brake adjustment - Montana Owners Club

swanny · 03-25-2010, 10:13 AM

I've been a do it yourself mechanic on all my auto's, and my sons, their girlfriends, my relatives and on and on and on. I do know how to adjust brakes. So today I'm doing the monty's brakes and it occurs to me, I never adjusted electric brakes. So my question is, is it any different than a car brake adjustment? Also if there's any tips or tricks please let me know.

I also had my wheels balanced. I could not believe how bad they were. The guy at the tire shop said It's a wonder they didn't come apart. So do yourselves a favor and get them balanced, it can't hurt.

kevin

PapaBeav · 03-25-2010, 10:30 AM

I have always done my own brake adjustments also. They are basically the same as a car. I just jack it up and then tighten the star adjuster until the wheel won't turn anymore and then back it off about 8 clicks.

ols1932 · 03-25-2010, 12:43 PM

Swanny,
The electric part of the brakes doesn't affect the adjustments. PapaBeav has it right.

Orv

swanny · 03-25-2010, 01:11 PM

thanks guys, I can check that off the list.

swanny

camper4 · 03-25-2010, 02:04 PM

I think your Montana has self adjusting brakes.

Clemson1881 · 03-25-2010, 02:25 PM

What year did the self adjusting brakes start? I adjusted mine a few weeks ago, but they didn't need it. They were already tight.

stimpy123 · 03-25-2010, 03:59 PM

Greg, that is a great question, as I have an 09 model, and haven't adjusted mine yet. I was planning to do them this spring while in Utah for a month or two.

Clemson1881 · 03-25-2010, 04:05 PM

Hopefully someone will be along that has the answer.

NCFischers · 03-26-2010, 01:16 AM

Mine is an 09 and When I adjusted mine, they did take some adjustment so I'm assuming that they are not self adjusting.

camper4 · 03-26-2010, 01:39 AM

I don't know the year they went to self adjusting but I had an 05 that needed adjustment and my current 09 does not. After 15,000 miles, all are pretty much where I want them.

hydman · 03-26-2010, 03:38 AM

All the self adjusting brakes I'm aware of accomplish the adjustments when in reverse and brakes are applied. Not sure we back up enough for them to be effective. I do know that in the past mine required occasional adjustment.

swanny · 03-26-2010, 04:14 AM

whatever kind are installed i feel better knowing I did it and that make me feel better. Thanks everybody for the time and help.
kevin

KTManiac · 03-26-2010, 08:08 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by hydman

All the self adjusting brakes I'm aware of accomplish the adjustments when in reverse and brakes are applied. Not sure we back up enough for them to be effective. I do know that in the past mine required occasional adjustment.

The new Dexter Nev-R-Adjust brakes self adjust going forward, every time the brakes are applied.

Click HERE for info on Nev-R-Adjust brakes.

In the upper righthand corner of the first page of the linked .pdf file, it says "Forward Self-Adjusting Electric Brakes" right under the big, white "NEV-R-ADJUST" logo.

It does not specifically say that they adjust going both ways in the flier that I linked to above, but that is what the Dexter guy told me, as I recall.

************************************************** ****

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Clemson1881

What year did the self adjusting brakes start? I adjusted mine a few weeks ago, but they didn't need it. They were already tight.

If I remember correctly, the Dexter rep at the '09 Fall Rally said that Keystone started using them on the Montana line sometime during the 2010 model year. So a 2010 Montana may, or may not have them. That is of course, ....IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY! I do seem to have a severe case of CRS on occassion.

*************************************

8.1al · 03-26-2010, 10:20 AM

Thanks for the link KTManiac, I looked earlier and couldn't find that. I guess if they are forward adjusting it really doesn't matter whether or not they do in reverse does it?

hydman · 03-27-2010, 12:28 AM

Great information...Now there's one more thing I wish I had. Just have to decide if it's worth the money to retrofit. Until then, I've still got my trusty screwdriver.

noneck · 03-27-2010, 02:12 AM

Regarding the wheel balance, did you have them "Lug" centric balanced? If not then I would be concerned that they are now out of balance...

swanny · 03-27-2010, 02:58 AM

Is that the same as a spin balance?

8.1al · 03-27-2010, 11:55 AM

The wheels on most vehicles are centered on the hub by the hole in the center of the wheel and when the tire shop spin balances them they use a cone to center the wheel on the balancer. Our trailers do not use the hub but use the wheel studs to center the wheel so many trailer wheels do not have a center that runs true with the rim.For these wheel the tire shop should use an adapter that uses the lug holes, if they don't the wheel will run out of round on the balancer and give a false reading. Fortunately for me our aluminum wheel have the center machined true to the rim so I don't have to argue with the tire people.

tennisdg · 03-27-2010, 01:24 PM

mine an 05 3475 had mine adjusted last year

swanny · 03-30-2010, 05:39 AM

Today it talked to the tire mounting shop for Keystone. They said they only balance tires upon request. This we know. But if a customer wants the tires balanced they use the center cone method. They spin balance using the center rim hole with a cone.

kevin

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