NHTSA Complaint #10407241 — 2011 KAUFMAN FDW-6K-18

I PURCHASED A NEW KAUFMAN TRAILER ON 9/23/2011 MODEL FDW-6K-18 EQUIPPED WITH TWO LIPPERT 6000 LBS AXLES. I USE THIS TRAILER TO HAUL A 4000 LBS TRACTOR AND WHEN I HAD TO MAKE A STOP MY TRAILER BEGAN TO SWERVE WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES. I NOTICED THAT GREASE WAS LEAKING OUT OF SEVERAL AXLE HUBS. WHEN RETURNED HOME I DISASSEMBLED THE AXLES HUBS TO DISCOVER THE BRAKE DRUMS AND BACKING PLATES COVERED IN GREASE. I CONTACTED THE KAUFMAN TRAILERS AND THEY REFERRED ME TO LIPPERT COMPONENTS, INC. ABOUT AXLE WARRANTY. I CONTACTED LIPPERT ABOUT THE GREASE AND SAID THAT WAS COSMOLINE AND THAT WAS NORMAL. I EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS GREASE AND THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE; I EVEN SUPPLIED PICTURES OF THE HUBS WITH GREASE ON THE HUB AND WHEEL. I BELIEVE THE GREASE USED WAS OF POOR QUALITY AND WHEN THE AXLE HEATED UP THE GREASE LIQUEFIED CAUSING THE BRAKE PROBLEM. I HAD A NEAR MISS BUT I WANT OTHERS TO BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH LIPPERT COMPONENTS AXLES. UPDATED 07/19/11*BF UPDATED 07/26/11 *BF *TR UPDATED 3/02/2012 *LN