Community Forums

mpaton · 09-19-2018, 10:13 AM

I have a lighter version of the same chassis, and no tag axle. I am pretty happy with my braking system' s ability, even though a very hard stop takes a lot of pedal pressure. I am happy that I can manage a single hard stop from maybe 75mph down a hill before the brakes will fade. On the front 2 axles, I have the same brakes as you do.

With this in mind, what your symptoms are suggesting to me is that not all of your brake calipers (or possible not all brakes on the tag axle) are working, and that you are boiling the fluid from overworking the ones that are working.

I would suggest that you get an infrared temperature meter, remove any wheel trims, and starting with cold brakes, drive as though you were in stop start traffic for 5 minutes, and then park, and log the temperatures you see on all 3 axles.

If you have some wheels not being braked, this should show up in much lower temperatures at those wheels.

Michael

House Husband · 09-19-2018, 06:35 PM

Look on the left frame rail, where the headers pass close to the frame. There should be a heat shield on the frame, supplied with the Banks kit. If it was not installed, every thing running along that frame rail will over heat.

Richard

phoneman01 · 09-20-2018, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RLS7201

Look on the left frame rail, where the headers pass close to the frame. There should be a heat shield on the frame, supplied with the Banks kit. If it was not installed, every thing running along that frame rail will over heat.

Richard

The shield is there.

Thanks

chetflyer · 09-30-2018, 02:15 PM

I purchased a 1995 F53 motorhome (31'Embassy by triple E) in 2011. It only had 46,000KM on it but had a very big problem with front brakes overheating. Turns out this has been an ongoing problem for a long time. I have a mechanic that solved the problem that I had with my brakes. Turns out that the rubber hose at the end of the brake lines to each caliper had broken down and would not allow the brake fluid to pass efficiently to or from the caliper. It made braking very difficult and I had to put enormous pressure on the brake pedal to stop...and then the problem would also cause the calipers not to lift off properly and release the brake pads ..so they would overheat!!!!He replaced all the rubber lines on the system...and voila...no more problems!!! I just purchased a 1998 34'Commander (by triple E) and I see that my drivers side rotor is heating up substantially!! I have my mechanic working on this as we speak. There are even stories of these rotors heating up and getting sooo HOT that some motorhomes have caught fire!! (read this a few years ago) So this might be something worth looking at on this chasis.

skelly65 · 10-05-2018, 10:58 AM

I have a 98 Fleetwood pace arrow on 97 F53 with tag axle. I have found brake parts for factory axles, but I am unable to locate any info on the tag axle other than diagrams. Anyone have leads to part#s? I will probably want everything from booster/cylinder assembly all the way to the wheel cylinders. I just purchased this thing. It has been sitting for 4 years and it only acquired 35k miles prior to that. Looks as if everything is still original ( rotten and falling apart). Thank you

phoneman01 · 11-15-2018, 06:53 AM

This is a revisit to my braking problem.
I had all the rubber lines replaced and changed to DOT4 fluid. While doing all this, my present mechanic found that the tag axle brakes were not working at all. The booster was damaged somehow and was full of fluid. Needless to say, all the components are hard to come by. That being said...I now have tag brakes again and hopefully failure free downhill going. If I still have the same problems, then I will check on operator failure and adjustment of same.

**JohnRR** · 11-15-2018, 10:52 AM

Thank you for the update they are important for those who may do a search of the subject in the future.

Quote:

Originally Posted by phoneman01

This is a revisit to my braking problem.
I had all the rubber lines replaced and changed to DOT4 fluid. While doing all this, my present mechanic found that the tag axle brakes were not working at all. The booster was damaged somehow and was full of fluid. Needless to say, all the components are hard to come by. That being said...I now have tag brakes again and hopefully failure free downhill going. If I still have the same problems, then I will check on operator failure and adjustment of same.