the truck and trailer, and possibly even driving habits. Others are not having the same issue.

Thanks, AtomAnt for providing the perfect opportunity for me to pass on some information regarding the bushings.

Here are our results:

1) We researched. We looked into all claims, both paid and denied, regarding bushings and found very few occurrences. Overall the NYLON bushings that we were using have performed well and to an acceptable level. However, we listened to our owners and decided to make some adjustments.

2) We have now changed to BRONZE bushings on all current production. If you have had no issues with your bushings we are happy to provide you the bronze bushings at a reduced rate through Lippert Components, the labor for this replacement will be the responsibility of the owner. If your bushings show undue wear and tear we will be happy to cover the replacement of the bushings with bronze bushings.

The on line store for Lippert is - Home page, however to receive the Redwood Special Pricing call (574) 312-6850, (have your VIN ready!!)

Hope this is helpful!

[atom ant]

Originally Posted by ChristianM

Thanks, AtomAnt for providing the perfect opportunity for me to pass on some information regarding the bushings.

Here are our results:

1) We researched. We looked into all claims, both paid and denied, regarding bushings and found very few occurrences. Overall the NYLON bushings that we were using have performed well and to an acceptable level. However, we listened to our owners and decided to make some adjustments.

2) We have now changed to BRONZE bushings on all current production. If you have had no issues with your bushings we are happy to provide you the bronze bushings at a reduced rate through Lippert Components, the labor for this replacement will be the responsibility of the owner. If your bushings show undue wear and tear we will be happy to cover the replacement of the bushings with bronze bushings.

The on line store for Lippert is - Home page, however to receive the Redwood Special Pricing call (574) 312-6850, (have your VIN ready!!)

Hope this is helpful!

Super thanks folks for looking into this! You did the right thing going to the bronze on the production line!

That is interesting there have not been more claims on the Nylon, but I think I will replace mine with the bronze kit anyway when I change out the shackles.

[Shane Wood]

Originally Posted by ChristianM

Thanks, AtomAnt for providing the perfect opportunity for me to pass on some information regarding the bushings.

Here are our results:

1) We researched. We looked into all claims, both paid and denied, regarding bushings and found very few occurrences. Overall the NYLON bushings that we were using have performed well and to an acceptable level. However, we listened to our owners and decided to make some adjustments.

2) We have now changed to BRONZE bushings on all current production. If you have had no issues with your bushings we are happy to provide you the bronze bushings at a reduced rate through Lippert Components, the labor for this replacement will be the responsibility of the owner. If your bushings show undue wear and tear we will be happy to cover the replacement of the bushings with bronze bushings.

The on line store for Lippert is - Home page, however to receive the Redwood Special Pricing call (574) 312-6850, (have your VIN ready!!)

Hope this is helpful!

Thanks for the info dear keep up the good work

[Ford truck guy]

Thanks for that great news!!
I believe we have to thank Andy for listening.... AND more importantly Yale!! During my conversation with Andy , he mentioned his chats with Yale and the changes they were working working on ( this was one of them)
It does show their willingness to listen and learn...
Thanks again
Joe

[Dave&Ginny]

Originally Posted by ChristianM

Thanks, AtomAnt for providing the perfect opportunity for me to pass on some information regarding the bushings.

Here are our results:

1) We researched. We looked into all claims, both paid and denied, regarding bushings and found very few occurrences. Overall the NYLON bushings that we were using have performed well and to an acceptable level. However, we listened to our owners and decided to make some adjustments.

2) We have now changed to BRONZE bushings on all current production. If you have had no issues with your bushings we are happy to provide you the bronze bushings at a reduced rate through Lippert Components, the labor for this replacement will be the responsibility of the owner. If your bushings show undue wear and tear we will be happy to cover the replacement of the bushings with bronze bushings.

The on line store for Lippert is - Home page, however to receive the Redwood Special Pricing call (574) 312-6850, (have your VIN ready!!)

Hope this is helpful!

THANK YOU!!

It's good to see that the company is listening to the concerns of the owners. This is truly GREAT news

[atom ant]

On a side note: Thanks Andy and Barry for resolving my 8k spring conflict with the equalizer as well today! Simple fix and I look forward to getting it done so I don't have to stress over it anymore. That has haunted me for a while.

[hoosierguy]

Originally Posted by ChristianM

Thanks, AtomAnt for providing the perfect opportunity for me to pass on some information regarding the bushings.

Here are our results:

1) We researched. We looked into all claims, both paid and denied, regarding bushings and found very few occurrences. Overall the NYLON bushings that we were using have performed well and to an acceptable level. However, we listened to our owners and decided to make some adjustments.

2) We have now changed to BRONZE bushings on all current production. If you have had no issues with your bushings we are happy to provide you the bronze bushings at a reduced rate through Lippert Components, the labor for this replacement will be the responsibility of the owner. If your bushings show undue wear and tear we will be happy to cover the replacement of the bushings with bronze bushings.

The on line store for Lippert is - Home page, however to receive the Redwood Special Pricing call (574) 312-6850, (have your VIN ready!!)

Hope this is helpful!

Thanks to Redwood for making the right decision!

[slideone]

This is what mine looked like after 7500 miles

[atom ant]

Anyone been able to connect with Lippert yet on the discount pricing for bushings?

[Dave&Ginny]

Originally Posted by slideone

This is what mine looked like after 7500 miles

Well.........no annoying sqeak....

[Ford truck guy]

Originally Posted by Dave&Ginny

Well.........no annoying sqeak....

.... SO that's the silver lining ! ! !

[GTXRAS]

Originally Posted by slideone

This is what mine looked like after 7500 miles

Too many looking like that.

Mine seem to have been built right. The adjusters are turned out over 1 inch. Makes me wonder if they were auto adjusting when they should not have been.