Brake problem caused by Florida atmosphere

[Stockwill]

2004 Georgetown on 2003 WH chasis - 17000 miles
I parked in Tampa area for ten months. 20 miles into trip home - mushy brakes - headed to Lazy Days for repair. Outside of RF tire covered with a fluid so must have blown a seal. Great service but still took 8 days to get repairs done. Lazy Days tried to get repairs covered by Workhorse feeling damage done to brakes and other was not under general wear and tear.

After 4 weeks, my conversation with a national service rep yesterday: "There are hundreds of units in FL area that are bought and taken to campsites were they stay parked for 6 months to 3 years that have the same problem that you have. Customers then start driving them and have a problem 50 - 100 miles down the road. The atmosphere in FL causes corrosion on calipers which in turn causes calipers to stick. This isn't considered to be a warranty problem."

His suggestion was to get brake service when I land in FL this fall and make sure pins are greased before I park for 6 months. Estimate to do this is $500 - $600. Do it again when I go North. Averages $100 a month to keep my brakes freed up!!!

Also, on the way south last October LR caliper froze up. Smoke, smell, etc. Replaced a lot of stuff, covered by WH.

Also again: Dealer up north replaceing hydroboost unit because of faulty valve. Related to earlier problem?? WH covering this.

Anyne else have a problem like this? Comments?? Suggestions???

Thanks, Bill

[Stockwill]

2004 Georgetown on 2003 WH chasis - 17000 miles
I parked in Tampa area for ten months. 20 miles into trip home - mushy brakes - headed to Lazy Days for repair. Outside of RF tire covered with a fluid so must have blown a seal. Great service but still took 8 days to get repairs done. Lazy Days tried to get repairs covered by Workhorse feeling damage done to brakes and other was not under general wear and tear.

After 4 weeks, my conversation with a national service rep yesterday: "There are hundreds of units in FL area that are bought and taken to campsites were they stay parked for 6 months to 3 years that have the same problem that you have. Customers then start driving them and have a problem 50 - 100 miles down the road. The atmosphere in FL causes corrosion on calipers which in turn causes calipers to stick. This isn't considered to be a warranty problem."

His suggestion was to get brake service when I land in FL this fall and make sure pins are greased before I park for 6 months. Estimate to do this is $500 - $600. Do it again when I go North. Averages $100 a month to keep my brakes freed up!!!

Also, on the way south last October LR caliper froze up. Smoke, smell, etc. Replaced a lot of stuff, covered by WH.

Also again: Dealer up north replaceing hydroboost unit because of faulty valve. Related to earlier problem?? WH covering this.

Anyne else have a problem like this? Comments?? Suggestions???

Thanks, Bill

[Hitchhiker]

Hello Bill,

Welcome to iRV2, we're really glad to have you here as a new member and are looking forward to reading your posts about your RVing experiences and adventures. You'll find a great bunch of folks on this site who are very knowledgeable of RVing, the rigs we use, and the places we go in them.

I lived and worked in Florida from 1955 until 1999 when I retired and relocated, never had that sort of problem with the brakes on any of my vehicles. It seems to me that you are being fed a line of BS to justify either a poor design by Workhorse or a brake that has become contaminated with moisture.

If this were a "FL area" only issue, what explanation would the service rep have to explain why the same doesn't occur in rigs in other climates that are warm and moist such as the other states along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts? If it were due to atmospheric corrosive effects, wouldn't road salt winter conditions in the rust belt tend to exacerbate this issue too?

Is he suggesting that Workhorse chassis only be used on rigs in arid, desert climates if you don't wish to lubricate brake pin slides monthly? Not too logical is it?

I see this as a total line of BS by the national service rep to deflect the responsibility to the consumer. What will they come up with next?

Again, welcome to iRV2, we're glad you joined. :wave

[rebelsbeach]

Bill, WELCOME to iRV2!!!

Sounds like you're getting some great advice already from Richard, I too look forward to hearing the "resolution" to this issue,especially given I am getting ready to take my coach to Juno Beach Florida for the winter....

We look forward to hearing what you can find out with this issue and also would love to hear more of your travel experience with your rig.

WELCOME!!

[Bob (WA0MQE)]

Bill, you said you stay for 10-months. Does this mean your motorhome just sits for 10-months in the same spot without moving? If so do you treat the gas, do you operate the slides, etc.

If the answer is yes, then this could cause lots of other problems as well, no matter where you're located. I believe they say gas should be treated if it sits for 6-months or more. Personally I'd treat it if it sits for 3-months. It's also understandable the brakes could cause problems. Slides should be operated, jacks should be cycled, and lubricated. The moho should be driven also.

Maybe you do all of these things, and if so just ignore my message. I just got the idea yours just sits.

[NeilV]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Stockwill:
2004 Georgetown on 2003 WH chasis - 17000 miles
I parked in Tampa area for ten months. 20 miles into trip home - mushy brakes - headed to Lazy Days for repair. Outside of RF tire covered with a fluid so must have blown a seal. Great service but still took 8 days to get repairs done. Lazy Days tried to get repairs covered by Workhorse feeling damage done to brakes and other was not under general wear and tear.

