[A/S] Re: bearings and brakes

["Thomas Dickieson" <lleather@xxxxxxxx>]

Hi;

When I picked up my '78 31' International Sovereign in Fargo ND last 
week, I had to replace two magnets to make all the brakes work.  They 
cost me $17 each at a local axle parts place, so I think price has to 
do with the particular retailer, and then the added margin of profit 
required by the RV service center.  They were not the Kelsey Hayes 
brand, but the holes were the same size, and the same place on the 
magnet.  They also work great.  I do feel however, as others do, that 
getting a "loaded backing plate" simplifies things an awful lot.  And 
at Charlie's location - where they are $68 each, it's a deal like 
Manhattan. (when it was purchased from the Indians)(who are now 
Native Americans) Now in my case, the brakes on the trailer had 
probably never been used, as there was a six wire umbilical instead 
of a seven, and the wire to the brakes was not connected.  When I 
opened up the drums, they were brand new.  They didn't even have 
scoring on them from contact with the shoes.  The shoes were full 
thickness too.  The only thing that was a problem was the wires being 
broken off right at the two front magnets, and adjustments.  So, in 
this instance, I would not have gone with new backing plates.

To