Community Forums

Schnetz · 12-18-2019, 02:04 PM

I recently had the parking brake on my 1999 Damon Daybreak 2740 rebuilt (not an automated version). The mechanic replaced the brake shoes and adjusted the pedal. My question is, what experiences do others have with this parking brake? On my coach, it does not hold the rig on an incline... Should I expect it to hold? I'm worried that I am damaging the tranny in these situations.

edgray · 12-18-2019, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schnetz

I recently had the parking brake on my 1999 Damon Daybreak 2740 rebuilt (not an automated version). The mechanic replaced the brake shoes and adjusted the pedal. My question is, what experiences do others have with this parking brake? On my coach, it does not hold the rig on an incline... Should I expect it to hold? I'm worried that I am damaging the tranny in these situations.

IF you have manually-applied by foot pedal PB, then you don't have the infamous J-71 AAPB (that is a good thing, IMO).

If your tranny will hold the coach parked on an incline without aid from your PB, then you obviously do have a park pawl inside the tranny and it is possible to damage the tranny if the incline is steep and your PB isn't assisting. Assuming your mechanic knows what he is doing, I think you should have him adjust it until it will hold without the tranny being placed in "P".

A great FREE source of better info on how these systems are supposed to work is HERE: AutoPark parking brake system help, troubleshooting, and repair

D Gardiner · 12-18-2019, 08:58 PM

The manual parking brake on our 1996 14,800 GVWR P32 holds the coach on an incline very well. When we park on an incline I always set the parking brake first before placing the shifter into park.

MC72 · 12-19-2019, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edgray

IF you have manually-applied by foot pedal PB, then you don't have the infamous J-71 AAPB (that is a good thing, IMO).

If your tranny will hold the coach parked on an incline without aid from your PB, then you obviously do have a park pawl inside the tranny and it is possible to damage the tranny if the incline is steep and your PB isn't assisting. Assuming your mechanic knows what he is doing, I think you should have him adjust it until it will hold without the tranny being placed in "P".

A great FREE source of better info on how these systems are supposed to work is HERE: AutoPark parking brake system help, troubleshooting, and repair

Note that there were some that had the AutoPark combined with an optional foot pedal.
https://images.app.goo.gl/fSQ3JQSFDFnhcaWu9
Your 1999 Damon might be on a 1998 chassis!

Schnetz · 12-19-2019, 06:06 PM

Thank you all for your help... It seems that I need to adjust the parking brake and pedal and it will hold the weight of my Damon on an incline. That is what I thought, but it's always great to have confirmation from owners who know!

akpd · 12-22-2019, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D Gardiner

The manual parking brake on our 1996 14,800 GVWR P32 holds the coach on an incline very well. When we park on an incline I always set the parking brake first before placing the shifter into park.

Same here on my coach, addition to that I release the brake after I put it into drive from a parked position when I'm ready to go. IMO this puts less stress on the parking pawl.

Soppy · 12-22-2019, 08:23 AM

On my 93 putting the transmission in park uses the same brake shoes as the manual parking brake located on the back of the transmission. There is no parking pawl in the transmission. It will hold the motorhome on an incline as long as it's not too steep.
If the shoes were recently replaced they may need to be adjusted a couple of times to properly get them seated .

akpd · 12-23-2019, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soppy

On my 93 putting the transmission in park uses the same brake shoes as the manual parking brake located on the back of the transmission. There is no parking pawl in the transmission. It will hold the motorhome on an incline as long as it's not too steep.
If the shoes were recently replaced they may need to be adjusted a couple of times to properly get them seated .

Seating in, yes especially if the used brake drum has grooves worn in it.

SmilingSam · 01-08-2020, 12:25 AM

I am pretty certain that NO P30/32 has a parking pawl but some version of a drive shaft brake - J71/72.

The manual foot brake is just a cable actuation maybe thru a mixer box that the 'hydraulic pump auto brake uses' AND the foot pedal uses - 1 and the same brake - NO PARKING PAWL.

I think we ALL wish it had a parking pawl but apparently they are not strong enuf for the weight.

Also, wish they had an actual rear brake used as parking brake - but unless modified not that either !

Doubt this helps.

But to improve the braking surface in your drive shaft brake - it should have be cleaned with appropriate fluid and/OR drum cleaned or ran on lathe to re-surface.

BTW, the hydraulic auto-brake puts significantly more pressure than does the foot pedal but the foot pedal should work well enuf if it functions correctly.

so operationally, it likely does not matter what you release first, same brake, and it should not interfere - the hydraulic pump side will always win - force wise.

In my opinion a really stupid system - should be a system that you energize a mechanism that locks the brake when you tell it to BRAKE - not some 'auto' crap mimicking an air brake system !!

Such a troublesome system is the J71 !!

Quote:

Originally Posted by akpd

Same here on my coach, addition to that I release the brake after I put it into drive from a parked position when I'm ready to go. IMO this puts less stress on the parking pawl.

CJ7365 · 01-08-2020, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmilingSam

I am pretty certain that NO P30/32 has a parking pawl but some version of a drive shaft brake - J71/72.

The manual foot brake is just a cable actuation maybe thru a mixer box that the 'hydraulic pump auto brake uses' AND the foot pedal uses - 1 and the same brake - NO PARKING PAWL.

I think we ALL wish it had a parking pawl but apparently they are not strong enuf for the weight.

Also, wish they had an actual rear brake used as parking brake - but unless modified not that either !

Doubt this helps.

But to improve the braking surface in your drive shaft brake - it should have be cleaned with appropriate fluid and/OR drum cleaned or ran on lathe to re-surface.

BTW, the hydraulic auto-brake puts significantly more pressure than does the foot pedal but the foot pedal should work well enuf if it functions correctly.

so operationally, it likely does not matter what you release first, same brake, and it should not interfere - the hydraulic pump side will always win - force wise.

In my opinion a really stupid system - should be a system that you energize a mechanism that locks the brake when you tell it to BRAKE - not some 'auto' crap mimicking an air brake system !!

Such a troublesome system is the J71 !!

I had a 95 Win Brave P30 that had a parking pawl "regular" parking brake, it had the 4L80E transmission.

It did NOT have the J71/72