Awning sliding bracket support bracket cracked on both sides

Last month while doing some work on the Mirada, I unrolled the awning and noticed something unusual.  The small brackets that slide inside the main support arms had cracks.  The sliding bracket on the front arm was cracked almost all the way through. The rear sliding bracket was cracked about 1/4 way through.

I don’t know how long these have been cracked, but I guarantee,  I’ll be looking at them from now on every time I let the awning down or roll it back up.

These sliding brackets don’t serve a purpose when the awning is rolled up,  but when the awning is unrolled,  they provide stiffness and support at the top of the awning, from where the awning attaches near the roof to the fabric roll tube.

If these brackets fail,  the fabric roll tube would be free to blow in the wind with no top support.

 

I got the new brackets on e-bay for about $10 each (2 pack – $20.)  Dometic part #830463P

REPLACING THE SLIDING BRACKET

This should probably be done on a day when there isn’t any breeze, as the support brackets will be disconnected.

NOTE – I did not use the rivet that comes with the new brackets.  Instead, I used a 10-32 stainless bolt and a self locking nut (10-24 would be ok).  I had to cut the bolt to length with a small die grinder.

1) Unroll the awning, and extend the bottom supports a foot or so.

2) Drill the head of the rivet and then push the rivet out with a punch.

Remove the two screws from the bottom of the support arm.  NOTE – These screws use a #1 Square drive screw.  A Philips will work, but is more difficult to get out.

3) Slide the old bracket out and the new bracket in.

4) Install the new rivet , OR,  I used a 10-32 stainless bolt and a self locking nut.  Insert the bolt so the head is on the side of the rail that has the locking holes in the rail.  If you place the nut of the hole side,  the nut could jam or get caught in the locking holes.

5) I use Triflon spray lubricant to lubricate the rails and the groove for the sliding bracket.