How $400 mainenance turned into $4000 - Montana Owners Club

twindman · 07-24-2019, 01:13 PM

I am making a short stop at home between 2 trips. I had scheduled a dealer visit to replace some of the 'bulb' seals on the slides (I decided I am too old to climb around on top). That was actually only $344.
Also a couple of times one brake was dragging in the gravel at campgrounds. So I asked them to check it.

But as the rig was sitting in AZ at 104 degrees, the air blew the circuit breaker. Reset and restart A/C and it was a no go, but sounded like it was trying to run. I thought maybe a capacitor was bad.
Also while greasing wet bolts I notice some oil under a slide cylinder.

So the A/C compressor was shot - $1446. The cylinder was $727. The one brake was paper thin and the magnet was bent and damaged the brake. The other brakes were also in need of replacement. So that is another $1756.
I guess the good news is it happened while we were at home and already scheduled into the dealer. Also the dealer had just ordered an A/C for stock replacement and not a long wait.
I wanted to just put on disk brakes, but they said the price has gone up dramatically - > $6000. I am pretty sure I could do better someplace - like MorRyd at the rally, but I can't drive that far or wait long for a repair at home.
Oh well.

**Carl n Susan** · 07-24-2019, 01:47 PM

Performance Braking will come to you to install disc brakes. Give them a call before the dealer replaces all yours. It will be around $2500 based on the ones done at the Coos Bay Rally.

rohrmann · 07-24-2019, 10:03 PM

With the labor, and we did the Timken bearing upgrade, we were a little over $3,000, still a great improvement. This photo is the job after the first half day of work, job completed the next day. They will come to you, where ever you are located.

mazboy · 07-25-2019, 05:48 AM

I gotta input here. As for the Brakes '$1756' seems high to me. oh well.

mlh · 07-25-2019, 07:39 AM

You can buy a RV AC for between $500 and $750 and they charged $1446 for less than 2 hours work. The brakes cost about $60 per unit every thing including and they changed $1756 and that should take no longer than an hour per wheel to install.
Like masboy said ol well.
Lynwood

MARK A · 07-25-2019, 10:30 AM

1700 would more than purchased disc brakes. You got screwed the leftover cash could've gone toward labor.

Mark

twindman · 07-25-2019, 02:31 PM

They DO charge $140/hr these days. Was only $100 4 years ago. When I asked about it, they said that is what everyone is charging on the Main St. area in Mesa.
I have been going to this dealer for 13 years and they have always treated me well, but it does seem they are getting very pricey.
As to Performance Brakes, I tried calling a couple of times but only get voice mail. I was a little concerned about service later if I had someone from out of town do the work.

rohrmann · 07-25-2019, 10:34 PM

I'm not sure where all these low prices are for, but this is the invoice for the disc brake package used on my rig. The $900 extra for labor was very reasonable, as Bill worked a solid 1 1/2 days installing this package, and unfortunately the second day was in very high winds. He did an excellent job and I feel very fortunate that he was the installer. I also did opt for the Timken bearings instead of the Chinese bearings that would have been included with the Dexter package, and those are listed on the invoice. The disc package is rated for 8,000 lbs also, so the rotors have 9/16" studs, so new lug nuts were also extra, and with the heavier rotors, the outer bearing is also heavier, which is also a nice extra. You also need to know, these are electric over hydraulic brakes, so there is plumbing to do, in addition to the electric wiring to the actuator that needs to be done, in addition to removing all the drum brakes and installing the rotors with the hardware and calipers. Just getting to the point in the photo in my earlier post was about four hours, and the next day was mounting and wiring of the actuator and then the brake line routing to the calipers, and then finally installing and bleeding the brake fluid. So, an hour per wheel location is a bit off reality.

Carguy1965 · 07-31-2019, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rohrmann

With the labor, and we did the Timken bearing upgrade, we were a little over $3,000, still a great improvement. This photo is the job after the first half day of work, job completed the next day. They will come to you, where ever you are located.

Just got our rig, but boy is this on the agenda as soon as Momma calms down a little !

Carguy1965 · 07-31-2019, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rohrmann

I'm not sure where all these low prices are for, but this is the invoice for the disc brake package used on my rig. The $900 extra for labor was very reasonable, as Bill worked a solid 1 1/2 days installing this package, and unfortunately the second day was in very high winds. He did an excellent job and I feel very fortunate that he was the installer. I also did opt for the Timken bearings instead of the Chinese bearings that would have been included with the Dexter package, and those are listed on the invoice. The disc package is rated for 8,000 lbs also, so the rotors have 9/16" studs, so new lug nuts were also extra, and with the heavier rotors, the outer bearing is also heavier, which is also a nice extra. You also need to know, these are electric over hydraulic brakes, so there is plumbing to do, in addition to the electric wiring to the actuator that needs to be done, in addition to removing all the drum brakes and installing the rotors with the hardware and calipers. Just getting to the point in the photo in my earlier post was about four hours, and the next day was mounting and wiring of the actuator and then the brake line routing to the calipers, and then finally installing and bleeding the brake fluid. So, an hour per wheel location is a bit off reality.

