Finally Brake - It Happened!

[BellaBo]

Well, it wasn't a matter of "IF" but a matter of "WHEN" and when was today. I had just gotten new "rubber feet" put on, $1800 thank you very much, and was on the way home. I noticed a pull to the right and the moho slowed down quicker than usual. I looked at my brake temperature monitor and saw that the right front brake was significantly hotter than the rest. It wasn't enough to sound my alarm but was getting there. I also started smelling brake lining burning. I stopped several times but it wouldn't loosen up. Before I got home the ABS light had come on too. Kinda makes you wonder if using that jack hammer for an impact wrench jarred something in the caliper.

At any rate, I called my local workhorse servicer and he said he could replace the caliper but it would be the same one that is now on it. Or, I can wait until Oct - Nov when Workhorse will be sending out the "New Parts" whatever those are going to be. Sounds like this is the W/H target date! Looks like I'll be staying home till November!

I did look at the rotors while the wheels were off and only the right front had any heat stress marks, so this has happened to that wheel before I had my temperature sensors or knew what to look and feel for. Hopefully I have averted an emergency situation on the road somewhere.

[RDNesbitt]

Steamerman, I also got new rubber and took a short trip for 4 days to see if everything was ok. My back brakes got very hot and my workhorse center is replacing all the brakes, maybe at my expense. I'm not waiting till Nov as I think it will be a nightmare when they do start replacing the calipers. How are they going to replace them, by vin# or maybe the year starting in 2001. They aren't going to let everyone have them at the same time. Anyone got any ideas.

[wilanddij]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RDNesbitt How are they going to replace them, by vin# or maybe the year starting in 2001. They aren't going to let everyone have them at the same time. Anyone got any ideas.

Redlands Truck, for one, is being proactive and have sent out letter to their WH customers asking if they still have the rig with the affected VIN and getting those who call back on the list for the fix when it comes out.

[abarkl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RDNesbitt Steamerman, I also got new rubber and took a short trip for 4 days to see if everything was ok. My back brakes got very hot and my workhorse center is replacing all the brakes, maybe at my expense. I'm not waiting till Nov as I think it will be a nightmare when they do start replacing the calipers. How are they going to replace them, by vin# or maybe the year starting in 2001. They aren't going to let everyone have them at the same time. Anyone got any ideas.

I think by year since I've had problems the longest, or alphabetical would be fair.

abarkl
2001 W22

[bsinmich]

I don't think I like the alphabetical system. Workhorse doessn't seem to care much for it's customers. I had my MH at Holland Motor Homes because my front wheels had overheated 2 times on my shortened vacation. Since Holland couldn't make it happen whwen they checked it out (cold wheels and cold temp outside) WH says no repair until the parts come out. I called WH direct and was told to just use it and when the wheels grab to just pull over and let them cool for an hour. WH says if they put the old parts on they will do the same thing immediately. I guess the parts today are not as good as the original ones. I got 30,000 miles before I had a problem and now my MH has to sit in storage until the new parts are available. I would definitely never buy another MH with anything WH on it. The way the whole brake problem was taken care of by blaming the user and attempting every way to get out of it shows they don't care about customers, only dollars. "Drive it until you have a problem and then park for an hour" What a way to run a business.

[BellaBo]

I think the advice "drive it until you have a problem, then park it for an hour" is bad advice. There are many things that can happen when these brakes over heat, none of which I want to be a part of. If you were in an accident and found at fault because you knowingly drove a defective vehicle, it could result in liability and even criminal charges.
I had several trips planned before November and they will just have to wait. It sucks, but beats the alternative.

[abarkl]

We'll be lucky to see the campaign in full swing by the end of the year and our brakes replaced. I think it's time to start Workhorse chassis graveyards in each state and lay these things to rest.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by abarkl I think it's time to start Workhorse chassis graveyards in each state and lay these things to rest.

abarkl, Like a Subaru heaven?

[bsinmich]

More like a Workhorse Hell!!!

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsinmich More like a Workhorse Hell!!!

All depends on your outlook. Not everyone will share that emotion.

[Spoonman]

Not everyone, but it is spreading fast.

[bsinmich]

Driver, While I appreciate what you do on this forum I also know you are prejudiced as a WH Ambassador. When the lowest cost MH that is on these WH chassis is in the $100,000 range and they go up from there I think very many people are upset because we have a usless piece of junk that is unusable with very little support from the manufacturer of the problem. Payments continue but enjoyment does not. That isn't what we bought our MH for.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsinmich Driver, While I appreciate what you do on this forum I also know you are prejudiced as a WH Ambassador.

bsinmich, When I deliver seminars to an audience at FMCA or other large rallies, I get to see the public face to face and they get to see me. In that setting I do very well because we can all relate as RV'ers. At the end of the seminar, I usually walk away from these things with a lot of handshakes and applause and smiling faces. I just can't seem to make that happen here all the time because when we post here we do so not as a personal thing but as a message base only to someone we can't see. I am trying to see you and feel your frustration because I do so to many other owners at over a dozen events throughout the year.

I hope we can meet one day and perhaps like Patton said, You can see how big of an SOB I am!

I am going to be at the VA State WIT and then the Bounders United Rally in VA this coming September. I will also be here in Myrtle Beach for the SC Samboree and the HRRVC Region 3 Rally.

Next stop is I go to the FL Samboree in November.

Hope to see you at one of these events.

PS: I have a payment book too, I'm basically not much different than any other owner/members here!

[EngineerMike]

Regarding priority, I'm pretty sure it'll be first-come, first-served after the actual notices go out. There are no doubt customers who are unconcerned and others oblivious, that have not experienced significant problems as far as they know. And there will be rigs that are off the notification grid so to speak. Notifications will take place based on standardized procedures & lists, maybe including various publications &/or advertising in trade magazines, after which it will be the customer's responsibility to make time and an appointment for the recall work as customer & service center schedules allow. Some customers will let the recall work go undone for years, no doubt, and others will (as indicated above) who place a high value on brake safety, will make their next trip in the coach the one to the service center for recall work, forestalling use of their big toys till they are comfortable brakes are safe.