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41pu · 04-20-2016, 11:02 AM

Hello
I'm checking the fluids on a new to me 2003 Holiday Rambler on the F53 ford chassis.with 21 k on the clock.
All look New.. But the brake fluid.
It is like jell consistency. It clear and smells like brake fluid.
Brake operation is normal.
Would mixing Synthetic fluid with dot 3 cause This?
I don't know if this the case,just a guess.
I don't have any ford dealers that work on Motorhomes in my area.
This weekend Is our maiden voyage.(maybe)

FIRE UP · 04-20-2016, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 41pu

Hello
I'm checking the fluids on a new to me 2003 Holiday Rambler on the F53 ford chassis.with 21 k on the clock.
All look New.. But the brake fluid.
It is like jell consistency. It clear and smells like brake fluid.
Brake operation is normal.
Would mixing Synthetic fluid with dot 3 cause This?
I don't know if this the case,just a guess.
I don't have any ford dealers that work on Motorhomes in my area.
This weekend Is our maiden voyage.(maybe)

Well Sir,
First off, if your brake fluid appears and or feels like jello, THAT'S A BAD THING! Second, your coach is an '03 with only 21k on it. That's 13 years old. It is recommended by Ford to flush the F-53 chassis equipped coaches brakes, every TWO YEARS. In essence, yours should have been flushed at least 5-6 times already. But, not many adhere to those rules.

But, in any case, brakes are by far, the most important part of your coaches operation. It's no big deal if you can't GO. But, it's a serious deal if you can't STOP! So, some immediate maintenance on/in the brake system is warranted for you and your families safety. It's not all that hard. Two people can do it in about an hour or so.

And, it's not recommended to "mix" any brake fluids that are not of the same chemical makeup and or type. Find out what your system uses and, stick with it. If you move up to the next higher grade, then make sure you flush the system with that grade. That way, there's no mixing, it's all one fluid.
Scott

Skip426 · 04-20-2016, 11:39 AM

If you think there is an issue then flush the fluid , to be sure you know what you have . Remove all the fluid from the reservoir and remove and clean the reservoir if possible before you add new brake fluid and flush the lines and calipers, if there is a contaminant in the reservoir it may not have circulated into the lines and calipers YET.
Before I retired , I had to repair a car where the owner had topped up the brake fluid , with power steering fluid; the new P/S fluid was the same color as brake fluid, so he thought it was the same, after all the container said " fluid" , every seal in the brake system that the P/S fluid touched had to be replaced.

RELHUB · 04-20-2016, 12:38 PM

DITTO .... Flush the system

Old Scout · 04-20-2016, 12:50 PM

PS-every two to three years is a good rule of thumb for replacing brake fluid. Recently, was reading up on replacing brake master cylinders and ran across the fact that a lot of M/C manufacturers ship their M/Cs dry but put silicone in them for shipment. If the brake fluid is original, the jelly stuff could be the silicone that got shipped with the M/C??????

gasser 38 · 04-20-2016, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 41pu

Hello
I'm checking the fluids on a new to me 2003 Holiday Rambler on the F53 ford chassis.with 21 k on the clock.
All look New.. But the brake fluid.
It is like jell consistency. It clear and smells like brake fluid.
Brake operation is normal.
Would mixing Synthetic fluid with dot 3 cause This?
I don't know if this the case,just a guess.
I don't have any ford dealers that work on Motorhomes in my area.
This weekend Is our maiden voyage.(maybe)

sounds like someone added DOT 5 to it. Clean out the master cylinder reservoir don't push that through. Then flush with appropriate fluid and you should be ok but only time will tell. Hopefully its just gummed up in the reservoir.

41pu · 04-20-2016, 02:46 PM

Thanks for all the response.
I opened the two front caliper bleeders,the fluid was nice a clear no slim to it..
So I sucked the fluid out of the reservoir.the fluid in the bottom was clear and clean.
I pulled the reservoir and flush it clean with brake clean.
Reinstalled with the ford recommend dot 3 fluid. Road test of 20 miles brakes feel good.
I don't feel that what ever was on the top layer of the fluid made it through the system.
Thanks Again.

41pu · 04-21-2016, 07:31 PM

Heading out town today,got about 15 miles from home and I felt the brakes begaining to drag.
Pulled to the shoulder and rear brakes were definitely hot and dragging.
Let them cool for an hour or so and limp it to my daughters house.
Brakes were hot again after a 10 mile drive.So I
Pulled the master cylinder didn't is any issues fluid was dirty so I replaced it and bleed the system till got clean fluid.
Made a short road test and I have the same problem.
Any ideas?
When this first happened I loosened the brake lines at the master and had pressure from one and this seamed the release the rear brakes.
I'm thinking maybe the rubber hose in the rear is collapsed and holding the brakes on.

Ted Lambert · 04-21-2016, 08:10 PM

I assume (God I hate that word) that you have disc brakes front and rear?

bluepill · 04-21-2016, 08:22 PM

Not a bad idea to replace the flex lines just because of age.

41pu · 04-21-2016, 08:43 PM

Yes it is 4 wheel disc.

Geocritter · 04-22-2016, 08:19 AM

I have a 1994 HR with a F53 Ford Chassis. You probably have dragging wheel calipers, the caliper assemblies are prone to sticking shut unless they're taken apart and lubricated every few years. Since you're in CA and may be going over some steep grades I recommend flushing your DOT 3 and replacing with hi-temp severe-duty DOT 5.1. DOT 5.1 (unlike silicon based DOT 5) is compatible with DOT 3 and DOT 4 so it won't cause compatibility problems and may save your life from brake fade on those long Sierra Nevada downgrades.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOT_5.1

Steve

41pu · 04-22-2016, 03:06 PM

I thought of that as well..I never had any issues before I pulled and cleaned the slim out of the reservoir.
I have also read the slim may have been normal from the factory using a silicone
during the manufacturing process..
This who think stinks.

Skip426 · 04-22-2016, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 41pu

When this first happened I loosened the brake lines at the master and had pressure from one and this seamed the release the rear brakes.
I'm thinking maybe the rubber hose in the rear is collapsed and holding the brakes on.

JMHO:
If you cracked the line at the master cylinder and think you released pressure , then it's the master cylinder that's holding pressure in the line , if the flex hose was holding the pressure you'd have to crack the bleeder at the rear brakes to release the pressure . I think the contaminated fluid has damaged the master.