Continuing DD3 saga.

[bevans6]

My new DD3 chambers came today.  They look perfect in every way.  Obviously only time will tell. JR told me that they were made in Canada.  Excellent plating, good machining detail, the clevis and such is good quality.

I can now see detail that I couldn't on mine, and I can now say that my old one(at least the one I have off so far) was installed with the drain slot upwards.  Maybe that is one reason that it is so corroded inside.

So, this weekend I will install, all new hoses and fittings, Haldex auto-slack adjuster manual to check that functionality out, and away I go.

Brian

[biff]

Did your new chambers have a manufacture name?and part#? I"m trying to locate a set also.any info would be appreciated. thanks.

[bevans6]

The story from JR at REI is that when the patents ran out on the DD3 he and and a manufacturer reverse engineered them and they are building brand new units.  Mine were, in my opinion, very good quality.  He said they were made in Canada, and that he  is one of the partners in it.  I have no problem with that.  I won't know what they are really made of for at least 10 years, as we see how they deal with service life.  Price was $595 each.  I have no problem with that price for these units.  They sell a rebuild for $295 with a $300 core charge.  My old units were trash, maybe they were usable cores, but I wanted new castings.  The one chamber I took off my bus that I took apart would have need a rebuilt kit that included every singe item other than the castings, and I would have had to get the steel parts replated.  With the understanding that until these are in service for a few years and prove themselves, I feel happy that I have new aftermarket DD-3's in my system and I have confidence that they will do just fine.  (yes, I took one apart to look inside).

http://www.rebuildersenterprises.com/index.asp  note that others on the board have an issue with this guy.  I don't, so far, personally.  He shipped the same day I ordered, and aside from the packing job on the box, which was a little light, everything is just fine.  he has multiple new units in stock, and multiple used/rebuilt units in stock.  he said he rebuilds 30 - 60 a month.

Brian