UHaul CT13 Brakes

[Roger Kimble]

You could be on to something, by this time next week I will have mine apart and if it is a U-Haul axel I will know what brake drum from what car will fit, I can get the breaks from that R & P carrage, around $30.00 each. I had not known how the U-Hual hub was made untill you put it on this site, it made a big differance.

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by Roger Kimble

You could be on to something, by this time next week I will have mine apart and if it is a U-Haul axel I will know what break drum from what car will fit, I can get the breaks from that R & P carrage, around $30.00 each. I had not known how the U-Hual hub was made untill you put it on this site, it made a big differance.

Roger, I'd be very interested if you could take some pictures and measure the dimensions of the VT brake drum. It would help me find the closest available standard part. I'd especially be interested in the center hub hole diameter, the diameter of the brake surface and the width of the brake surface.

[Roger Kimble]

I'll be using 2.25 X 10 brakes, I do not have any brakes at this time

[Roger Kimble]

( I found a good data base at the Bendix site listing drum dimensions for virtually all American cars.)

Could you show the site?

[Roger Kimble]

Originally Posted by Thomas G.

I want to correct an error. While it is true that the U Haul car trailer has a similar hub to the CT13, I measured the lug nut spacing on a car trailer at a local U Haul dealer and found the studs to be farther spaced than the U Haul camper - I think 5" bolt circle.

My quest for brake drums continues. One possibility is to buy a drum with the correct center hole and a 4.5" bolt circle, then enlarge the stud holes to accommodate the U Haul 4.75 bolt circle. I found a good data base at the Bendix site listing drum dimensions for virtually all American cars. Right now it looks like a 1980 Granada rear brake drum would have the right size braking surface and center hub, but a 4.5" bolt circle.

U Haul has steadfastly ignored my emails inquiring about buying VT drums. I've tried calling, but didn't leave a message, thinking if they ignore emails, they probably won't answer a message, either.

The quest continues.

I find it easyer to grind out the center hole to the size I want rather than redrilling the stud holes

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by Roger Kimble

I find it easyer to grind out the center hole to the size I want rather than redrilling the stud holes

I can't find a brake drum with a 4.75 bolt circle in a 10" diameter. So for me it would be easier to pop out the studs from the old hub, install the brake drum and drill the new holes offset form the original holes.

[Roger Kimble]

Originally Posted by Thomas G.

I want to correct an error. While it is true that the U Haul car trailer has a similar hub to the CT13, I measured the lug nut spacing on a car trailer at a local U Haul dealer and found the studs to be farther spaced than the U Haul camper - I think 5" bolt circle.

My quest for brake drums continues. One possibility is to buy a drum with the correct center hole and a 4.5" bolt circle, then enlarge the stud holes to accommodate the U Haul 4.75 bolt circle. I found a good data base at the Bendix site listing drum dimensions for virtually all American cars. Right now it looks like a 1980 Granada rear brake drum would have the right size braking surface and center hub, but a 4.5" bolt circle.

U Haul has steadfastly ignored my emails inquiring about buying VT drums. I've tried calling, but didn't leave a message, thinking if they ignore emails, they probably won't answer a message, either.

Could you show the link for Bendix?

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by Roger Kimble

Could you show the link for Bendix?

• Click Rear Rotors/Drums/Kits
• Passenger Car / Light Truck
• Click on part number to see all dimensions

Bendix - Application Look-up

[Roger Kimble]

Does your bolt pattern measure 4.5, number one stud to number three stud?

[Roger Kimble]

That is a wounderful site.

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by Roger Kimble

Does your bolt pattern measure 4.5, number one stud to number three stud?

I measure about 4.55" from the center of #1 stud to the center of #3 stud.

[Roger Kimble]

OK according to R & P carrage

But I would ask the dealer which it is across the studs or the circle The Fords looked close, I might have to do the samething

[mary and bob]

There are a couple different cheap tools available to measure bolt circle. I got mine from Eastwood. It's a plastic thing with various holes to match different bolt patterns. I would think the best way to center the holes in a brake drum would be on a machinist indexing turntable. I don't have one for my milling machine, but do have a lathe to recut the center hole. I'm interested to see how this all comes out, although we just did about 3000 miles pulling our CT13 with a Honda CRV with no braking problems. Have you guys looked on the Uhaul truck parts website for parts? I sent an email question to them on that site once, and got a reply, but not sure if the answer was correct, but I did get an answer. Bob

[Roger Kimble]

Originally Posted by mary and bob

There are a couple different cheap tools available to measure bolt circle. I got mine from Eastwood. It's a plastic thing with various holes to match different bolt patterns. I would think the best way to center the holes in a brake drum would be on a machinist indexing turntable. I don't have one for my milling machine, but do have a lathe to recut the center hole. I'm interested to see how this all comes out, although we just did about 3000 miles pulling our CT13 with a Honda CRV with no braking problems. Have you guys looked on the Uhaul truck parts website for parts? I sent an email question to them on that site once, and got a reply, but not sure if the answer was correct, but I did get an answer. Bob

I did not see any brake drums there, they have hubs, Tom got one and some light covers

[mary and bob]

I got 2 hubs, a couple marker lights, and the tail light conversions. Don't plan on using the light conversion things, but got them just in case. Best thing to do may be to find a big Uhaul place and hope someone there will take the time to listen and help. I've heard some CT owners just changed the whole axle to get brakes. that may be the best route.

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by mary and bob

..... I would think the best way to center the holes in a brake drum would be on a machinist indexing turntable. I don't have one for my milling machine, but do have a lathe to recut the center hole. ......Bob

I've found that I can fairly easily find a brake drum with the right sized center hole (1980 Granada or LTD, 1998 Ranger), but they have a 4.5" bolt circle. I plan to take my old hub and pop out the studs, then redrill the drum through the open stud holes. With a pilot on the hub, this should be plenty accurate.

Right now, my concern is will the brake drum be too thick, and will it interfere with the 13" wheel. It looks like it will be tight, but once I get the electric brakes that I ordered from Eastern Marine, it will all become clearer. If it works, I will add brakes for less than $150.

I'm not sure if there is an axle assembly that is just a bolt in. If one had to get into modifying it to ensure that the tire was place correctly in the wheel well and the suspension arm was oriented correctly, it could be a handful, as well.

Lastly, these little guys have lasted a quarter century with no brakes, so it is probably not urgent.

I did finally talk to a guy who was the former tech guy at UHaul and he said there is no parts list for the VT. He did say that he thought the VT brake system was common with another UHaul trailer and had me leave a message with Frank at UHaul. I'm waiting for his call...emails unanswered to this point.

[CindyL]

The Uhaul guy is right, although they are surge brakes. The controller for the double axel trailer will work. It is what we have.

CindyL

[Roger Kimble]

Originally Posted by CindyL

The Uhaul guy is right, although they are surge brakes. The controller for the double axel trailer will work. It is what we have.

CindyL

Are the brake drums on your hubs,as Tom asked would a VT brake drum work on a CT?

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by Roger Kimble

Are the brake drums on your hubs,as Tom asked would a VT brake drum work on a CT?

Exactly, the $64,000 question.


And if so are VT drums available anywhere?

[CindyL]

Hubby says that he does not know. He is using the drums that were on the trailer, although they are not yet working. I cannot speak to the drums of the dual axel Uhaul being the same as the VT. We are using the controller of one of these trailers.

Personally, if I had the money, I would switch to electric, even if it means new axels. I think that when we get the things working, they will be a pain. At the same time, after a few incidences during this trip, I am not making another camping trip until those brakes are working.

CindyL