It's not only Workhorse...

[JonBrazel]

Well just so it makes some of you Workhorse owners feel somewhat better, I had a Ford in today with a locked up caliper...and NO this is not the first time we have had a Ford with the same problem as the Workhorse.

[George Z]

Jon, last year, I was following a topic on another forum by Ford owners who were having brake problems including calipers. This is one topic I will follow closely. Although my previous unit was a Ford, my problems then were an engine that would spit out spark plugs and not brakes.

George

[Nutmeg]

Jon, What year was the chassis and did it use the Bosch 2 X 66 mm brake caliper assembly? Thanks

[TrekPR]

One would think with the problems Workhorse has had that Ford/Bosch would just make the recall, they are using the same caliper and will eventually have the same problem. Maybe they are just waiting for the new caliper and will have the owners go to those if they have a problem. It will be interesting to see if Ford owners have to pay or get them replaced.

[edgray]

we have been told repeatedly by members of this forum that FORD does not have brake problems and Ford's calipers do not seize.....so I guess this repair is necessary because the owner was riding his brakes. No, wait, "nobody does that" .......so I guess DriVer's assertion that it will be only a matter of time (before Ford owners begin having problems because Ford went to the same Bosch calipers that Workhorse has been vilified for using) is beginning to prove correct.

Yes, it will indeed be interesting to see how Ford treats its customers who experience this problem. Since Ford claims to have the lion's share of the chassis market, it could be a HUGE problem, but I'm certainly not forecasting the company's demise. I'll leave THAT for our more pessimistic members. ED

[LVJ58]

So Jon, what year model was the Ford chassis with the brake problem in the picture you posted? We have a 2000 with 66k miles & so far no problems (knock on wood)

Thanks

[hawg6]

Quote:

Originally Posted by edgray we have been told repeatedly by members of this forum that FORD does not have brake problems and Ford's calipers do not seize.....so I guess this repair is necessary because the owner was riding his brakes. No, wait, "nobody does that" .......so I guess DriVer's assertion that it will be only a matter of time (before Ford owners begin having problems because Ford went to the same Bosch calipers that Workhorse Yes, it will indeed be interesting to see how Ford treats its customers who experience this problem. Since Ford claims to have the lion's share of the chassis market, it could be a HUGE problem, but I'm certainly not forecasting the company's demise. I'll leave THAT for our more pessimistic members. ED

The issue that brought Ford into the conversations was the denial by WH and their service centers that there was a problem and/or if one had a problem it was caused by poor maintenance, riding brakes and on and on. Owners were asking "why" based on their driving experience and the perception that the Ford chassis' owners were not reporting problems. Many owners followed the recommendations for maintenance, driving habits, inspection and parts replacement and had recurring problems. The fact that Ford will or is having problems does not justify the past denial, that continued until the recall, by the principles involved in the brake problem, all the way down to the service centers. It certainly is ashame to hear others may have to follow the lead of the WH owners who have persisted through the campaign to have the problem resolved.

[wa8yxm]

There are several problems with brakes that can lock up a calliper.. I had one bite me on my car.. That one can affect ANY vehicle with hydraulic brakes, Ford, GM, Chrysler, Workhorse, Audi, Renault, VW, Kia, Yugo, _______ (don't matter) as long as it has hydraulic brakes it can be affected.

Now Workhorse TOLD me about the problem.. but it was my Car that had it.

[DriVer]

Before we have a real revolution here in regard to Bosch calipers on Fords I would like to state that Ford has only begun using Bosch calipers at about the same time they upgraded their GVW ratings. I believe that was in 2006 or 2007. I have previously written that Ford owners may not see this problem for many years since the majority of our (Workhorse) problems are in chassis from 2001 to 2004.

Ford owners are not going to be much different that Workhorse owners in how they operate and maintain their rigs. I expect that problems stemming from the use of 66mm calipers will present themselves and it's only going to be a matter of time.

Ford owner's have been receiving guidance from Ford to change their brake fluid every two years and to use DOT4 fluid in their systems. This is in their favor.

We Workhorse Owners are fortunate in one way and that is we are on the path toward a resolution. To date we haven't seen any other RV manufacturers out there using the Bosch calipers that have had our long-term relationship with Bosch calipers.

The post provided by Jon, a professional technician, demonstrates that we Workhorse owners have only exposed the tip of the iceberg with our 50,000 vehicle recall and that there is more to this issue than meets the eyes focused on the humble pages of our board.

[CoastieSCPO]

So, would it be in our favor to use DOT4 fluid and change it every two years. I personally don't use DOT4 and I change it every year.

[JonBrazel]

This was a 1999 F53, he was just traveling down a flat stretch of highway just north of us when suddenly the brake locked and he could smell the burning. Luckily he was close to a rest area so he was able to pull over and let it sit about an hour and cool down. It released after it cooled and he was able to drive it to our shop where the caliper was replaced. I am not posting this to say that all Ford's are going to have the same problems, just simply putting it out there that caliper seizing is not a Workhorse only phenomena.

[jdsr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawg6 The issue that brought Ford into the conversations was the denial by WH and their service centers that there was a problem and/or if one had a problem it was caused by poor maintenance, riding brakes and on and on. Owners were asking "why" based on their driving experience and the perception that the Ford chassis' owners were not reporting problems. Many owners followed the recommendations for maintenance, driving habits, inspection and parts replacement and had recurring problems. The fact that Ford will or is having problems does not justify the past denial, that continued until the recall, by the principles involved in the brake problem, all the way down to the service centers. It certainly is ashame to hear others may have to follow the lead of the WH owners who have persisted through the campaign to have the problem resolved.

Double amen. I dont know how one chassis with a brake problem even comes close to how wh has/is handling their brake problems and reimburshments. We have been shown one chassis with a brake problem thats 11 years old and gosh knows how many miles. Ok only several thousand or likely more ford chassis needs to fail and then we might have something to talk about. Since the ford chassis shown here doesnt have the same brakes, is 11 years old, and no telling how many miles, I dont think ford owners will be to concerned. Awhile back I did several searches in every rv site I know on ford brake problems and could only find a handfull of posts. I know for a fact that ford handles its problems, however few, like a company that wants you back as a customer. Maybe thats why they didnt need any gov bailout and have 75% of the rv business.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdsr Since the ford chassis shown here doesn't have the same brakes, is 11 years old, and no telling how many miles, I dont think ford owners will be to concerned.

You're working right into this post very well. The majority of Workhorse motorhomes that we see with problems are out of warranty and between 6 to 10 years old.

You're right! Ford owners do not need to be concerned; right now! They do need to be concerned in the future. For all the praise you might offer, Ford is not going to make good on tens of thousands of calipers that systematically begin failing. They are going to want to get on-board Workhorse's recall and in a hurry. You may take that to the bank.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoastieSCPO So, would it be in our favor to use DOT4 fluid and change it every two years. I personally don't use DOT4 and I change it every year.

Chief, "Not Exactly" What works for Ford should work for everyone however the "current" recommendation is for DOT3 and to replace the fluid every 2 years.

If you're replacing the fluid every year, so much the better and stay the course with DOT3. It cost less money to buy and will deliver the performance that you are expecting from the fluid.