Simple repair

[captain ron]

My a$$. I bought a new wheel seal for the passenger drive axle. simple job right? Wrong! took Dallas forever to get it apart then found grease packed in my brake drum. Have to drive to Poplar Bluff, Mo. tomorrow to get a new brake drum and brake shoes and 2 bearings. Tried getting the radius arms loose to change the bushings in them but couldn't muster up enough strength to draw the pressure of to remove the arm. hopefully everything will be done tomorrow evening so Mike and Jay can get back over the pit. They gave me their spot so I could get back on the road. I fixed them some more dinner, hope that is good for a pay back.

[Jerry Liebler]

Ron,
   Why are you replacing the drum? If it's badly scored or oversized I understand but It should clean up fine with any solvent then a final wipedown with brake cleaner.  Also, You really should be  replacing linings on both sides of the axle to keep things sort of balanced.
Regards
Jerry 4107 1120

[Ncbob]

Simple repair Ron? 

You've been around these Gol Dang buses long enough to know that there ain't no simple repairs anymore than there are 10 minute jobs!

But I sure do hope that you get it back together in time to make your commitment!

Feel bad that I missed you at the BK, C & D Rally...would have been nice to see you again.

NCbob

[captain ron]

Jerry, it's worn. ......... maybe you should give me some of your money,You know, just to keep it balanced.

Bob, wish you could have made it, would love to see you again.

[Dallas]

Ron,
   Why are you replacing the drum? If it's badly scored or oversized I understand but It should clean up fine with any solvent then a final wipedown with brake cleaner.  Also, You really should be  replacing linings on both sides of the axle to keep things sort of balanced.
Regards
Jerry 4107 1120

Jerry,
The drum is being replaced because it has a 1/4" lip all the way around it. This makes it a minimum of 1/2" oversized. If you put on standard linings, you lose the use of 1/2" of your slack adjuster, along with 1/4" of lining.
Shoes are only changed on one side of the axle, unlike a car, because many times the shoes on the other side are still completely serviceable for many thousands of miles. This is often because of variations in adjustment and usage. I've never seen a commercial operator change more than what actually needs changing.
The slack adjusters are there to take care of the "balance".

In this case, the brake linings are so oil soaked that they are legally FUBAR.

This axle has been damaged at some time by a previous failure, after which the idjit that put it back together packed the hub with bearing grease. The bearing grease worked it's way through the new seal and has packed it's way into the brake shoes. The bearings were starved for oil for so long that there is galling damage to the inner race and the bottom of the axle. The rollers are so loose they sound like grandpas false teeth on a cold night in Minnesquito.

Dallas

[Jerry Liebler]

Dallas,
     I accept the explanation, but I'd still do both sides.   That's really ugly drum wear.  Any idea what caused the very uneven wear?   And Captain Ron is very lucky the bearings got looked at before a total failure, which sounds like it was not far away.
Regards
Jerry 4107 1120

[Gary LaBombard]

Be Real grateful this did not cause you problems on the interstate Ron, Sorry to hear of your problems but being fixed there at BK's will surely be done right and I am sure less expensive. 
Have a safe trip to your next destination.  There is a good rally going on in TX this weekend!! 
Gary

[JackConrad]

Ron,
   Sorry to hear about your problems, but look at the bright side. You are at a shop WITH A PIT even and DALLAS. You could have broke down on the interstate and ended up at a rip-em-off shop and got a shoddy repair job.  Jack

[Dallas]

Dallas,
     I accept the explanation, but I'd still do both sides.   That's really ugly drum wear.  Any idea what caused the very uneven wear?   And Captain Ron is very lucky the bearings got looked at before a total failure, which sounds like it was not far away.
Regards
Jerry 4107 1120

Jerry,
If the brake on one side of the axle are serviceable, there really is no reason to change them. Remember, these are built to last for 250,000 miles, not the 25,000 that automotive brakes get changed at. Even if your shoes are at 50% that's still over 100,000 usable miles left.

These particular brakes look as if the  P.O. or the company that owned it before him had assessed the damage to the axle from a bearing failure, (you can see places where the inner bearing was chiseled off the axle), then a speedy sleeve was used to clean up the seal wear surface. Unfortunately, the seal used was the wrong one for the sleeve. When the seal kept leaking gear oil into the brake shoe area, someone decided to pack pounds and pounds of bearing grease into the hub. The grease, it seems, wasn't actually packed into the bearings and forced it's way through the seal also.

The repair was obviously done to get the unit either back on the road for a short time or get it sold so the new owner wouldn't have a problem for a short time. It's possible the shoes and drum were at the end of the lifecycle and the decision was made to not change them out.

This was a very dirty, ugly repair practice. I've worked for car lots that would do the same thing just to sell the vehicle.

Dallas

[Green-Hornet]

Nothing can be more difficult than the simplest task. Glad you caught it before it was the cause of a lot more grief.

[pete81eaglefanasty]

 Ron, I know you are glad that it was caught when it was. sure would of been of hell of repair on the road. Sorry I could not make it down to B K's To meet you and all the others.

          Pete & Jean
            Fantasy