Hot emergency brake

[Nutimik63]

I drove my coach approximately 5 miles with the emergency brake partally engaged, not eough to be noticiable when accelerating but when I stopped I could smell the hot brake. The brake appears to be OK but, has anyone done something similar and what could be the ramifications?

[Nutimik63]

I drove my coach approximately 5 miles with the emergency brake partally engaged, not eough to be noticiable when accelerating but when I stopped I could smell the hot brake. The brake appears to be OK but, has anyone done something similar and what could be the ramifications?

[johnsandywhite]

Hi Nutimik63. I have done that on my very first RV a 1988 Coachmen Classic. But I also did it on our new-to-us 1996 Newmar Mountain Aire 38ft. The consequence is perhaps a little wear (or more) on the brake shoes.

[Hikerdogs]

I did the same thing a couple of years ago on our Adventurer. I don't think I went 5 miles but the drum did get hot. The next time I had it in for service I asked the Ford dealer to take a look at it and let me know the damages.

Net result, no damage. It didn't even wear the shoes enough to require an adjustment. I do now check the brake as part of a regular check list. Us old dogs may be slow learners, but at least we can still learn.

[R Gordon]

You might have lucked out being that it is a wet brake type. You need to make sure that emergency brake is full of fluid and would be nice if you could change oil in unit since it got hot. It has transmission fluid in it. Good luck!

[Nutimik63]

Thanks for the replies. During a lube & oil I checked the oil in the parking brake, it was clean and had no burnt smell. Brake works fine. It appears that i dod wear the pads slightly as the foot pedal is a touch lower but still holds fine. A little adjustment should bring it back to normal.
I agree with Hikerdogs, us old dogs may be slow learners, but at least we can still learn.
Brian

[Ned]

How do you tell if you have the wet or dry type e brake?? I have a '99 chassis (full of AMSOIL syn fluids).

Thanks.