Community Forums

Marca · 03-28-2014, 05:32 PM

The last couple of short trips in Florida (less than 80 miles each on cool days), the Silverleaf Tire Monitoring System and our Transmission temps were running higher than normal. The first time it happened was after fueling up and traveling about 14 miles from the station to our campground.

We called CoachNet for suggestions as to where to get the brakes checked. They recommended ABC Bus Service in Winter Garden, FL. Made an appointment with them and ordered the master cylinder upgrade kit from Redlands Tire as we wanted to do that at the same time as the brake inspection and brake fluid flush. Made an appointment with ABC Bus Service and carefully explained the procedure we wanted done. I had printed every post I could find on IRV2 about what needed to be done and Keith at Redlands said for them to call him with any questions.

Well, we took the coach in to ABC and they installed the master cylinder and said they did the all wheel removal brake inspection and brake fluid change and bleeding. Charged 1.25 hrs and no brake fluid charge on the invoice. Hmm? Still insisted they removed all the wheels and bled the brakes using the two bleed screws per caliper. We picked up the coach and on the next trip drove about 80 miles nursing the tire temps and transmission temps over half the trip. Took the coach to another RV shop and guess what. They did a complete inspection and showed us that there was no way the previous shop did a brake fluid flush since the rear calipers were not getting any fluid. They could not get any fluid to even go through them although the calipers were not rusted, dirty, or anything like that. They had simply seized up and were not releasing properly. The rear rotors were cracked and of course brake pads, and new lines were needed. In order for our extended warranty to cover any of this, we had to prove what caused the failure and since we couldn't, guess what it was on us.

We had thought we were getting the brake fluid flushes done several times prior to this as different things were worked on but now we aren't sure any of them ever removed all the wheels to do the inspection.

Every one of them said our brakes were in great shape with very little wear noted. All except the last one who showed us all the damage and explained how everything should work.

$5,000+ later and now for the first time in owning the coach we have brakes!

My goodness what a difference the master cylinder and new brake components have made. We are sure that the brakes never worked right from the beginning. Oh, by the way, on a short trip today, the transmission temperature is now running back in its normal range too. The only explanation the RV Service Manager had for that was perhaps the heat was being transferred throughout the running gear to it.

Thanks to the Silverleaf System we knew we had a problem and took steps to avoid a catastrophic failure. Still waiting for ABC Bus Service to call me back on exactly what they did. Oh, I forgot to mention they changed our TranSynd Transmission Fluid while we were there even though we told them it only had a few thousand miles on it. That was supposed to fix the elevated Transmission temperature.

I am so tired of Service Writers and mechanics ignoring their customers and doing what they want to not what we ask them to do! ABC did admit though that we sure knew a lot about our coach. Thanks to IRV2 we do we just can't get them to listen!

Advice: GET YOUR BRAKES INSPECTED PROPERLY AND FLUSHED AND BLED OFTEN! INSIST ON LOOKING AT WHAT THEY FIND!

Algoma · 03-28-2014, 06:20 PM

Sorry to hear of your problems. I would think you would also have noticed a large increase in fuel consumption if the brakes were binding. I would also keep an eye on your tires if the wheels were overheating. Luckily I do all my own brake work so I know it is done properly. If you belong to Good Sam I think you should ask their Action Line to file a claim with both the insurance company and ABC.
P.S. You didn't mention the name of the shop that actually knew what they were doing.

Arizona · 03-28-2014, 06:40 PM

Flushing the brake system isn't rocket science or heavy work. $20 for a gallon of fluid and a $5 bleed kit. Look up brake flush on net and get step by step instructions. Every other year and your good.
I'm always disappointed when I pay for service work.

TeJay · 03-28-2014, 06:52 PM

Poster #2 did mention that your brakes were probably binding. That's exactly why your transmission was overheating but the same poster mentioned fuel mileage going up. You didn't drive far enough to notice an increase in fuel mileage. Had you driven much further your brakes would have started smoking and fuel mileage would have decreased.

. The transmission was overworking overcoming the resistance of binding brakes. I think the shop that charged you $5,000 and did nothing should be out of business. They knew exactly what they were doing. There is no excuse for doing what they did. That is not incompetence but pure fraud. Because it is for $5,000 that's a felony.

Coach Net should be informed as to the fraud by ABC Bus Service so they never recommend them again.

I'd take them to court.

Here's something that I have spoken of some before and I know it's to late for you but this is how I feel. If a person is going to spend the kind of $$$$ we spend for these rigs I think some education is needed. There are some things you can expect from a dealer that is doing work on your unit. You may not be mechanically inclined but you can ask for certain things.

