Brakes come and go

[Just Because]

1996 Pace Arrow Vision; F 53 Ford; 460 carb.

The day I bought my MH, when headed home after 100 miles I lost almost all the brakes. I was in slow stop and go traffic and I figured they just got hot. Stopped for dinner and let them cool, no improved results. Went to the nearest Ford dealer, to have them checked, they said it was a bad Master cylinder. Not in stock, has to be ordered. I still had some brakes so being only 125 miles from home and it was evening, I took a chance and came home.

Ordered the Master cylinder and had it replaced. I think they also replaced all the old brake fluid. Everything works fine. Since then we have made a couple of trips without any brake problems.

Having not used the MH for several months, I made a short run about 30 miles each way to fix a work problem. Everything OK. On the return trip I went about 1 mile to a stop sign and NO BRAKES! Pedal almost to the floor, but I still had the little brakes that I had on my very first trip. I had to get home so I took it very easy. Ten miles later, the stop light changed and I coasted before hitting the brakes. NOW I ONCE AGAIN HAVE FULL BRAKES. Tried it several more times and everything is OK.

Get almost home, again lost brakes.

What would be causing them to come and go?

[Just Because]

1996 Pace Arrow Vision; F 53 Ford; 460 carb.

The day I bought my MH, when headed home after 100 miles I lost almost all the brakes. I was in slow stop and go traffic and I figured they just got hot. Stopped for dinner and let them cool, no improved results. Went to the nearest Ford dealer, to have them checked, they said it was a bad Master cylinder. Not in stock, has to be ordered. I still had some brakes so being only 125 miles from home and it was evening, I took a chance and came home.

Ordered the Master cylinder and had it replaced. I think they also replaced all the old brake fluid. Everything works fine. Since then we have made a couple of trips without any brake problems.

Having not used the MH for several months, I made a short run about 30 miles each way to fix a work problem. Everything OK. On the return trip I went about 1 mile to a stop sign and NO BRAKES! Pedal almost to the floor, but I still had the little brakes that I had on my very first trip. I had to get home so I took it very easy. Ten miles later, the stop light changed and I coasted before hitting the brakes. NOW I ONCE AGAIN HAVE FULL BRAKES. Tried it several more times and everything is OK.

Get almost home, again lost brakes.

What would be causing them to come and go?

[ctjstr]

Not sure if it will help, but I have seen a situation a couple times where the master cylinder and/or adjacent brake lines became so over heated with exhaust heat that it essentially boiled the brake fluid, or at least that's what it seemed to be. Both involved ford pickups hauling campers in stop and go traffic. I tried making a heat shield out of some heat proof material and it seemed to solve the problem

[auto]

If no fluid has been lost check the quality of the brake fluid. If contaminated or not clear replace the master cyl. and have all the lines flushed. Brakes fluid should be flushed every two years to advoid repeated issues.

[Rick Long]

Master Cylinder leak (leaks past piston seal not out of cylinder) or possibly a vacuum leak to the booster. If, when it goes almost to the floor, you pump it a few times it goes back up, then it's most likely the master cylinder.

[Jack Myton]

Let me know when you are parked so I can get on the road, safely. Seriously, please quit taking chances and have your brakes repaired properly by trained technicians. To do otherwise is very dangerous to you and others, and your liability could take everything you own.

[Just Because]

According to the FORD STORE...they found the problem.

There is a gasket between the reservoir and the master cylinder. This is ruptured / broken and is sucking air into the system. I told them the Master Cyl is less than a year old and was purchased from them. They are covering the part under warranty. I will have to pay labor.

Supposed to get it back tomorrow.

[Hillbilly2]

I had the rear brake calipers fail to release on mine, overheating the rotors and axle, pedal went halfway to the floor, with only the front brakes working, $1000 later, two new calipers,rotors, pads and fluid later They still tend to overheat if I get in a little traffic or a lot of stop lights. The fronts do not feel like they are doing a whole lot, so thats probally why the rears are overheating. It has a Ford medium duty chassies, so the brakes should be sufficent to stop the rig. I have not driven another class A to know if the brakes are doing an acceptable job. I know that they will not stop like a car, and I'm not having to put that much pressure on to stop. Has bad master cylinders been a problem with the Ford chassies?

[tropical36]

It has the symptoms of brake fluid boil, but that's highly unlikely unless you commute from powder river pass into buffalo wy every morning.
My Father had a 87 Chrysler LeBaron that did that and continued to do so after a master cylinder replacement also. We traded it for a Honda, so we never did find out what it was. Just hid a note in the door compartment with our phone number for the new owner to call us, which he did.
Even though we told the dealer who took it on trade, we all know he did or said nothing as long as the brakes were working the day he sold it. This very large Naples FL dealer doesn't have a very good reputation, which I can personally attest to, anyway.
Anyway, I hope you find out the cause and soon. Please keep us informed.

[Just Because]

According to the FORD dealership, the gasket was damaged between the housing and the resevoir. I went to the mountains, well foothills, this weekend with the IRV2 se chapter and had no problems other than Cruise would not work.

[Hillbilly2]

Has the recall on the cruise control been performed? Ford just did mine a couple of months ago on my 96 Southwind, The service manager said they just got in the parts for the motorhome portion of the recall. Ford has had this recall out for several years now.

[Just Because]

It was done several months ago, before the first brake problems. Parts were in stock and it took 3 minutes.

[Hillbilly2]

All they do is add a fuse in the brake circuit, so it shouldn't affect brake performance, but you said your cruise quit working, so I was wondering if that switch has went bad and is leaking causing the fuse to blow and maybe your other problem.