Community Forums

lostedman · 08-23-2011, 11:06 AM

Hi all.
I'm posting for my dad, who abhors forums. He's a retired mechanic/welder who just invested in a 31' 1997 Fleetwood Bounder so he and gramma can come visit us and the grandkids. They got it for a really good price, but while driving it home after purchasing it, the brakes went to the floor, hot smells came from below, and he limped home on the parking brake.
I've been reading up, and he has a P30 chassis with a 454 (not sure if Vortec or not). I've learned more than I ever want to about the rotten green switch, but thankfully, it looks like that is not an issue on this RV right now. I'm a bit fuzzy on what he's replaced brake-wise so far, but he's spent about $2,000 doing the work himself. Did I mention that I'm in Georgia and he's in Florida? So far, it sounds like straightforward brake work, but he believes he needs to replace the ABS sensors, and he can't find them anywhere.
Long story short, any good resources for ABS sensors for this chassis?
TIA,
Brian

lostedman · 08-23-2011, 12:48 PM

I noticed that I said it's a Bounder, but it's a Fleetwood Flair.

Nick-B · 08-23-2011, 01:36 PM

Hi Brian and

ABS sensors will not cause the pedal to go to the floor.

Bounder or Flair - makes no difference. The important thing is the P30 GM chassis. Coach is a 1997 but the chassis could be a 1996 (typical). I'm not sure that the P30 even had ABS in '96. The Ford F53 motorhome chassis didn't get ABS until '99. I'm sure someone else can verify about the P30.

With pedal to the floor and hot smells from below, I would suspect one or more stuck brake calipers. Calipers won't release creating massive heat- brake fluid starts to boil - brake pedal goes to the floor.

If it were me I would replace Master Cylinder; Calipers & Pads; Hoses (only do rotors if it really needs them) and thorough bleeding with fresh fluid.

You say he's spent $2000 already?!? Can't be all on the brakes. I just did a complete brake rebuild (less rotors) on my Ford chassis and I spent less than $500.

lostedman · 08-23-2011, 02:01 PM

Thanks for the warm welcome.
I will double-check with him on the phone tonight, but he said it's not a 96-97 model, but a true 97. Not sure what that part means, but maybe it's that he spent $1000 so far, and the rest of the hardware he needed would be another $1000. He did say that there were some definite "fried" pieces in the brakes, but I'll find out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-B

Hi Brian and

ABS sensors will not cause the pedal to go to the floor.

Bounder or Flair - makes no difference. The important thing is the P30 GM chassis. Coach is a 1997 but the chassis could be a 1996 (typical). I'm not sure that the P30 even had ABS in '96. The Ford F53 motorhome chassis didn't get ABS until '99. I'm sure someone else can verify about the P30.

With pedal to the floor and hot smells from below, I would suspect one or more stuck brake calipers. Calipers won't release creating massive heat- brake fluid starts to boil - brake pedal goes to the floor.

If it were me I would replace Master Cylinder; Calipers & Pads; Hoses (only do rotors if it really needs them) and thorough bleeding with fresh fluid.

You say he's spent $2000 already?!? Can't be all on the brakes. I just did a complete brake rebuild (less rotors) on my Ford chassis and I spent less than $500.

Gary RVRoamer · 08-23-2011, 05:26 PM

Well, he's the mechanic, but that sounds like a lot of money just for brake parts. Maybe that '97 Flair wasn't in such great shape afterall?

And ABS has nothing to do with anything mentioned so far. It certainly doesn't cause the pedal to go down or the brakes to not work. And it may well not have ABS anyway. I don't know when they started with ABS ontheP30, but they had it by around 1999.

lostedman · 08-23-2011, 05:47 PM

I did find this thread online
P-30 brake system (scroll to the bottom)
So it seems another person had stuck brakes get so hot that the bearings went bad and the ABS sensor melted. I have never priced any of these parts, but if the calipers, rotors, pads, bearings, and ABS sensors suffered from the heat, that sounds expensive. Not arguing, since I've never laid eyes on this RV, but it sounds plausible.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

Well, he's the mechanic, but that sounds like a lot of money just for brake parts. Maybe that '97 Flair wasn't in such great shape afterall?

And ABS has nothing to do with anything mentioned so far. It certainly doesn't cause the pedal to go down or the brakes to not work. And it may well not have ABS anyway. I don't know when they started with ABS ontheP30, but they had it by around 1999.

lostedman · 08-23-2011, 05:58 PM

I hope I don't sound rude, because I do appreciate all of the good ideas so far. If, for the sake of argument, the ABS sensors were bad, are there any retailers any of you have found that are trustworthy or have good prices?

Nick-B · 08-23-2011, 07:41 PM

Try RockAuto.com
They show the ABS speed sensors for a '97 Chev P30 VAN. AC Delco @ $110 ea.
I've bought from them several times and was satisfied. Gotta watch shipping charges though. Some bigger or heavier items could cost less locally due to shipping.