After 4 weeks, my conversation with a national service rep yesterday: "There are hundreds of units in FL area that are bought and taken to campsites were they stay parked for 6 months to 3 years that have the same problem that you have. Customers then start driving them and have a problem 50 - 100 miles down the road. The atmosphere in FL causes corrosion on calipers which in turn causes calipers to stick. This isn't considered to be a warranty problem."

His suggestion was to get brake service when I land in FL this fall and make sure pins are greased before I park for 6 months. Estimate to do this is $500 - $600. Do it again when I go North. Averages $100 a month to keep my brakes freed up!!!

Also, on the way south last October LR caliper froze up. Smoke, smell, etc. Replaced a lot of stuff, covered by WH.

Also again: Dealer up north replaceing hydroboost unit because of faulty valve. Related to earlier problem?? WH covering this.

Anyne else have a problem like this? Comments?? Suggestions???

Thanks, Bill </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Bill,

I live in the Tampa Bay area but I do not let my vehicles sit parked for 6 months to 3 years without driving them. At least once a month I take my Adventurer for a drive even if it is just for a day at the park or the beach or even for a extended run to the mall. I also leave the generator running for the day just to exercise it with the AC on. I would not say it is the Florida climate but lack of use that would cause this type of problem. If you really did leave it parked without driving it for ten months then Workhorse is probably correct in their advice to have preparations made for having the coach sit parked without being driven for long periods of time.

Regards,

[Stockwill]

Unit would be moved at least once a month. Slides operated, jacks moved up and down. Moved at least 20 miles for exercise plus in traffic so brakes also got used.

Does anyone grease the pins on the calipers twice a year???

Thanks for all the replies,
Bill

[max49]

Is greasing the caliper pins in Workhorses maintenance schedule? Ive never did that except when changing the pads. I have seen warranties worded where damage caused by rust or corrosion is not covered. When warranty work is declined , since they don't see the parts, I believe they they just go by what the svc. center tells them. And then the svc center acts like they are on your side, and they tried for you.

[DriVer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Stockwill:
Does anyone grease the pins on the calipers twice a year??? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Bill, Quite simply, if get on your brakes ocasionally, and you have ZOHT brakes (2003 or newer), and you drive your motorhome frequently, you may "not" have to lube your slide pins.

I have 49,000 miles and I have yet to lube my slide pins.

No one should consider buying a motorhome and let it sit for six months at a time. The enemy of any rolling stock is disuse or misuse.

[Stockwill]

Agreed.

Had 130 thousand on the first motor home. Then life style changed a little bit and we park in same RV park as daughter for winter months. Usually back on the road in 5 or 6 months. Medical problems this past winter kept us in Florida over 10 months. Thinking of going back to trailer and just parking it on a site and not even towing. Would only hurt a little while .... over 40 years of this on the road lifestyle.

Where are all the responses from the "hundreds of customers" I mentioned in the original post?

Bill

[DriVer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Stockwill:
Where are all the responses from the "hundreds of customers" I mentioned in the original post? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Bill, Are you looking for quantity or quality?

[Stockwill]

driVer

Just trying to verify what National Customer Rep told me. I can't believe that all those other customers are having the same problems with the brakes that I am.

I really like the workhorse chasis. Just have a problem when it's going to cost me as much to make the unit stop (brake maintenance) as it is to make it go (gas cost for 2800 miles)!!

Bill

[NeilV]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Stockwill:
driVer

Just trying to verify what National Customer Rep told me. I can't believe that all those other customers are having the same problems with the brakes that I am.

I really like the workhorse chasis. Just have a problem when it's going to cost me as much to make the unit stop (brake maintenance) as it is to make it go (gas cost for 2800 miles)!!

Bill </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Bill,

From what you originally posted along with the responce from the National Rep it sounds like they are under the impression that you left the unit parked without driving it for the entire 10 months.

Did you make this clear to the Workhorse rep that during the ten months the:

"Unit would be moved at least once a month. Slides operated, jacks moved up and down. Moved at least 20 miles for exercise plus in traffic so brakes also got used."

I was a Heavy Carpenter/Mechanic and Head of Maintenance for a New England millworks company with multiple plants and we only lubed the guide pins, even on seldome used equipment, during brake system repairs. We did not have the problem that you have described with our road or yard vehicles not even the ones used for snow removal in high salt areas.

If you have not made your monthly exercise program for you motorehome perfectly clear to Workhorse I would call the rep back and verify that he understands that your claim should not be grouped with those from people that come to Florida and let their coaches sit, get lot-rot and have problems because they don't drive their coaches for years.

Regards,

[DriVer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Stockwill:
Just trying to verify what National Customer Rep told me. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Bill, Did you get the name of the person that you spoke with? If you can send me this in PM I'll contact the rep and see if we're all on the same page.