Need brake suggestions

[Bucky1]

90' p30
Not much braking abilty, have to use a lot of leg also. I'm a little concerned about emergency braking more than anything. It really feels like I am only getting front braking.
I will start will bleeding the rears. The rear pads and rotors look like new, which makes me think not much help from back there. Anything else I should look at on these systems? I want to check it all out at once when I have a chance.

[Bucky1]

90' p30
Not much braking abilty, have to use a lot of leg also. I'm a little concerned about emergency braking more than anything. It really feels like I am only getting front braking.
I will start will bleeding the rears. The rear pads and rotors look like new, which makes me think not much help from back there. Anything else I should look at on these systems? I want to check it all out at once when I have a chance.

[Thudman]

Under the circumstances, since brakes are so critical to safety, I'd recommend taking the rig to a good truck service shop for a complete check of the brake system. May cost a few bucks, but then you'll know.

Thudman

[DSouthw524]

Just a reminder, if you haven't changed the brake fluid in a couple of years, do youself a favor and have it changed.

This is one of those things most people don't think of and it can save your bacon and also your brake parts from pitting from trapped moisture.

[DriVer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by DSouthw524:
Just a reminder, if you haven't changed the brake fluid in a couple of years, do yourself a favor and have it changed. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>I concur and I can't swear to it but after the bleed (1st one) the brakes felt easier to apply. Different that's for sure. Your experience should be similar if you haven't done this during your ownership or if hasn't been done within the past couple of years.

[John-D]

Trucks, and Motor homes have THREE sets of brakes, unlike cars which normally have only two.

Your Hydraulic brakes (main brakes) consist of both a "Front" and "Rear" system with several common parts (master cylinder, ABS system) in theory if you loose one system you will get a lot of pedal travel, but you will still stop

The Emergency brake is 100% independent of the others, it operates not on the wheels as do your mains but on the drive shaft. So if you loose rear brakes.... It may still work.

In any case.... If you even THINK your brakes are not working proper get ye to a service center or some other location where someone who knows how can fix them (If you know that may well be your driveway) and have them looked at and either certified as working or repaird Pronto.. Cause a vehicle that won't go is safe.

But a vehicle that won't stop... DEADLY


True Story that fits this thread: My towed is old enough to get its own driver's license (16 years since it rolled off the line) and over 200,000 miles.. Well, a while ago I had some excessive pedal travel issues, I noticed it, the porters at the dealer noticed it when I went in for service so I ask the DEALER to look into it.

Alas they never found the problem. told me it was all 100% and they could not figure out why I had excessive travel.

Finally I went somewhere else (Belle Tire Livonia) and gave the technician one special instruction.. I watched him carry out my instruction and did not say anywhing to him.. I went in and said to the service consultant (Assistant Manager George something) "How bad is it" cause I knew for a fact I was getting new drums (This is a disc front, drum rear system)

I had managed to figure out the problem using nothing more than my knowledge of how things work. The micrometer readings on the drums only confirmed what I'd already figured out.

The dealer.... Remains clueless

[speed racer]

older p30 chassis did not have a grease fiting on the pivot arm for the brake pedal and if it did it seldom was lubed because of where it is. check that first that was my problem on my 2000 modle.

[Bucky1]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will check for grease fitting, fluid level, and replace fluid with fresh stuff before bleeding. That's pretty much what I would do on a car (except the fitting), so nothing suprising here.
Thanks again!