Bounder: No PS/PB

[RVDog]

I have a 1993 Fleetwood Bounder on a Chevy chassis. When I put it into gear, I loose the power steering & power brakes. All the fluid leaves the resevoir. When I put it back into park, the fluid returns but foams over. While it is in park, the power steering is working. Any ideas?

[sjholt]

I think that you put the brake on when you put it in gear and the fluid is low- causing the no steering and brake condition.
When you put it in park the fluid is aerated because it is too low and that causes the foaming.
Fill the reservoir up with the trans in neutral and then turn the steering wheel back and forth and fill it some more until it is full.

[silverleaf-tim]

if this unit is on a gas chassis with an auto trans then you have a vacuum leak somewhere causing the loss of power steering and power brakes.... you need to inspect all the vacuum lines and be sure they are in tact... if it is a diesel then you may have an issue with the vacuum pump...

[NeilV]

Quote:

Originally posted by RVDog: I have a 1993 Fleetwood Bounder on a Chevy chassis. When I put it into gear, I loose the power steering & power brakes. All the fluid leaves the resevoir. When I put it back into park, the fluid returns but foams over. While it is in park, the power steering is working. Any ideas?

This sounds odd. If the power steering is low it should be low in park or drive. Does it foam up if you are in park and rev it up to about 2,000 rpm?

Have you had any work done on it recently? They could have accidently put the power steering cooler in line with the transmission cooler but one would expect the fluid to all drain away into the transmission case when the engine is not running.

[porscheracer]

Since you lose brake boost when you lose power steering, it sounds like you have hydroboost brakes. That would make sense.

Like Neil said . . . did this just happen out of the blue, or what?? The MH doesn't by chance have a shared transmission / PS fluid cooler, does it??

[derekxray]

I have the same problem with my 94 allegro bay w/ a 454. Ive had the hydrolic pump changed out and the master cylender changed out as well. I have the hydrolic resivior full and no known leaks. Like a said i have the same problem with my rv but when i lose hyrdo power and i put it back into park and turn the wheels to make the pump start wineing again it does start working again and even overflowing the hydrolic resivior. Ive also noticed if i let my rv sit for a day after working the wheels to free up the hyrolic flow again, it will work like no prob and not make a single wineing noise. Until i put it into drive again. The brakes all seem too be locking up when ive been messing with the rv moving it back and forth until i either let the rv sit a say or bleed the brakes. Im wondering if it has to do with my emergency brake system as well....

please help thank you,
derek

[davidk933]

Quote:

Originally Posted by derekxray I have the same problem with my 94 allegro bay w/ a 454. Ive had the hydrolic pump changed out and the master cylender changed out as well. I have the hydrolic resivior full and no known leaks. Like a said i have the same problem with my rv but when i lose hyrdo power and i put it back into park and turn the wheels to make the pump start wineing again it does start working again and even overflowing the hydrolic resivior. Ive also noticed if i let my rv sit for a day after working the wheels to free up the hyrolic flow again, it will work like no prob and not make a single wineing noise. Until i put it into drive again. The brakes all seem too be locking up when ive been messing with the rv moving it back and forth until i either let the rv sit a say or bleed the brakes. Im wondering if it has to do with my emergency brake system as well.... please help thank you, derek

I am new to the forum. I wonder how was your problem resolved. I have the exact problem as you and am at my wits end. I have replaced the power steering pump and hydroboost.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank You Dave k

Additional info: David has a 1993 Fleetwood with the 454 cid engine.

[djjohng]

I have a 1993 Fleetwood Bounder on a Chevy chassis. When I put it into gear, I loose the power steering & power brakes. All the fluid leaves the resevoir. When I put it back into park, the fluid returns but foams over. While it is in park, the power steering is working. Any ideas?

Does anyone have the resolution to the above problem, I have the exact problem with my motor home which is a 1993 Winnebago with the p30 chassis, thanks for any help

[derekxray]

Quote:

Originally Posted by djjohng I have a 1993 Fleetwood Bounder on a Chevy chassis. When I put it into gear, I loose the power steering & power brakes. All the fluid leaves the resevoir. When I put it back into park, the fluid returns but foams over. While it is in park, the power steering is working. Any ideas? Does anyone have the resolution to the above problem, I have the exact problem with my motor home which is a 1993 Winnebago with the p30 chassis, thanks for any help

its your auto braking system not working your better off disconnecting the linkage that opens the valve to operate the valve and use only the manual driveshaft locker. its to expencive to replace or repair and its very prone to going out.