If you are expecting a brake job to be performed. Simply ask them to show you the condition of the drums/discs after they get the tires and drums removed. Ask the tech to show you what is wrong and what he is going to do to fix it. Have him show you the finished system before he puts the drums back. If they refuse to do those two things then walk away.
If you are having the brakes flushed have them show you how they do it. Have them show you the process that is used to get the old fluid out of the caliper. Again if they refuse because of insurance reasons then walk away. By the way insurance will still allow you to see your coach being worked on during certain steps. If they tell you no they are lying.

I've offered my services by phone before and I'd do it again. Simply call and I can advise what to look for, the kind of questions to ask etc. I've done it for my Son and Son-in-law over the years. I'd do it for a fellow RVer when ever needed.

I'm not kidding about this either. You'd be amazed what a few well placed questions can do for you. There are many on these forums that know what we are doing and know the right questions to ask so you don't end up in the situation you are currently in.

TeJay

Marca · 03-28-2014, 07:42 PM

Thanks for the suggestions. I think there are a few things that I need to clarify. ABC Bus Service did not charge us $5,000+. They were to do the initial brake inspection, the master cylinder upgrade, brake fluid flush, and bleeding of brakes. They did not want us in the service area. You know the old excuse, our insurance won't allow it. They offered to escort us back to the service area but neglected to inform us when they were inspecting and working on it. It was in their shop for two full days.

The shop that actually diagnosed and fixed the problem was Freedom RV in Hudson, FL. They were the ones who made sure we were involved and showed us everything that needed done and what they were doing. We are very pleased with their work and would recommend them. The charge I mentioned was for the labor, calipers, rotors, pads, hoses, etc. to repair the entire system. Those rotors and calipers are not cheap for a 40' rig.

I appreciate all of your suggestions and will keep you posted as to what happens. Just so you know, we are not exactly new to RVing and my husband could have easily done the work himself if he were physically able. He has been fighting cancer for 15 years.

EngineerMike · 03-28-2014, 10:08 PM

I'm w/TeJay on informing Coach Net of the fraud, staying that things were done which were not done.

Marca · 03-29-2014, 11:17 AM

Engineer Mike and TeJay, CoachNet and ABC Bus Service were notified before I made the initial post to IRV2. CoachNet has opened a case and will be reviewing it in 3-5 business days. ABC Bus is aware of the problem. If I don't hear from them, I will contact them again on Monday. I will also contact Good Sam as suggested too.

One thing I should mention is that the Service Manager of Freedom RV did was contact Meritor about the calipers to see if there were reports of other failures. There has been a case opened on that also. All he could find out is that they had reports of failures believed due to coaches sitting for a long period of time (undefined) and not being driven. About a month is as long as our has sat without being driven. We checked the brake fluid often and it was never thick like honey as others have reported.

Thanks again, Engineer Mike for your persistence and hard work on the upgraded master cylinder kit. WOW

is all I can say! Chuck has already rearranged our cupboards on our initial short 50 mile drive without using the Jake brake at all. It drives like our conversion van now. If you recall, we were one of the folks that had our Allison transmission reprogrammed to seek 2nd instead of 4th when engaged. Had we not done that and used it a lot, the brakes may not have lasted as long as they did that last 114 miles from ABC Bus to Freedom RV.

Safe travels everyone! For those of you who know Chuck, he is doing great in his battle with his cancer terrorists!

Marca · 09-05-2014, 01:04 AM

I promised to let you know what happened regarding our dealings with ABC Bus Service so here goes. I regret that this isn't more timely but it took several follow-up calls to finally get a resolution.

Bottom line is that after three+ months, ABC Bus Service finally refunded our money for the service they said they initially provided. Although we had thoroughly investigated what they did and didn't do, provided an extensive write-up and photos of wheel stud markings at their request, and met with them they stated that we couldn't prove they didn't do the work and they couldn't prove they did. They were simply exercising customer good will with the refund. I explained that the most important issue to us was safety and that we wanted to save other RV'ers from being placed in harm's way. They further stated that they were instituting a policy of not working on RV's in the future which is probably a good thing.

CoachNet had informed me early in the process that they were no longer recommending them as a service provider for RV's

As many of you know, Chuck passed away on June 1st after his 15 year battle with cancer. Ironically, he died from an infection he got in the hospital after a successful surgery related to his cancer. Thanks for all your prayers, messages, and memorial tributes. Rest assured, we all have another RV Guardian Angel watching over us in our travels! Stay safe!

TeJay · 09-06-2014, 08:26 AM

Marca,
Thanks for the update and so sorry to hear of your loss. Fifteen years is a long time for that type of battle. You will be in our prayers.

TeJay