Community Forums

Jakay · 08-26-2022, 08:41 PM

Hey all! New to these forums, and actually this is my technology impaired roommate's RV. But she's a beauty and in good running condition.

The brakes seem really soft though. It did sit for a good long time so maybe literally just need to get the rust out, but I've been trying see where the brake fluid reservoir is at and...

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS IT OMG IT CANT BE THIS HARD

I have literally no idea. I can see the lines running under the engine, but there's nothing "under the hood" it doesn't seem, and I couldn't see anything in the inner compartment's engine access.

We have to rehome it next week, and would prefer not to die.

Also there's no owners manual, and I can't seem to find it online either. Shame National RV went under though, seems like they had a good product overall.

Anyhow, y'all seem like pleasant knowledgable folks from the many searches I've done about this, so hoping someone can answer what I thought was going to be a straightforward question!

donr103 · 08-26-2022, 09:01 PM

On mine.. inside coach.. open the cover to engine and look under where drivers feet would be.. use strong flashlight or cellphone light.. buy about 4qts of brake fluid to flush system.. if you have never bleed brake fluid before.. suggest you buy it by the quarts because it is so hard to get to.. gallon is much cheaper.. but unless you have a way to transfer fluid from gallon to smaller can or glass.. it is challenging.. you can buy a hand operating fluid pump.. maybe less then 20 bucks but you will need to make sure fill hose can reach.. in the end.. unless you plan to use it often.. best stick with quarts.. come back to this post you made.. because you will guide some great opinions. On the how and why's..
Good luck and keep us posted

MrMark52 · 08-26-2022, 09:03 PM

Whose chassis is under the coach? Ford, Chevy?

If Chevy, and a P-3x chassis - it’s tucked up behind the driver front wheel behind some sheet metal. Not easy to see to add fluid.
Go to the Files section and download the Chevrolet Motorhome Chassis service book - it will provide much needed info on your chassis.

And regardless of whose chassis - the worst thing in the world for a chassis to do is to sit, especially for the brakes.
Brake fluid absorbs water and the wheel and master cylinders are all carbon steel - and you know what that means.
You need to do a full flush of your brake system and cross your fingers you don’t get a hung cylinder or caliper. I would then flush the brake system every 500 miles or so of use (assuming that is done over a period of 60-90 days) until the flushed fluid comes out clean.

Jakay · 08-27-2022, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMark52

Go to the Files section and download the Chevrolet Motorhome Chassis service book - it will provide much needed info on your chassis.

THANK YOU, I have been trying to figure out where to find anything similar for a long time.

> it’s tucked up behind the driver front wheel

Behind as in towards the rear or towards the front? I had though behind (towards the rear) the wheel was where I was looking but all I saw was a smallish tank mounted quite low which seemed to be part of the water heating.

I'll take another look though and see if there's any firewalls or anything that I might have not looked behind well enough. There is a bit of a cover towards the front which looked to be the power steering cylinder, but that was all I saw towards the front.

Quote:

Originally Posted by donr103

Good luck and keep us posted

Thanks! I will, this seems like a bit of an adventure. But I sure am glad for these forums I tell ya. There's gonna be some random questions coming this way as there's a few things that need to be addressed. Luckily this is the worst one.

MrMark52 · 08-27-2022, 05:01 PM

You still have not indicated what chassis is under your coach - but am assuming by your “Thank You” it is a P-3x. If you downloaded the Service Manual, look at Figure 6-9 on page 6-7. I’m assuming your coach has Hydro-Boost, and I know if your coach has independent front suspension, the Master Cylinder is just in front of and above the upper A arm, toward the engine.

Depending on how the coach builder built the doghouse and opening, you may or may not see it from above as mentioned by Donr103. But it’s darn near impossible to service from above the engine (at least it was for me - I found it easier to crawl up under the front bumper between the driver tire and coach chassis. There was a sheet metal deflector there that just covered the visual line of site to the MC cover or lid.

FWIW - if you have Hydro-Boost - the Hydro-Boost assembly will be between the brake pedal linkage as it comes forward thru the firewall then turns down to a heavy duty pivot assembly bolted to the frame that then attaches to the Hydro-Boost assist assembly, and then the MC is at the end of the train in the assembly.

Jakay · 09-08-2022, 10:05 AM

I'm pretty sure it is the Chevy P-30. We had a friend who owns an armada of large machines come and help us move it, and he found it eventually in exactly the same spot described. Mounted to the chassis by the front driver wheel well.

I couldn't find it myself but it was really hard to get under since the wheel was parked by a tree. He shimmied right under and confirmed the cylinder was full, so that was good. Brakes were still a little soft when driving it, but good chance it was from sitting too long.

Thanks for all your help everyone! It would have taken much longer had you basically not said where it was!

now I have to figure out what the best way to raise this thing is. It's now on a bit of a slope and not very nice to be inside. I ordered some 12 ton jack stands but I need to get them up higher to begin with.

The never ending fun of it all!

Thanks again though, really helpful.

> FWIW - if you have Hydro-Boost - the Hydro-Boost assembly will be between the brake pedal linkage as it comes forward thru the firewall then turns down to a heavy duty pivot assembly bolted to the frame that then attaches to the Hydro-Boost assist assembly, and then the MC is at the end of the train in the assembly.

I didn't see anything that sounded like this, but I need to have a better look myself here so I'll keep this in mind.

wolfe10 · 09-08-2022, 10:09 AM

Chevy or Workhorse P chassis= IFS (independent front end). Look under the front. If it looks like an overgrown Chevy 1/2 ton PU suspension, it is a P.

If Ford F53, it will have a solid front axle.

donr103 · 09-08-2022, 10:27 AM

So.. you need to flush the brake fluid.. it needs to be flushed every 2 or 3yrs.. start with that.. you tube brake bleeding if you never have done.. look on you tube GM hydroboost system.. that will help.. check p/s oil.. just barely dip white paper towels inside p/s reservoir and check color of oil.. both brake and p/s oil should be nearly clear.. now on brake calipers there are slide pins.. if been sitting you need to lube those.. you tube p30 or p32 brakes..
Good luck and keep us posted

Jakay · 09-18-2022, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donr103

So.. you need to flush the brake fluid.. it needs to be flushed every 2 or 3yrs.. start with that.. you tube brake bleeding if you never have done.. look on you tube GM hydroboost system.. that will help.. check p/s oil.. just barely dip white paper towels inside p/s reservoir and check color of oil.. both brake and p/s oil should be nearly clear.. now on brake calipers there are slide pins.. if been sitting you need to lube those.. you tube p30 or p32 brakes..
Good luck and keep us posted

Well it's up on 12 ton jack stands now, about 6" up on the front. Took some time, but this is a good idea now that I can actually get in there. Lots to look after around here, but I'll make a point of doing this and try to update this thread!