Im guessing the overall performance is way better ??

rohrmann · 07-31-2019, 11:32 PM

You hear stories about what a great upgrade disc brakes are, and you think, yeah but aren't the drums almost as good?, until you have it installed and WOW!!!, it really is an incredible improvement. When we headed out after having them installed at the Coos Bay rally, it was the first time since we bought our rig that the truck and trailer brake like a single rig, instead of which one is really going to stop us. We were running with the truck's controller set at 9.5 with the drums, and we are now at 4.5 with the discs, and this baby will stop a lot sooner than you can imagine. We went south from Coos Bay, and at some point were passed by a fairly new SOB fifth wheel. About 45 minutes later we had caught up with them and their truck's brakes were smoking while they were on the side of the road. I got a smug little smile on my face as we passed where they were, thinking, if they had discs on the trailer, they would still be moving without all the smoke. Just the safety of having a reliable and powerful braking system on the trailer is well worth the cost, better than having insurance.

GAinaMontana · 08-01-2019, 07:26 AM

Disc brakes are the best upgrade you can do. Did mine two years ago and paid about $1300+ for the parts. Took me several days by myself as I don't work as fast as I used to.

azwiz · 08-01-2019, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twindman

I am making a short stop at home between 2 trips. I had scheduled a dealer visit to replace some of the 'bulb' seals on the slides (I decided I am too old to climb around on top). That was actually only $344.
Also a couple of times one brake was dragging in the gravel at campgrounds. So I asked them to check it.

But as the rig was sitting in AZ at 104 degrees, the air blew the circuit breaker. Reset and restart A/C and it was a no go, but sounded like it was trying to run. I thought maybe a capacitor was bad.
Also while greasing wet bolts I notice some oil under a slide cylinder.

So the A/C compressor was shot - $1446. The cylinder was $727. The one brake was paper thin and the magnet was bent and damaged the brake. The other brakes were also in need of replacement. So that is another $1756.
I guess the good news is it happened while we were at home and already scheduled into the dealer. Also the dealer had just ordered an A/C for stock replacement and not a long wait.
I wanted to just put on disk brakes, but they said the price has gone up dramatically - > $6000. I am pretty sure I could do better someplace - like MorRyd at the rally, but I can't drive that far or wait long for a repair at home.
Oh well.

If your using paul evert's rv country, you definitely got screwed! Bought my trailer there, soooo sorry I did!!!

Creeker · 08-01-2019, 08:33 AM

$1756 for replacing drum brakes? Wow!

I'm in the wrong business...

Carguy1965 · 08-01-2019, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rohrmann

You hear stories about what a great upgrade disc brakes are, and you think, yeah but aren't the drums almost as good?, until you have it installed and WOW!!!, it really is an incredible improvement. When we headed out after having them installed at the Coos Bay rally, it was the first time since we bought our rig that the truck and trailer brake like a single rig, instead of which one is really going to stop us. We were running with the truck's controller set at 9.5 with the drums, and we are now at 4.5 with the discs, and this baby will stop a lot sooner than you can imagine. We went south from Coos Bay, and at some point were passed by a fairly new SOB fifth wheel. About 45 minutes later we had caught up with them and their truck's brakes were smoking while they were on the side of the road. I got a smug little smile on my face as we passed where they were, thinking, if they had discs on the trailer, they would still be moving without all the smoke. Just the safety of having a reliable and powerful braking system on the trailer is well worth the cost, better than having insurance.

Thanks for the feedback Sir,, You are confirming what I was expecting..

Cant wait to get this upgrade on my rig...

twindman · 08-01-2019, 08:53 PM

I have the detailed brake bill now. Can someone explain the parts for me? Drum 8 lug
backing plate LH and RT (assume left and right).
Each of these (8 total) were $129. A few other odds and ends for around $40. 4 hours of labor. Forgot the seals at $27.

What is the drum and backing plate? While looking on the internet, I saw brake assemblies for $85-100. Is that one or the other or both of the above?
Thanks for any info.
p.s. Everet's is now just RV Country - Everet got bought (forced?) out. This all happened in the last 4 or 5 years but the employees are the same so I thought they would still be good.

rohrmann · 08-01-2019, 09:55 PM

If you had everything replaced, you would need four drum/hub assemblies and four brake/backing plate assemblies and of these four, there would be two lefts and two rights. The drum/hubs also usually include new bearings to go with the races already pressed in place, and they also have the studs installed, so there would be eight studs in each drum. The backing plate/brake assemblies include all the brake hardware along with new brake shoes and new magnets, all assembled, ready to install.

twindman · 08-02-2019, 09:10 AM

Is $129 each a decent price? If so this is why my brake job was so high.

rohrmann · 08-02-2019, 09:44 AM

The prices for those parts are normal retail. Just like anything, with some effort, you can usually get things cheaper, but they have to make a profit on parts too. Also, Paul Everet retired, and this was a planned transition to become just RV Country.

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