Work on Rear Tyres & Brakes
March 2023
In February 2023 with what started as nice freezing winter weather,
I buy new Rear Michelin XZL 11.00R20 Tyres.
My old Mitas NT 9's were a Diagonal type of Tyre and had served me well. They were hard and also weren't rated with the M&S symbol for winter, so I decided to move to the Radial styled Michelin XZL
So with the ground nicely frozen, I jack the truck and remove both wheels, putting the Spare Wheel on
one side to help stabilize the Truck.
My new Tyres arrive, so put everything on a trailer and go to get them fitted
Setting up to remove the Tyres
Perfect weather for jacking
Yay, New Michelin XZL Tyres
All tied down after their trailer adventure
Wheel is off
And on they go!
Back on the Truck
Perfect weather, then it got warm, and the ice turned to mud, so putting them back on became quite a mission. My jacks and support blocks sunk a bit and I had to dig out the groove the wheels had made to slide them over enough to get back on the Wheel studs, amongst blocks of ice, running pools of water and sticky mud.
But I did get a beautiful track print when the following week it froze again, as I drove forward to get wood chips under the wheels, so I sit evenly on the ground.
Beautiful Icy Frozen Track print
While I had the tyres off, I realised it was probably a good time to look at the brakes
My Wheel Cylinders were last worked on in 2013.
Upon removing the Brake Drum and the Wheel Cylinders, I find that they are in need of replacing.
So on a beautiful winters day, I get to work.
Remove the Wheels, then replace both sides with New Cylinders.
Here you can see also how my jacking wood is sinking in the mud.
Behind, the axle is sitting on a big support of wooden blocks
This is the Left Wheel Cylinder once I had
removed it, to find it was rust sized halfway
along its stroke
This is the Right Wheel Cylinder once I had
removed it. I found it was also sized halfway
along its stroke and leaking as well!
A few years ago I had bought new Wheel Cylinders, so now was the time to fit them
The weather got warm, and the ice began melting, causing my jacking wood to start sinking into the
newly forming soft mud as I throw wood chips under them for more support.
The New Cylinders go back in and the Hub back on.
I then notice that the Right Rear Hub Oil Seal is leaking again.
That means Ive got to drop the Brake Drum and Wheel Hub to repair it soon.
While I was at it, I dropped out the Master Cylinder, as Id never had removed it.
I was interested to see if it was leaking, which it wasn't, which made me happy
Once removed, I found a tag that gave details
of the Cylinder.
Internal diameter: 31.75 mm
Stroke length: 70 mm
Mercedes Part Number: 001 430 72 01
Ate Number: 3.3131-2217.3
Also on the tag was the date of when it was
last serviced, 1988
Sent it to get serviced and was told they would replace with a new one as it was cheaper.
At the same time, I ordered new 6 mm Brake Pipes made for the Rear Axle.
In February 2020 I had replaced all 3 Rubber Brake Hoses.
The new Brake Master Cylinder after putting it back in and bleeding brakes
And new Brake Pipes on the rear diff
Spring weather arrives in April, so it's off with the Right Rear Wheel Hub to replace the leaking Oil Seal
Now the mud has dried out!
Hub is off and Im starting to clean everything before putting in the new Seal
Bearings are out and the old Seal removed
Reassembled and with a clean Oil Fang
New Oil Seal is in, so then put the Hub and Wheel back on
While Im working on the Truck, I take off the Oil Bath Air Filter and give it a good clean
When I was doing the Brakes, I had noticed that the Pedal wasn't fully returning. On inspection of the Brake control Rod, I found that the Pins were seized.
I needed to use my Universal Joint Press to force the pins out, they were so stuck in.
Then some filing, drilling and sanding, before they moved freely. Assembled well greased.