2015 GRAND DESIGN REFLECTION Service Brakes Problems

ALL 4 ELECTRIC DRUM BRAKES ON THE REFLECTION FIFTH WHEEL CAMPER TRAILER WERE CONTAMINATED WITH GREASE FROM THE AXLES. AFTER CHECKING BRAKES BECAUSE OF POOR TRAILER BRAKING WHILE TOWING THE FIFTH WHEEL TRAIL, I FOUND THAT ALL 4 BRAKE'S SHOES WERE BARELY WORN AFTER 2 YEARS OF USE. THE BRAKE SHOES HAD GREASE ON THEM AS WELL AS THE ELECTRIC MAGNET THAT ACTIVATES THE BRAKES. THE GREASE CONTAMINATION CAUSED FAULTY OPERATION OF THE BRAKES. NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER LIPPERT HAS SUPPOSEDLY AFTER SEVERAL YEARS MADE SOME CHANGES, BUT STILL BRAND NEW CAMPER TRAILER ARE BEING FOUND WITH BRAKE GREASE CONTAMINATION.

Mileage: 6,400

BRAKES WERE CONTAMINATED WITH WHEEL BEARING GREASE, EITHER DAMAGED/FAULTY REAR WHEEL BEARING SEAL OR/AND SUBSTANDARD GREASE THAT LIQUEFIES. THE CAVITY IN THE HUB IS FILLED TO MAXIMUM CAPACITY WITH GREASE WHICH IS UNNECESSARY WHICH IS ANOTHER CONTRIBUTING FACTORY. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR AT LEAST 6 YEARS. SUSPENSION ITEMS ARE PROVIDED BY LIPPERT (LCI). MY 2011 HEARTLAND SUNDANCE 5TH WHEEL HAD THE SAME ISSUE. GREASE ON THESE BRAKES MAKES IT NEARLY NON FUNCTIONING AND A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE.

Mileage: 2,000

GREASE SEALS FAILING CAUSING AXLE GREASE TO COVER WHEELS AND BRAKE PADS. DEALER HAS REPLACED BOTH SETS OF SEALS ON BOTH SIDES OF BOTH TANDEM AXLES DUE TO THIS ISSUE. ONE SIDE WAS REPLACED IN JAN 2016, THE OTHER SIDE WAS REPLACED IN SEPT 2016.

Mileage: 1,000

TRAILER WHEEL BEARING SEALS LEAKING GREASE, AND COATING BRAKE SHOES WITH GREASE. THREE OUT OF FOUR SEALS WERE LEAKING. REPLACED ALL GREASE SEALS AND REPACKED WHEEL BEARINGS.

Mileage: 10,000

AXLE BEARING GREASE LEAKS ONTO BRAKE SHOES AND ELECTRIC BRAKE MAGNET MECHANISM, MAKING BRAKES LESS EFFECTIVE INCREASING BRAKING DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY, THIS OCCURS WHENEVER USING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES ARE ADJUSTED PROPERLY.

Mileage: 3,000

GRAND DESIGN TRAVEL TRAILERS/5TH WHEELS USING LIPPERT AXLES. WHEEL SEAL FAILURE LETTING WHEEL BEARING GREASE CONTAMINATE THE BRAKE SHOES/PADS & ELECTRO MAGNETS. ALMOST COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING. EMERGENCY ACTIVATION COULD NOT STOP UNIT WITHIN 150 FEET AT 10MPH. SEALS WERE HARD WHEN REMOVED.

Mileage: 1,000

SHORTLY AFTER DELIVERY OF A BRAND NEW 5TH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILER I BEGAN TO NOTICE GREASE LEAKING FROM THE DRUM. AFTER PULLING THE BRAKE DRUMS I FOUND DARK GREASE HAD MIGRATED PAST THE SEALS AND IN TO THE DRUMS COATING THE INSIDE OF THE DRUMS, BRAKE PAD SURFACES AND MAGNET. THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON MY TRAILER ARE MANUFACTURED AND ASSEMBLED BY LIPPERT COMPONENTS, IND.

Mileage: 2,000

I WAS RETURNING FROM A TRIP, WHEN THE ELECTRIC BRAKES ON MY 5TH WHEEL TRAILER STARTED NOT WORKING. EVEN WITH THE BRAKE CONTROLLER GAIN TURNED TO MAXIMUM, THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO BRAKING. I INSPECTED THE BRAKES WHEN I GOT HOME AND FOUND THAT GREASE WAS LEAKING FROM ALL 4 WHEEL BEARING GREASE SEALS COATING THE BRAKE SHOES. THIS WAS ONLY THE 3RD TRIP I HAD TAKEN WITH THIS UNIT AND HAD TOWED IT LESS THAN 2500 MILES TOTAL SINCE PURCHASE IN AUGUST 2014. STOPPING DISTANCE WAS MUCH MORE THAN NORMAL WITH NO TRAILER BRAKES. AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED HAD THERE BEEN AN UNUSUAL SITUATION REQUIRING A SUDDEN STOP. MANUFACTURE IS CORRECTING THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY WITH TOTAL BRAKE AND SEAL REPLACEMENT.

Mileage: 2,500

THIS IS A NEW TRAILER THAT HAD GREASE ON ALL FOUR BRAKES DUE TO GREASE PASSING THROUGH THE SEALS. THE MANUFACTURER IS THE ONLY ONE THAT HAD PACKED THE WHEEL BEARINGS. THE HUBS WERE FILLED WITH GREASE INDICATING THAT THE "EASY-LUBE" FEATURE HAD BEEN USED TO PACK THE BEARINGS. I DON'T BELIEVE THE SEALS ARE BAD, I BELIEVE THE PROCEDURES ARE FLAWED. FIFTH WHEELS OF THIS WEIGHT SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS TYPE OF AXLE. THERE AREN'T ANY SEALS THAT ARE GOING TO CONTAIN THE GREASE FROM A GREASE GUN THAT IS FILLING THE HUB .

Mileage: 400

LIPPERT BRAKE SHOES AND MAGNETS CONTAMINATED WITH GREASE. GREASE SEAL BLEW OUT WITH EXCESSIVE GREASE AND/OR FAULTY SEALS. STOPPING ABILITY OF VEHICLE EXTREMELY IMPACTED AND DANGEROUS

Mileage: 2,500