Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum > GENERAL DISCUSSIONS > General Discussions about our Montanas
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 04-14-2014, 04:12 PM   #1
rames14
Montana Master
 
rames14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Livermore
Posts: 5,135
M.O.C. #1920
When is a deal not a deal?

During last year's rally in Goshen, we took advantage of Dexter's brake deal and bought a complete set. We had them installed by a local shop that has worked on a lot of Montanas. We were told it would take about 1000 miles for the brakes to seat and be fully functional. Well, by the time we got home, still no brakes. Took it in to our local dealer. They found the shop over greased 3 of the four wheels. As a result, I need new magnets, backing plates, drums and two new tires - $1400 plus the cost of two tires. Since one brake was grabbing and one slid, it wore the inside and outside of the tires on that axle. I have sent the shop an email with pictures as well as left a voicemail. Right now I am very upset, but hopefully the shop will take care of it.
 
__________________
Ron and Terrie Ames - MOC #1920/KF0NTA
2021Montana 3230CK Super Solar Legacy Package
2021 Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn, BIM Charging
4x4, SRW, LB, Crew Cab, Pullrite 3900 Hitch
rames14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2014, 04:18 PM   #2
twindman
Montana Master
 
twindman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Mesa az
Posts: 2,926
M.O.C. #5651
If you don't get any response, try someplace like the action line stuff in Trailer Life or such. They get results (at least on the ones they publish!!)
__________________

Tom and Gail
2013 Mountaineer 362
2012 Silverado 2500
twindman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2014, 04:27 PM   #3
dieselguy
Montana Master
 
dieselguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Haysville
Posts: 4,261
M.O.C. #3085
I think someone's yanking your chain ... you can buy the complete Dexter never adjust brake assy, backing plate, magnet, shoes .. the whole 9 yards for $50 http://www.easternmarine.com/Electri...ke-Assemblies/ that's $200 plus shipping. As far as needing new brake drums ... I'm from Missouri ... they'd have to "Show Me". The brake assys are attached to your axles by 5 bolts, then there are 2 wires to hook up for each brake. It's a really simple job and takes no time for the task. Packing bearings and slapping on a wheel seal is equally simple and not time consuming. I can't figure out where $1400.00 is going from your quote. When the smoke clears, the installing shop should stand behind their work and cover their poor workmanship..
dieselguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2014, 06:07 PM   #4
rames14
Montana Master
 
rames14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Livermore
Posts: 5,135
M.O.C. #1920
I have pictures of the damage. The dealership cost is $95 for the backing plates (same as what the Goshen shop said they pay). Not sure how much drums cost, but probably at least as much. New magnets, labor at $100/hour and voile'. These places don't go out and find the cheapest price, probably buying direct from Montana or Dexter. Couldn't believe how much grease was in there. Phone calls start in the morning.
__________________
Ron and Terrie Ames - MOC #1920/KF0NTA
2021Montana 3230CK Super Solar Legacy Package
2021 Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn, BIM Charging
4x4, SRW, LB, Crew Cab, Pullrite 3900 Hitch
rames14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2014, 06:43 PM   #5
Montana Sky
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Down the Road
Posts: 5,627
M.O.C. #889
I hope you are able to find a mutually agreeable resolution Ron. I know how frustrated you must be right now...
Montana Sky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2014, 08:49 PM   #6
rohrmann
Montana Master
 
rohrmann's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,677
M.O.C. #12947
When I did a brake job on our Montana a couple of months ago, I bought four Dexter assemblies from Redneck Trailer Supply for about $78 each, and had the drums turned by a trailer company next door to Redneck for $25 per drum. I had to replace one outer bearing that didn't look quite right, and four seals for less than $4 each. So, for less than $400 for all the parts and drum turnings, new brakes complete. So they are wanting $1,000 labor. Sounds like a pretty good racket
__________________
Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
rohrmann is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2014, 01:01 AM   #7
WaltBennett
Montana Master
 
WaltBennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Hanover
Posts: 1,471
M.O.C. #13325
You said you had them installed by a "local shop that has worked on a lot of Montanas" and that's where your problems came from, not Dexter. Don't you have the EZ-Lube hubs? Regardless, that shop had an inexperienced (or just plain dumb) mechanic who just grabbed his trusty air powered grease gun and pumped away, not knowing what they were doing.

I also completely agree with everyone else that the next place took you for a ride as well. This is the kind of thing that keeps me doing most of the work on ours myself. It's really difficult finding someone who knows what they are doing on an RV of any kind.
__________________
WaltBennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2014, 02:27 AM   #8
nosticks
Montana Master
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Tampa
Posts: 532
M.O.C. #10378
If that shop was that incompetent, plus excessively charged you for labor, I wonder how they jacked up your unit. Time will tell by tire wear.
nosticks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2014, 03:16 AM   #9
1retired06
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
Sorry to hear about your brake issue. Glad you got home safely with no brakes.
__________________
Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
1retired06 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2014, 04:16 AM   #10
tweber502
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Springfield
Posts: 322
M.O.C. #13660
Ron, I'm not sure why the shop is pricing the backing plate and the magnets separately. When I replaced all 4 brake assemblies on my 2010 3400RL last Sept. I contacted Dexter and was able to purchase each assembly for a discounted price of $36 each and double lip seals for $4 each. Each assembly consisted of backing plate, brake shoes and magnets all fully assembled. Also these are the 'never adjust' brakes. When I installed the brakes I removed the bearings, cleaned and manually repacked, and re-assembled. I will never use the easy lube system. Also as rohrmann stated, I would see if the drums can be turned before I replaced them. Tim
tweber502 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2014, 04:52 AM   #11
mhs4771
Montana Master
 