[djjohng]

Finally came up to my own solution with the stupid, dangerous, auto brake system that is used on P-30 GM Chassis...get a hydraulic hose from your local parts store for $11.00 and completely bypass the system at the master cylinder hydro boost up front...then purchase a MICO brake switch for about $225.00 and install it on your dash connected to the rear brakes. Once you bypass the system you will not have actual park when you place you trans lever in park, that is because most of the transmissions in these motorhomes do not have a parking lock in them. So when you park your motorhome you should use the manuel parking brake and for safety you should also install the MICO switch. These MICO switches are generally used on commercial trucks and can be installed by almost any mechanic within 2 hours. I also will have a sticker that I will neatly place on my dash that will say something like:CAUTION YOU MUST APPLY THE EMERGENCY FOOT BRAKE AND THE MICRO BRAKE LOCK WHEN PARKING THIS VEHICLE. If you don't want to install the Mico switch you really don't have too, however I would caution you that if you manuel brake would fail (like the cable braking), you will not have any parking brakes and you might find yourself chasing your motorhome down the street. My power steering and brakes finally work great with no noises, no failure, and no power steering fluid blowing out of my fill. If you are looking at these posts you probably have been frustrated with no answers. I've spent months reseaching this problem, spoke with numerous dealers and no one could ever answer me. Many people have spent thousands of dollars and still have not fixed the problem. I myself have given up trying to fix it and this idea that I have implemeted on my own has work out great. If anyone else does it let me know how you make out. Thanks and good luck, John

[rkrod]

I'm new to forum and have a 1993 Pacearrow. I had power steering pump winning so i had it replaced at Elite RV repair shop. The mechanic was having the same smptoms has you pointed out in previous post. Finally after several gallons of power steering fluid he could not keep fluid from discharging from reservoir. Finally he was able to talk with a master mechanic who said the problem was with the emergency brake shoes warn down. The emergency brake shoes were replaced and everything works great steering and brakes. Hope this helps

Rod
Houston, Texas

[nbounder]

Holy frijolies, rkrod. I would have NEVER connected those facts. I'd think all the responders with the same problem would be throwing bouquets at your feet for sharing that info. Great response!! Now you know how much good this forum could be!

[wjoiner]

I don't understand how the emergency/parking brake system affects the regular brakes and power steering system. I have a 1998 National Tropical with the 454 cid on a P30 chasis. The master cylinder and vaccum booster have both been replaced/rebuilt multiple times. I still get loss of braking power and steering assist, especially at low engine rpms when I'm slowing down for a turn.
I also know nothing about location and operation of vaccum assist, like where does vaccum come from. Is there a tool/guage for checking vaccum and how much vaccum should I have at idle. Is there a free website that shows diagrams of these systems on the P30? Any help would be appreciated. I've already spent $2k and need to figure this out.

[rkrod]

Well let me say this I'm not a mechannic, but I can turn a wrench lol Once the emergency brake shoes were replaced no more air was allowed to enter the lines causing the winning. After brakes were changed out the lines were bled and no air was allow in system.

I had the sensor that is located on the drivers side that screws into the power sterring fluid line designed to lock emergency brakes if low fluid is detected. I developed a pin hole leak which caused the fluid to drain out causing my emergency brakes to lock up. I had to go parts house get replacement to plug line add more fluid to get brakes to release. Had wait two days for the parts house to get correct part for me. Two days later went to Dealer for other items met a guy with 1994 having same problems bad sensor with leaks. The part must be designed to develope a pin leak after 15 years or more.

Not sure about your 1998, but most mech miss the diagnose of the problems associated with this type of brake system. The brake and sterring are all tide in together on this boost brake system.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wjoiner I don't understand how the emergency/parking brake system affects the regular brakes and power steering system. I have a 1998 National Tropical with the 454 cid on a P30 chasis. The master cylinder and vaccum booster have both been replaced/rebuilt multiple times. I still get loss of braking power and steering assist, especially at low engine rpms when I'm slowing down for a turn. I also know nothing about location and operation of vaccum assist, like where does vaccum come from. Is there a tool/guage for checking vaccum and how much vaccum should I have at idle. Is there a free website that shows diagrams of these systems on the P30? Any help would be appreciated. I've already spent $2k and need to figure this out.