JD 7400 Brake Lining Repair

[covefarm]

The tractor has had a long term problem with hydraulic & transmission alerts when running at 2,000 rpm or higher. Changing filters, fluid & a sensor have not solved it. Finally had the sump screen cleaned and the mechanic found what he thinks is brake liner debris clogging the screen. The dealer estimates $2,000 in parts and $3,220 labor, $5,200 total for worst case scenarios to replace pistons, disks & plates. May only have to replace the disks but the labor would be the same. I assume because the disks are on the inside and the piston & plates have to be removed to get to them.

The tractor has 5,700 hours and is worth approximately $30,000. Spending $5,200 just for brakes seems like a bad investment. Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.

 

[beenthere]

Is it a job that you might could do yourself? assuming you have the time and the shop, with tools and some mechanical ingenuity?

Paying the hourly labor prices that a dealer has to charge runs the cost up.. much of the labor is for the time-consuming removal of parts just to get at the brakes..

 

[covefarm]

Beenthere - No I don't have most of those. I work off the farm during the day.

 

[jd110]

Not sure what area you are from or what the dealer's labor rate is, but $3200.00 for labor seems very high. Does that include diagnostic fees or any other repairs? Also, if lining material was found in the screen, it could be from PTO clutch or transmission clutches as well. Has there been any water contamination in transmission oil any time? Do you have any photos of the material found in the screen? The shape of the pieces of lining can help identify brake material at times, but unfortunately if it is transmission or pto lining, there is no way to identify it unless some gears or clutches are slipping.

 

[DLTTrekkers]

To clean gringingpaste from the hydraulics is a big job. All hydraulic components needs to be striped and cleaned aswell the casings . To repair the brakes is not the big job.

 

[covefarm]

Jd110, the labor rate is $90 & the $3,200 includes the time for diagnosing. The foreman is confident it is brake lining. They did pressure tests & a dyno all were within spec. There is not water in the fluid. Thanks