mhs4771's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Sebring
Posts: 3,657
M.O.C. #9969
OK, I'm a bit confused here. Grease onto the shoes, yes really have to replace them, but the Drums are Steel and can be cleaned. There are numerous products on the market that will clean the grease out of the drums. Plus if they weren't working why would they need turning they didn't get any wear??
I'm no professional mechanic, but I've been a backyard/barnyard mechanic most of my life, rebuilding engines, transmissions, you name it. Plus I've probably done more brake jobs in my life than half of those so called mechanics, every thing from drums, disk, electric, you name it.
__________________
Michelle & Ann
2018 Chevy 3500HD High Country DRW 4X4 Crew Cab w/Duramax/Allison, Formally 2010 Montana 2955RL, Now Loaded 2016 SOB, Mor/ryde IS, Disc Brakes & Pin Box, Comfort Ride Hitch, Sailun 17.5 Tires.
mhs4771 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2014, 05:20 AM   #12
rames14
Montana Master
 
rames14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Livermore
Posts: 5,135
M.O.C. #1920
I just talked to the Goshen service place that started this whole thing and they are working with Dexter. Our service center in Colorado has also been in contact with Dexter. At this time, I am hopeful that this will be taken care of by someone other than me. I understand the self service part, but where we are in the mountains, I will not have the proper weather to do it myself for awhile. One of the trade-offs for waking up every morning to snow capped mountains. Still, both shops are authorized Dexter service centers and I shouldn't have had damage to my unit from over greasing. I will make sure that the parts are saved for further analysis.
__________________
Ron and Terrie Ames - MOC #1920/KF0NTA
2021Montana 3230CK Super Solar Legacy Package
2021 Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn, BIM Charging
4x4, SRW, LB, Crew Cab, Pullrite 3900 Hitch
rames14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2014, 05:21 AM   #13
dieselguy
Montana Master
 
dieselguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Haysville
Posts: 4,261
M.O.C. #3085
Ron ... I understand what you're saying about dealership part prices, but like said previously, when anyone buys a brake assy (it's cheaper than buying individual parts) it comes with magnets, shoes, springs, and adjuster already assembled on the backing plate ... it's a totally bolt on deal. If they're charging you separately for magnets (they run almost $50 each) ... tell them you just didn't fall off the turnip truck. Also as previously pointed out, what is the reason for drum replacement? Grease wipes right off. If moderately scored, turning the drums is way less money. Unless your drums have been turned before, I'd bet they have enough meat left to simply turn them. A good shop can measure the drums and tell if it's feasible. Of course all this haggling over money will be mute if the Goshen shop covers their shoddy workmanship. I'm just trying to lessen the blow should you not get satisfaction from the Goshen shop.
dieselguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2014, 05:51 AM   #14
rames14
Montana Master
 
rames14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Livermore
Posts: 5,135
M.O.C. #1920
Good news. Dexter is sending new brakes assemblies, seals and drums to the Colorado dealer at no charge. And the Goshen shop is refunding their labor charge to cover the installation in Colorado. I still need to replace a tire, but all things considered, I am pleased with the outcome.
__________________
Ron and Terrie Ames - MOC #1920/KF0NTA
2021Montana 3230CK Super Solar Legacy Package
2021 Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn, BIM Charging
4x4, SRW, LB, Crew Cab, Pullrite 3900 Hitch
rames14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2014, 07:43 AM   #15
Ramblin Roadrunners
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Denver
Posts: 409
M.O.C. #7616
Send a message via MSN to Ramblin Roadrunners
Ron, I know you have a resolution to your problem; Michelle and Ann are right!! Most of the parts could have been cleaned off and not sure if drums need to be turned. The repair is a bit of an overkill in my 02 worth. You know I know a little bit about these things ( Aamco Transmissions) manager for too long.
Ramblin Roadrunners is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2014, 10:23 AM   #16
rames14
Montana Master
 
rames14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Livermore
Posts: 5,135
M.O.C. #1920
No, the drums were almost worn through. It was the face of the drums and not the braking surface. Dexter wouldn't be replacing them if they were fixable. I sent the pictures to the shop in Goshen. Dexter already had the pictures and they, RV America and the Goshen shop all agreed on what needed to be done. At any rate, it is being fixed and will be in good shape for our Alaskan trip.
__________________
Ron and Terrie Ames - MOC #1920/KF0NTA
2021Montana 3230CK Super Solar Legacy Package
2021 Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn, BIM Charging
4x4, SRW, LB, Crew Cab, Pullrite 3900 Hitch
rames14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
What a Deal! timandsusan Navigation 8 11-28-2014 04:04 AM
It's a done deal. We will not..... Glenn and Lorraine North American MOC / Great Lakes Region 23 07-11-2009 07:21 PM
Is this a deal? dsprik Tow Vehicles & Towing 23 09-21-2005 07:19 AM
The deal is done DHenry General Discussions about our Montanas 0 12-03-2003 01:57 PM
Did I get a deal? Montana_341 New Member Introductions 0 06-08-2003 07:59 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Montana RV, Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:41 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.