Parking brake will not release
Last month while in Tampa Florida we started home in our 2004 Dutch Star motorhome and when I tried to release the parking brakes, the yellow button you push in to release the parking brakes would not stay in and the brakes were locked. I called Spartan Chassis and was told the parking brake valve $37.00 (yellow button) was probably defective. It’s easy to change so I bought a new one and installed it......no change. I called Spartan back and they said the next part suspected would be the inversion valve. It’s not easy to get to, so I wanted to go home to fix this problem. I looked up on You Tube how to “Cage” the parking brakes and did so. We drove 600 miles home with no problems except my wife would have to get out and put chocks in front and behind a tire to keep us from rolling.
Changed the inversion valve which is buried behind the two air tanks and cost $176.00. No change! I called Spartan back and they said call Halidex the brake system manufacturer. I called and the guy said it’s got to be your rear brake boosters diaphragm internally broken. I called Napa and bought two of them and changed them out. $120.00 later....No change!
I’m really frustrated now and I call Spartan back and he said you need to take this to a shop that can troubleshoot and fix this. I said could you send me a schematic of the brake system, he said sure. I’m a former Air Force mechanic and C5 Flight Engineer and know how to read a schematic. I traced the source of air from the supply tanks to the parking brake release valve and guess what? The first thing out of the supply tanks is a two way / double check valve. I found it in front of the two air tanks and it was easy to get to and had it off in 15 minutes. Called Napa gave him the part number, $42.00 later I have the valve and installed it. Cranked the motorhome up built up air pressure and pushed in the parking brake release valve....Hallelujah! The parking brakes released!
Our motorhome is 14 years old now and rubber parts are starting to fail. I took the rear brake boosters apart and the big rubber diaphragm was dry rotted and cracked. I am going to go ahead and change the front boosters and the front air bags. I don’t want anymore sudden surprises. I changed the rear air bags last year.
Hope you find this information useful.
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Carolina Nomads
2005 Newmar Dutch Star
2015 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited
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