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Old 05-05-2015, 05:53 PM   #1
halfwright
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Brake wiring

I replaced the brakes (backing plates and all) on my 2007 Montana Mountaineer 342 PHT. It had the 6000 pound brakes and I replaced them with the Dexter 7000 pound self adjusting brakes. I adjusted until I got a slight drag. I was a mechanic for 15 years, so I have a half an idea of what I am doing. But, the new brakes were almost non-existent. The magnets in the 7000 pound are supposed to be heavier duty than the 6000. The wiring in the trailer belly appeared to be 14 gauge, but could have been 16. All the wiring for the controller is 12 and going to the trailer plug is 12. But, Dexter recommends 10 gauge throughout. I really don't want to rewire the truck, so I am going to compromise and use 10 gauge in the belly to the axle and inside the front axle going across, then 12 to the magnets on all wheels. Hopefully, this will cut down on resistance enough to get good braking action. If I can find a good place to do it, I will ground the magnets as close as possible keeping the wire short. I am also thinking of a common ground in addition since I know that most problems are caused by bad grounds.

Has any one else had weak brakes after replacing them with the 7000 pound type?
 
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Old 05-05-2015, 06:09 PM   #2
rohrmann
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When I installed new brake assemblies/backing plates, I also had the drums turned, brake surface and magnet surface. Within maybe 10 miles, the brakes finished adjusting themselves, and were very good. I started out with the 7K brakes, so did not upgrade as you did, but the brakes had gotten contaminated with grease, so new brakes and freshly turned drums made a vast improvement. Did you turn the drums? Where I was located when I did the brake job, there were only two shops who could turn the electric drums, and I was told that most auto shops are not set up to turn these.
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Old 05-06-2015, 02:55 AM   #3
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No, I did not have the drums turned. There was no excessive grooving or wear. I am going to start re-wiring today. I am still at a loss as to why the old brakes worked as well as they did if the wiring was not heavy enough.
What size wire does your system have??
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Old 05-06-2015, 03:12 AM   #4
dieselguy
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For the most part, what rohrmann said rings true. I didn't have grooves or much wear either when I went with 7000# brakes ... what I did do was take a dotco and slightly scuff up the surface where the old shoes ran. It took about 50 miles, but the brakes settled in with noticable stopping power over the 6000# assys. In the past I too was concerned about the factory small gauge wire going to the brakes and upgraded to #10 gauge before I went with the 7000# assys. There was absolutely no improvement by going to a larger gauge wire. It's your call on the wire ... I'd do several hard stops and tow it a few miles to help burnish in the brakes first.
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Old 05-06-2015, 07:04 AM   #5
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The wiring from the belly and through the axle tubes appears to be #16, maybe #14, but I'm thinking #16. Just like any brake job, it will take some wear-in to achieve good braking if you didn't turn the drums, which I'm sure you are aware of.
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Old 05-06-2015, 07:24 AM   #6
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I did the same thing last spring. For the first 30 - 50 miles it was like the new brakes didn't exist. But once they wore in they were fine. Take you rig out for a ride and use the brakes periodically, they'll set in and you will be happy with them.
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Old 05-06-2015, 08:58 AM   #7
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I have pulled it over 300 miles and used them hard coming down the east side of Organ Pass. I knew they had to seat, but I would have thought they would seated by now. I guess I will keep looking for the problem.
Thanks for the help!!!
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