Drum to Disc Brake Conversion

[RoyR]

So, every year I pay these monkeys $300.00 to do a trailer wheel service, that includes checking the brakes and repacking the bearings......look at this workmanship!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Drum to Disc Brake Conversion

Good choice on the brakes.

The grease that you had on your drum brakes may return if you are being overzealous with your grease gun and the bearing buddies(that is if you have them)

 

[RoyR]

Re: Drum to Disc Brake Conversion

I did put on bearing buddies, but didn't over fill them. As soon as the spring started to move, I stopped?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Drum to Disc Brake Conversion

What was the condition of the area where the seal rides? Is it corroded at all? You may have the same problems with the grease leaking past the rear seal if you follow the procedure you have been following. You either have a bad sealing surface on the axle, the previous seals were not the correct size or you are overfilling the bearing buddy.

 

[RoyR]

Re: Drum to Disc Brake Conversion

I think the bearings/seals have never been serviced since the first owner bought the boat (2002). The surface was pitted, but I sanded it down best I could. I will be very careful about over filling the bearing buddies. I do think they are better than the dust cap alone.

I first installed the dust cap, took it for a 20 mile run, removed the dust caps, checked the play on the axle nut. Didn't have to tighten it, and then installed the bearing buddies. Pretty tough to get them in, they need some real persuasion!

QUESTION: What is the correct way to fill the bearing buddies?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Drum to Disc Brake Conversion

Way you said you did was correct. I would be concerned about the area that is pitted. Just keep an eye out for grease leakage. This will be easy now with the disks. If the surface is bad, you can use these seal savers that basically put a stainless sleeve over the axle and uses a different seal.

http://www.bearingbuddy.com/spindle_seal.html

 

[RoyR]

Re: Drum to Disc Brake Conversion

This picture gives you an idea of the pitting, it's not too bad, well maybe it is What do you call those lock washers, never seen one of those. Had to reuse them cause I only bought new cotter pins.

 

[rbh]

Re: Drum to Disc Brake Conversion

what washers?

 

[RoyR]

Re: Drum to Disc Brake Conversion

what washers?

Do you see how the axle has a flat area by the screw thread? A washer type thingy with two flat tabs slide on there, then you install the axle nut, and bent one of the tabs up to lock the nut in place...

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Drum to Disc Brake Conversion

You should not have used sandpaper on that sealing surface. Looks really rough to me. You may want to get some emery cloth to smooth that out before you put on your seals. If the previous mechanic ever replaced the bearings, the rear seal would have been replaced. You can't take the inner bearing out without replacing the seal

 

[RoyR]

Re: Drum to Disc Brake Conversion

You should not have used sandpaper on that sealing surface. Looks really rough to me. You may want to get some emery cloth to smooth that out before you put on your seals. If the previous mechanic ever replaced the bearings, the rear seal would have been replaced. You can't take the inner bearing out without replacing the seal

I'll keep an eye on it....towing it to Vegas this weekend. If I have problem I will install that seal you suggested. Thanks.

PS. I don't think those bearings was ever changed.

 

[RoyR]

Re: Drum to Disc Brake Conversion

Planning my next road trip, and the rear seal is not sealing....thinking of using the bearing buddy solution mentioned above. Do those parts then replace the rear seal?

 

[dingbat]

Re: Drum to Disc Brake Conversion

The washers you're looking for is called a tang washers.
http://www.pacifictrailers.com/1-ID-Round-TANG-Washer-for-EZ-Lube-/

The bearing buddy repair kit comes with the bushing and a new seal. Nothing else to buy.

FWIW: You have spindle lube axles on your trailer. Someone knocked the grease fitting out of the ends for some reason.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Drum to Disc Brake Conversion

The spindle lube axle system is actually a very good one and I'd prefer that to bearing buddies, reason being that you can't really over pressurize the grease seal and you can see the old grease coming out of the open dust cap when greasing them. I've had em on my trailer for 6 seasons and all I do is pull off the rubber cap, grease it when turing the wheel to the point when I can see fresh grease coming out. If the old grease was not milky then I don't have to repack, if so then you do. Easy and fast.

http://www.championtrailers.com/techsup.html#pre-loadbearings

Tie Down calls it Super Lube, Champion Trailers calls it Spindle Lube

http://www.championtrailers.com/spdlubax.html

 

[RoyR]

Re: Drum to Disc Brake Conversion

Thanks guys, looks like you learn something new everyday