Members: Thanks to each of you who responded to my question about breaking down my VIN. I suspected the old trailer was a west coast unit because when I got it,the original dealer license plate frame with the name of a CA city was still installed. I think I'll clean it up, possibly have it rechromed, and reinstall it when I get the old unit back on the road. The rest of you may be years ahead of me on the following "discovery" but I'll share it on the chance that anyone is facing a decision about repairing the electric brakes on a vintage trailer. This week I turned my attention to the brakes and wheel bearings on my Safari. Before I put it up on blocks to remove the wheels, tires, brake drums and wheel bearings, I tested the electric brakes with a battery charger jury rigged into the tow vehicle connector and found one of two brake magnets was dead. The brake shoes showed little wear and the backing plates, springs, clips, and adjusters looked serviceable but rusted. I removed the bad magnet and traveled to a local RV dealer where the Airstream mechanic who formerly worked at the now defunct early Airstream dealer, Abbot Trailer Sales, is now employed. I showed him the magnet which was oblong and different than previous Airstream brake magnets I had seen. The mechanic suggested that since it is never satisfactory to replace only one magnet, (they should always be replaced at least in pairs according to him) rather than buying two new magnets I should buy complete new backing plates with all new brake shoes, magnets, springs, clips, and adjusters. He explained that I could buy a complete new backing plate with all new hardware for approximately $40 while one new magnet would cost about $28. I was skeptical but sure enough, I went to a local manufacturer of agricultural and commercial trailers and purchased two complete new 12" electric brake backing plates with all hardware for about $45 each. I also bought new inner and outer wheel bearings and inner seals for about $10 per wheel. So, for the grand total of about $130 with tax, my old trailer now has complete new brakes and wheel bearings and will be ready to hit the road with confidence. I also removed the rusty and dirty old shock absorbers which appeared to be original. On extension they still had some tension but on compression, they were limp. I inquired and learned that the local Airstream dealer sells replacements for about $40 per shock. The old shocks had a DELCO (GM) part number which made me think there was a good chance that Airstream used commonly available and cheap Chevrolet shocks. (As a recent purchaser of the trailer, I can't swear they're original) The Delco part number would not cross but my local NAPA parts friend miked and measured the original shock, flipped through his parts catalogs, disappeared into the back room, and returned with a pair of brand new NAPA gas charged shocks with nearly identical specs for $17.40 per shock. His catalog showed that the normal application for the new shock was '68-'70 something Chevy 1/2 ton pickup front shocks. The replacements may not provide the identical damping as the engineers specified for the original shocks but they fit and they will certainly be better than the limp originals I removed. So, for whatever they may be worth, I'm passing on my experiences with '66 Safari brakes, bearings, and shocks. I hope this will be of use to someone in a similar situation. Harvey Barlow '93 Excella, '66 Safari, VAC To unsubscribe or to change to a daily Digest, please go to http://www.airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html If replying back to this message, please delete all the unnecessary original text from your reply.
