Screeching brakes

[jillie]

We were caught in four delays in the last three days. Each delay lasted about forty-five minutes. During that time traffic crawled with short stop-and-goes. During the last delay, the brakes starting screeching when I braked. I thought maybe they were hot from all the start/stopping but today when I exited the interstate, they screeched at the first stop sign. Anything to worry about?

["007"]

If your heating up the brakes in heavy traffic the pads may need to be looked at.
If you smell the brakes while stopped check the rims of the wheels under the wheel covers and see if they are hot would indicate a caliper seizure and needs attention before more serious problem as boiling brake fluid.
If you have a seizure pull off road and allow caliper to release when cooled.
You maybe able to continue with no further problem.
Not knowing where you are if you were traveling through dusty area you may have picked up dirt between pads and you are grinding it between pads and disk when hitting brakes.
I do not have as heavy a coach as you but I hold back in traffic and allow the weight of coach to slow me down so brakes only require a light touch.

[Norm4015]

Light braking will cause the pads to glaze and cause squeeking. Get out on the open road and at about 60 mph, with no one behind you, step on the brakes hard like in a panic stop. Do that two or three times and it will wear the glaze off and quieten the brakes.

[jillie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norm4015 Light braking will cause the pads to glaze and cause squeeking. Get out on the open road and at about 60 mph, with no one behind you, step on the brakes hard like in a panic stop. Do that two or three times and it will wear the glaze off and quieten the brakes.

Well, let me tie down the dinnerware and when we're on the road again soon I'll try that. The screeching was driving me crazy.

[jillie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by "007" If your heating up the brakes in heavy traffic the pads may need to be looked at. If you smell the brakes while stopped check the rims of the wheels under the wheel covers and see if they are hot would indicate a caliper seizure and needs attention before more serious problem as boiling brake fluid. If you have a seizure pull off road and allow caliper to release when cooled. You maybe able to continue with no further problem. Not knowing where you are if you were traveling through dusty area you may have picked up dirt between pads and you are grinding it between pads and disk when hitting brakes. I do not have as heavy a coach as you but I hold back in traffic and allow the weight of coach to slow me down so brakes only require a light touch.

We'll be heading back to the dealer next month and we'll be sure to check the rims.

I tried to let the coach slow down on its own but it kept moving. I even shifted down to first gear but that made no difference. I think it really loves being on the road.

[Mr_D]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norm4015 Light braking will cause the pads to glaze and cause squeeking. Get out on the open road and at about 60 mph, with no one behind you, step on the brakes hard like in a panic stop. Do that two or three times and it will wear the glaze off and quieten the brakes.

Kind of what FL told me to do on our 2000 DSDP EXCEPT they said to do it from 45 or so and on an empty stretch of back road. It worked BTW.

[SteveLevin]

Just to add... do NOT brake all the way to a stop... just a good hard braking to kill off a bunch of speed, then start rolling again, repeat, and ideally after say the third time try and cruise for a bit without using any brake.

Steve

[jillie]

Will let you all know after our next trip next month. Thanks.