Community Forums

stan5711 · 01-27-2014, 08:40 AM

I need you guys to explain hoe the air brakes works,You park,engauge your brake,then dump your air,Do you not have to have air pressure to keep them engauged.I am completely new to air brakes.

Thanks for the help

Fkrel · 01-27-2014, 08:45 AM

The rear brake chambers have a strong spring in them that holds your brakes on when air is released from them. the spring looks like a car coil spring very strong.

Pigman1 · 01-27-2014, 09:21 AM

You need air pressure to APPLY the rig service brakes, the brake pedal, and you need air pressure to RELEASE your emergency brakes. As Fkrel said, the emergency is applied by a heavy spring in each of the rear emergency brake cans. Comes on when air pressure drops below 40 -45psi. When you dump the suspension in prep for leveling, you only dump air out of the air bags that act as springs. The brake system still has air in the air tanks. In an emergency you could release your emergency, and actually drive with the suspension down, you'd still have service brakes. Of course it's not recommended.

Algoma · 01-27-2014, 09:33 AM

As has been said your parking brake is spring activated and air released. If for some reason you lost your air driving down the road the parking brake would activate as there is no air holding it off. This is separate from your service brakes which can be either air brakes, air over hydraulic or hydraulic. You need to get the chassis info for your coach to understand how yours is set up.

BFlinn181 · 01-27-2014, 10:08 AM

You don't need an endorsement on your license for an air brake equipped RV in Texas, but it's nice to know what stops your motorhome.

RV Air Systems

An Air Brake Primer

HowStuffWorks "How Air Brakes Work"

RV.Net Open Roads Forum: Air Brakes test and when do you need toad brakes

A couple of things: I've not seen a 'wig wag' warning for low air pressure since the late '60's. RV systems are almost always self-adjusting, but it's still good to know how to check and adjust if the self-adjusters are bad. Your air tanks probably have drain valves with lanyards. The lanyards are usually routed to a wheel well or someplace else accessible from the sides of the coach. Pull them once in a while to make sure the air dryer filter is doing it's job. If excess (any) water is in the tanks, it's time to service the air dryer. I don't know if your RV has drum or disk brakes, disk brakes usually means your brakes are 'air over hydraulic' which means air pressure is used to apply hydraulic pressure to disk brake calipers. I'm sure others will chime in here to further explain how an '02 Monaco is equipped.

gemini5362 · 01-27-2014, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BFlinn181

You don't need an endorsement on your license for an air brake equipped RV in Texas, but it's nice to know what stops your motorhome.

RV Air Systems

An Air Brake Primer

HowStuffWorks "How Air Brakes Work"

RV.Net Open Roads Forum: Air Brakes test and when do you need toad brakes

A couple of things: I've not seen a 'wig wag' warning for low air pressure since the late '60's. RV systems are almost always self-adjusting, but it's still good to know how to check and adjust if the self-adjusters are bad. Your air tanks probably have drain valves with lanyards. The lanyards are usually routed to a wheel well or someplace else accessible from the sides of the coach. Pull them once in a while to make sure the air dryer filter is doing it's job. If excess (any) water is in the tanks, it's time to service the air dryer. I don't know if your RV has drum or disk brakes, disk brakes usually means your brakes are 'air over hydraulic' which means air pressure is used to apply hydraulic pressure to disk brake calipers. I'm sure others will chime in here to further explain how an '02 Monaco is equipped.

I am curious. From all the posts on here I have read you have to have an RV license in texas. Are you saying you do not have to have a separate license for a class a RV In texas.