Estimate for $5000 brake job on a trailer???

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by tompands, Jun 8, 2022.

  1. tompands

    tompands Bobtail Member

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    I just got a quote for a COMPLETE brake job on my 1980 Lowboy trailer. $5000. It's got 15" wheels. They said all new s cams and bushings, new 30/30 chambers, new slacks, shoes and seals and a new brake valve. They get $121 an hour. Seems way high to me. I think I need to find someone else. Trailer has been sitting, it took them 3 weeks to pick it up and bring to their shop, 2 more weeks to get me an estimate. Anybody know anyone around Davenport , Iowa that could do this cheaper ???
     
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  3. Arctic_fox

    Arctic_fox Experienced mx13 execrator

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    Thats actully a pretty decent price. I just had to pay $3300 for a single set of brakes, bishings, piston and calipers on one axle and wheel. And that was me buying the parts at the cheapest rate i could find (yay discs!) So 5k for all 4 seems pretty decent.
     
  4. JoeyJunk

    JoeyJunk Road Train Member

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    That’s not a brake job, thats a complete rebuild. Might be right on price with everything that is being replaced. Maybe the parts for 15 inch are more money? Not as common?
     
  5. BoxCarKidd

    BoxCarKidd Road Train Member

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    If it still has the cast shoes you have to upgrade to stamped steel and pay core charges. The old ones can have brass screws and are time consuming, brass is expensive anymore and some are riveted. No one wants to reline shoes anymore. Liability.
    The shoes can have bushings in them and the anchor pins can be a pain in the butt. Hidden things to run into like bad spiders.
    Does not sound like a really bad price as yes parts for these are more expensive.
    Sorry I do not know anyone there.
     
  6. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    How long has it been sitting for? A lot of times things are much harder to take apart after sitting a year or more outside.

    This is far more than a simple brake job and I don't think $5k is too out of line for what you're describing. Say 3-4 hours per wheel end (assuming these are spoke style hubs). There's an easy $1500 in labour right there.

    With today's prices I can see the parts bill hitting $3000 easy. Drums, slacks, shoes, chambers, probably airlines to the chambers since swivel fittings will likely be seized up, cams, bushings, anchor pins/brake hardware, wheel seals, possibly wheel bearings if they're pitted, damaged or water-etched.
     
  7. God prefers Diesels

    God prefers Diesels Road Train Member

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    I hate to show my stupidity, but you don't mean like actual spiders, right? I'm talking eight legs, and a penchant for hating humans.
     
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  8. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    The spider is the heavy cast piece that bolts onto the ends of the axle housing. The brake shoes are mounted onto the spider.
     
  9. God prefers Diesels

    God prefers Diesels Road Train Member

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    Oh, thank God. I'm thinking "old trailer filled will black widows". Personally, I could see charging more for that. But I'm kind of a #####.
     
  10. JoeyJunk

    JoeyJunk Road Train Member

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    :biggrin_2559::biggrin_2559::biggrin_2559::biggrin_2559::biggrin_2559:

    Same here.
     
  11. God prefers Diesels

    God prefers Diesels Road Train Member

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    You guys might think it's dumb, but I actually skipped greasing my trailer one trip because of a spider. The other day, a 1.5" wolfie ran me out of my own steel pile. These devil spawn are NOT to be reckoned with.
     
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