Brakes (this is a LONG post)

[Thudman]

WH says lube caliper pins, so had it done at Tri City Truck (Ft Walton Bch, FL) a month ago, before a trip $66; not bad. Also R&R xmsn fluid w/Autran TES 295; and Flush/refill rad w/Dexcool.

On 7/1/07 (SUNDAY!) xmsn shifted from 4th/3rd/2nd and I had to nearly floor it to get off the road. Dragging, smoking brakes, less than 600 miles from when lubed. (26,700 miles on rig). Called WH to find svc ctr; closest was about 100 mi; too far to tow. Found a Freightliner ctr who would work on brakes. Called USAA Road Svc & they said I could arrange my own tow svc (locally), as dark was approaching & USAA's guy could take 3 hrs. Got towed to nice RV park 4 mi away. USAA said they'd reimburse the fee ($396). Since the wheels/brakes had cooled by the time the truck lifted the MH nose up and the wheels spun easily and freely, I drove the MH to the repair ctr (about 20 mi) the next AM (7/2/07). I asked them to chk/re-lube ALL caliper pins for lube/operation. Found LF lower caliper pin binding, causing caliper to not release. Needed new pins. (They also did the TSB to lube the brake bellcrank assy---added zerk fitting).

Spent 7/3/07 calling around to WH facilities for pins, because WH would not send any parts to a non-dealer. So I had to drive from Greenville, SC to Charlotte, NC (in my Toad) to get a pin kit. Got the kit ($48) back to the shop at 4 PM, too late to install. Wait til 7/5/07. Had to put rig back together & drove 1 mi to lcl GRUNGY CG (but close). Got to the shop early AM 7/5/07 & the Tech had a sick son so had to take to Dr's. Family FIRST, no problem. Finally another Tech installed the kit (initially removed the wrong wheel). Finally good to go about noon. $483.

Forgot this: When returning from Charlotte (holiday interstate traffic), got behind a truck w/trailer carrying cows. One gal let go and had to turn on my wipers. I was happy, since it could have been #2.

Also, have extended warranty (Nat'l Warranty of Fla) & policy says no coverage on rotors & pads (naturally), but calipers ARE covered. Called them & rep says caliper pins are Fasteners, so no coverage. Bummer.

Happy <STRIKE>4th</STRIKE> 5th (that's what I drank).

Thudman

[Thudman]

WH says lube caliper pins, so had it done at Tri City Truck (Ft Walton Bch, FL) a month ago, before a trip $66; not bad. Also R&R xmsn fluid w/Autran TES 295; and Flush/refill rad w/Dexcool.

On 7/1/07 (SUNDAY!) xmsn shifted from 4th/3rd/2nd and I had to nearly floor it to get off the road. Dragging, smoking brakes, less than 600 miles from when lubed. (26,700 miles on rig). Called WH to find svc ctr; closest was about 100 mi; too far to tow. Found a Freightliner ctr who would work on brakes. Called USAA Road Svc & they said I could arrange my own tow svc (locally), as dark was approaching & USAA's guy could take 3 hrs. Got towed to nice RV park 4 mi away. USAA said they'd reimburse the fee ($396). Since the wheels/brakes had cooled by the time the truck lifted the MH nose up and the wheels spun easily and freely, I drove the MH to the repair ctr (about 20 mi) the next AM (7/2/07). I asked them to chk/re-lube ALL caliper pins for lube/operation. Found LF lower caliper pin binding, causing caliper to not release. Needed new pins. (They also did the TSB to lube the brake bellcrank assy---added zerk fitting).

Spent 7/3/07 calling around to WH facilities for pins, because WH would not send any parts to a non-dealer. So I had to drive from Greenville, SC to Charlotte, NC (in my Toad) to get a pin kit. Got the kit ($48) back to the shop at 4 PM, too late to install. Wait til 7/5/07. Had to put rig back together & drove 1 mi to lcl GRUNGY CG (but close). Got to the shop early AM 7/5/07 & the Tech had a sick son so had to take to Dr's. Family FIRST, no problem. Finally another Tech installed the kit (initially removed the wrong wheel). Finally good to go about noon. $483.

Forgot this: When returning from Charlotte (holiday interstate traffic), got behind a truck w/trailer carrying cows. One gal let go and had to turn on my wipers. I was happy, since it could have been #2.

Also, have extended warranty (Nat'l Warranty of Fla) & policy says no coverage on rotors & pads (naturally), but calipers ARE covered. Called them & rep says caliper pins are Fasteners, so no coverage. Bummer.

Happy <STRIKE>4th</STRIKE> 5th (that's what I drank).

Thudman

[Mutha]

Dang! Thudman, sorry you had such a bummer holiday. Workhorse parts has a real problem, and I think everyone pretty much acknowledges that but no one at WCC does anything to correct the situation. That really sucks you could not get them to sell the pin kit to a legitimate repair shop, and had to drive all that way to get them.
I hope the rest of your holiday is free from anymore problems.

Glenn

[troth]

Thudman, if I hear you correctly, it sounds like the "moral of the story" when getting one's slide pins lubed, is to drive the coach for about 5 or 10 miles in traffic to see if the brakes heat up (avoiding a full seize). Your comments?

I want to get this same job done at my local WCC dealer and they're 70 miles from my house... -Seems like I better "check their work" before I get back on the interstate for the drive home.

[Thudman]

troth:
I drove about 550 miles before the problem occurred. That's a long test drive.

I have no idea if it was a workmanship problem, or just coincidence. The bad actor pin appeared to be lubed when removed. But it was binding.

Thudman