Locking brakes on 99 Bounder

[Myrt-Langley]

When you release the brakes you can hear them work. About 10 miles down the road you can feel them slowing you down another1/2 mile you will be at a dead stop. The brake pedal will be all the way up. It is on a workhorse 34' It only hapens on drivers side.I need help before I get a real big hammer.

[TDiGuy]

My 99 beaver had a brake recall on the bosch brakes... basicly the pads will stick to the mounts and not release due to rust... I found out after a short drive... my brakes got so hot that it melted the hub reservoir.. I can not get the lugs off the drivers side so I have been using wd40 on the top of where the brakepads meet the calipar... I do NOT recommend this... It makes the brakes weak if you spray the wrong area... but it got me home from the woods 17 miles to town..

[Steve N Sal]

May we ask what year that Workhorse chassis is? It may be of the vintage for the brake recall. I'm sure if it is it isn't to late to have it done. You also might want to post something in the Workhorse forum on this site with all the info on your chassis you can and see what response you may get to the problem.

My bad, I didn't see it was a 99 chassis. I don't believe that would be in the recall time frame.

[Myrt-Langley]

Thanks, I waited untill it cooled off and drove home.

[Myrt-Langley]

It's a 1999 Bounder. I missed the recalls by a year I think. I have driven about 3 K miles with no problem. Had the Jacks fixed drove 60 miles home no problem, Then it started.

[EngineerMike]

Myrt- as its a Workhorse, you will get year specific help in the Workhorse Chassis Forum.

Here's a stab- you have hydraulic brakes, probably Bosch pin slide type. the pins need to be lubed every 1-2 years, and fluid changed every 2 years. That maintenance is frequently overlooked on motorhomes, and causes brake lock up. Also there are Bosch brake calipers with a phenolic lining to the caliper pistons, which plastic material absorbs water from the brake fluid (hence need to keep it changed regularly & as water free as possible) and swells, causing pistons to stick in the bore. You may have that type of piston in the caliper. The brake recall referenced above was to cure that problem, don't know if your model year is involved.

Waiting for cool down will get you by, but the basic problem is still there. Hope this helps.

[Myrt-Langley]

This is a 99 with 5000 miles I put 3000 on it all the sensors Brake stuff has been replaced. It only has about 80 miles on fixing Jacks. When it cool down it drives like new.

[Myrt-Langley]

I went to the workhorse site from what I understand, I have a P3 chassis not a workhorse. But that still don't unlock the brakes. I have no idea what kind of brakes I have.

[edgray]

Originally Posted by Myrt-Langley

I went to the workhorse site from what I understand, I have a P3 chassis not a workhorse. But that still don't unlock the brakes. I have no idea what kind of brakes I have.

The "original" motorhome chassis from both GM and Workhorse was the P32. Workhorse introduced the W-series in 2001 model year and those are the chassis with the recalled Bosch pin-slide brake calipers. None of the P32 chassis were recalled as part of the Bosch recall, and I'm pretty sure they do not have Bosch calipers.

The P32 was not known for having "great" stopping ability, but then we don't often hear about them locking up either. If you will PM me or post the last EIGHT (8) digits of your VIN #, I'll try to get you some more specific info regarding your chassis and its brake components.

Ed

[tx2stroke]

Check the inside of your master cylinder cap for a swollen seal, which would indicate contaminated fluid.also check the brake hose at the problematic wheel to make sure it is not twisted.i have seen this condition several times.when the brakes were sticking,did u try pulling up on the pedal with your foot? I had the linkage sticking from the pedal to the hydro-boost,& solved it with lube.just a few things 2 try.good luck.

[az bound]

Two things I would add that should be done.
Complete brake fluid flush.
Lubricate the bellcrank for the brakes.

[Myrt-Langley]

I will check that. But when they stick the brake pedal comes all the way up. I think the fluid is boiling. Thanks Very Much

[Myrt-Langley]

Originally Posted by az bound

Two things I would add that should be done.
Complete brake fluid flush.
Lubricate the bellcrank for the brakes.

Thanks alot. I know someone in Suprise.

[az bound]

Another item that I should have mentioned was to clean and lubricate the brake caliper slide pins. It should be done every two years.