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Old 03-31-2019, 04:11 PM   #1
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Parking Brake Failure?

I have a question for you MH veterans. As a newby, I recently became concerned about my parking brake. While boondocking in a very unlevel spot with my front end pointing downhill, I thought if the parking brake failed we are in big trouble. Nothing happened, but I wondered if I should chock my wheels or is the parking brake foolproof? Has anyone had their parking brake fail?

As a former school bus driver, I do ocassionally check the parking brake to make sure it holds.
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Old 03-31-2019, 04:30 PM   #2
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You have a diesel pusher with air brakes.

The same rear brakes the stop the MH are used to hold it still, with the parking brake control.

The service brakes are applied with air but the parking brake is applied with springs, so they don't release if you loose air pressure.

Anything can fail, including the automatic slack adjusters and the springs in the chambers.

If the auto adjusters stop adjusting, you will see more air used in normal stopping and a weak parking brake.

If a spring in a chamber breaks, a rare occorance, you would only have one wheel holding the rig from rolling, although it probably wouldn't happen while parked.

Test them by setting them and attempt to drive foward. If they don't seem to hold well, get them checked.
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Old 03-31-2019, 04:31 PM   #3
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I don't think you should trust your parking brake, and you absolutely chock your wheels.
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Old 03-31-2019, 04:31 PM   #4
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Or what TwinBoat said...
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Old 03-31-2019, 04:32 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twinboat View Post
You have a diesel pusher with air brakes.

The same rear brakes the stop the MH are used to hold it still, with the parking brake control.

The service brakes are applied with air but the parking brake is applied with springs, so they don't release if you loose air pressure.

Anything can fail, including the automatic slack adjusters and the springs in the chambers.

If the auto adjusters stop adjusting, you will see more air used in normal stopping and a weak parking brake.

If a spring in a chamber breaks, a rare occorance, you would only have one wheel holding the rig from rolling, although it probably wouldn't happen while parked.

Test them by setting them and attempt to drive foward. If they don't seem to hold well, get them checked.
Well said!
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Old 03-31-2019, 05:36 PM   #6
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Thanks guys. I appreciate your help.
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Old 03-31-2019, 05:38 PM   #7
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Regarding chocks, what do you guys use? I have seen the curved plastic ones. Will they really hold a 45k pound coach?
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Old 03-31-2019, 07:59 PM   #8
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No. Maybe. I use these.

https://www.amazon.com/MaxxHaul-7007...gateway&sr=8-4
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Old 03-31-2019, 08:11 PM   #9
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Me too. On a hill I chock 'em. If there's a hill with a curb I usually curb 'em.
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Old 03-31-2019, 11:07 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pduggs View Post
I have a question for you MH veterans. As a newby, I recently became concerned about my parking brake. While boondocking in a very unlevel spot with my front end pointing downhill, I thought if the parking brake failed we are in big trouble. Nothing happened, but I wondered if I should chock my wheels or is the parking brake foolproof? Has anyone had their parking brake fail?

As a former school bus driver, I do ocassionally check the parking brake to make sure it holds.
It would be nice if you posted your:
Chassis make/model/engine/year etc. You can install a signature below all your posts that automatically puts it there when you're done posting.
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Old 04-01-2019, 04:14 AM   #11
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Interesting discussion. I rarely see a DP chocked, actually probably never have. It does make sense though.
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Old 04-01-2019, 04:58 AM   #12
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Anything can fail, including the automatic slack adjusters and the springs in the chambers.

If the auto adjusters stop adjusting, you will see more air used in normal stopping and a weak parking brake.
I would never trust the tank pressure gauge to tell me when the brakes need adjusted. The change in volume of air is just not that much. But, of course, by law, if a vehicle has air brakes I have to check the brakes are not out of adjustment...

Quote:
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Regarding chocks, what do you guys use? I have seen the curved plastic ones. Will they really hold a 45k pound coach?
IMHO, the best kind of chock is a heavy rubber mudflap, long enough to get under center of wheel while bolted to a 4X4. Once the weight of the wheel is on the flap, it will not slide. And it takes a lot of power to roll the wheel up the inches needed to go over...
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Old 04-01-2019, 05:15 AM   #13
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I would be more concerned with rolling out of the bed. If I was unlevel enough to worry about it I would pick a different spot.
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Old 04-01-2019, 08:02 AM   #14
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I would never trust the tank pressure gauge to tell me when the brakes need adjusted. The change in volume of air is just not that much. But, of course, by law, if a vehicle has air brakes I have to check the brakes are not out of adjustment...



IMHO, the best kind of chock is a heavy rubber mudflap, long enough to get under center of wheel while bolted to a 4X4. Once the weight of the wheel is on the flap, it will not slide. And it takes a lot of power to roll the wheel up the inches needed to go over...
Any chance you have a picture of that chock you describe?
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