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jerry and toni smith · 12-17-2008, 04:41 AM

Recently after returning from a lenthy days drive and a short cross town stop and go section My left rear braked smoked for a few seconds when we stopped to unhook the car. Had not smoked befor. Asubsequent 20 mile drive to the storage yard had no smoking and they did not feel warm. I know that these brakes are self adjusting and assume that either that one brake adjusted too tight or had momentarily stuck. The brakes were serviced at 10,000 miles and the coach currently has 20,000 miles on the road. No past issues with the brakes other than groaning when cold or when in lengthy stop and go traffic. Anyone with a similar experience.

jerry smith
2006 34 Alpine

jerry and toni smith · 12-17-2008, 04:41 AM

Recently after returning from a lenthy days drive and a short cross town stop and go section My left rear braked smoked for a few seconds when we stopped to unhook the car. Had not smoked befor. Asubsequent 20 mile drive to the storage yard had no smoking and they did not feel warm. I know that these brakes are self adjusting and assume that either that one brake adjusted too tight or had momentarily stuck. The brakes were serviced at 10,000 miles and the coach currently has 20,000 miles on the road. No past issues with the brakes other than groaning when cold or when in lengthy stop and go traffic. Anyone with a similar experience.

jerry smith
2006 34 Alpine

Wayne R · 12-17-2008, 05:51 AM

Is it possible you drove with the parking brake on? I only ask because I left it on for about a mile one time in my 2000 and it smoked quite a bit and came out in about that area.

OldForester · 12-17-2008, 02:14 PM

About 3 months ago I had the same issue. I was returning to the storage yard after a trip to the dealer for 30,000 mile service and I decided to take a drive go up a long steep hill on another road near the storage yard to test my Jake Brake setting for "auto cruise-enable". When I turned around at the top and drove down the hill, I used my brake fairly heavily to slow down and stop because my Jake Brake wasn't set correctly. This cause smoke to come from the driver's side rear, and stayed with me for about 2 minutes until I got back to the storage yard and parked.

I tried to figure out the source of the smoke, and had difficulty because by the time I got looking for it the smoke had died down. I thought it might be some residual oil on the exhaust manifold, or something like that but I had no leaks nor oil anywhere. Finally concluded it was smoke from the left rear brake. I haven't had an issue before that or in 3 trips and about 1000 miles since.

So I'm speculating I had a brake stuck or adjusted too tight, but I think the hard braking done just prior to the event probably had more to do with it. Why it focused on only the one wheel I'm not sure, unless the brakes were that far out of adjustment and focused to much drag on that wheel.

That's my guess at what you experienced as well; some fairly hard braking and a momentary sticking or difference in adjustment.

Ted III · 12-17-2008, 04:18 PM

I would crawl underneath your coach and see if your brake rotor is covered with oil or if you see a little oil dripping from the end of the axle. It is very possible you have an axle oil seal leaking.

OldForester · 12-18-2008, 02:10 PM

Ted,

No oil leak, it's very dry. Just produced a lot of smoke for a short time.

Tom and Patty · 12-18-2008, 07:25 PM

Hi Jerry and Toni!!

Here is my 2 cents. The smoke was from the brake pads, and they were hot. Us MH'ers don't use our brakes very hard and some of the smoke my very well have been from build up of road oils ect.

We had to panic stop when a dog ran out in front of us on a steep downhill road, we were letting her run, doing about 70. By the time we stopped (and fast) the rear brakes were smoking. We let them cool and I got underneath and found nothing wrong. We have never had a problem since.

I would check the caliper slides for rust. A panic stop could push the caliper farther on the slide and it could drag some.

Need to set a date for the Eastman Lake spring get together. End of March or first of April.

I should create a post. We could have one heck of a party. Ranger

Kieth might never recover

Merry Christmas everyone!!

jerry and toni smith · 12-19-2008, 12:46 AM

Thanks everyone for your replys. The parking brake was off. The high jake was on. I have decided to have the brakes serviced as it has been 10,000 since the last. Will have the main hydraulic system serviced as well. Has Anyone had experience with Lodi RV?

Tom, coasting at 70? Taht PT must have been airborn. Anyway that was one lucky dog. Eastman sounds good. Hope to see you at DRR. Jerry