Workhorse Brakes

[Fritzsdad]

On November 6 we began our repositioning trip to Florida from Helen, Georgia. We stay at our resort there about 7 months a year. Our motorhome seldom leaves the park except to change sites every two weeks all summer.
After driving about 70 miles I had a problem with what I assumed to be my tires or brakes. We drive a 2003 Winnebago Adventurer 35U on a Workhorse chassis. It has just over 20000 miles on it. We're the second owner. I've had it two years.
What happened was, I made a pit stop and set the park brake, then released it and continued. I immediately began to experience a rumble and a drag, with the wheel pulling definitely to the right. I stopped again and checked all the tires. I thought I'd had a flat. The tires were fine and nothing seemed unusually hot.
I resumed the journey and tried to not engage the brakes too heavily and eventually the rumble ceased and the coach rolled more freely. I deduced the front right brake caliper had grabbed or failed to release because of rust or dirt on the pads.
Has anybody experienced a similar issue? And if so what is the solution so it won't happen again? My previous coach was a '99 Adventurer on a Ford V-10 and I never had brake problems in over 30000 miles of travel.
Thanks for any comments.
Duane

[Fritzsdad]

On November 6 we began our repositioning trip to Florida from Helen, Georgia. We stay at our resort there about 7 months a year. Our motorhome seldom leaves the park except to change sites every two weeks all summer.
After driving about 70 miles I had a problem with what I assumed to be my tires or brakes. We drive a 2003 Winnebago Adventurer 35U on a Workhorse chassis. It has just over 20000 miles on it. We're the second owner. I've had it two years.
What happened was, I made a pit stop and set the park brake, then released it and continued. I immediately began to experience a rumble and a drag, with the wheel pulling definitely to the right. I stopped again and checked all the tires. I thought I'd had a flat. The tires were fine and nothing seemed unusually hot.
I resumed the journey and tried to not engage the brakes too heavily and eventually the rumble ceased and the coach rolled more freely. I deduced the front right brake caliper had grabbed or failed to release because of rust or dirt on the pads.
Has anybody experienced a similar issue? And if so what is the solution so it won't happen again? My previous coach was a '99 Adventurer on a Ford V-10 and I never had brake problems in over 30000 miles of travel.
Thanks for any comments.
Duane

[Spoonman]

Scroll down to the workhorse forum and do a search on workhorse brakes, enough reading for a couple of weeks.

[Gary RVRoamer]

There was a recall on those brakes for sticking - wonder if yours ever had the work done?

[CoastieSCPO]

Fritsdad;
Lots of posts regarding Workhorse brakes and there was a recall. My rig, a 2004 W-20 experienced a brake failure in August. The rears stuck and the right rear rotor cracked. We ended up replacing all four calipers, the right rear rotor, all 4 seals and caliper lube pins. I was told by my service center that lack of use was the main reason for the failure. That may be true, but I always exercised the rig during those periods of time when it was parked.
Bob

[NeilV]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Fritzsdad:
On November 6 we began our repositioning trip to Florida from Helen, Georgia. We stay at our resort there about 7 months a year. Our motorhome seldom leaves the park except to change sites every two weeks all summer.
After driving about 70 miles I had a problem with what I assumed to be my tires or brakes. We drive a 2003 Winnebago Adventurer 35U on a Workhorse chassis. It has just over 20000 miles on it. We're the second owner. I've had it two years.
What happened was, I made a pit stop and set the park brake, then released it and continued. I immediately began to experience a rumble and a drag, with the wheel pulling definitely to the right. I stopped again and checked all the tires. I thought I'd had a flat. The tires were fine and nothing seemed unusually hot.
I resumed the journey and tried to not engage the brakes too heavily and eventually the rumble ceased and the coach rolled more freely. I deduced the front right brake caliper had grabbed or failed to release because of rust or dirt on the pads.
Has anybody experienced a similar issue? And if so what is the solution so it won't happen again? My previous coach was a '99 Adventurer on a Ford V-10 and I never had brake problems in over 30000 miles of travel.
Thanks for any comments.
Duane </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Duane,

Besides the recall there is regular maintenence. During the annual brake inspection the gibs and guide pins should be lubed with silicone brake grease. I experience caliper drag that was not noticable on my 95 Vectra, on a P30 chassis, until the wheel burst into flames. Nobody was hurt but the coach was a total loss.

[Fritzsdad]

Thanks for the feedback everybody. I now know how to proceed. There was a recall on this issue and my coach was in for the adjustment in October, 2004. Workhorse has indicated that they would consider taking another look at it as a courtesy.
I remember when I had a Wilderness 5th wheel if the trailer brakes locked you could back it a short distance and pop the brakes and it would free them up. The problem with the MH is it's hard to back the Toad.
Duane

[J Walker]

If you experience a problem again check for heating of the caliper and rotor. The will tell you the caliper is sticking/