Community Forums

Treeman · 09-22-2007, 12:27 PM

Just got back from getting my 2006 MB serviced for the trip down to Yuma. The Ford Truck center tech said the front brake pads were at 45% while the rears were at 95%. 7,000 miles on the rig!
The service manager said that if the wear proceeds as it's doing, the front pads will be replaced under warranty.
Anyone care to speculate why the front pads would wear out faster then
the rear? We do tow a Saturn Vue 4-down, but I can't see why that would effect wear on the front pads only. These are 4 disk brakes, so it's not like the rear drums aren't adjusted. (like in an older rig)
I'm using the Stay N Play on the toad, and it seems to be working just fine.
Response below is from Pete at SMI:
There is a mirad of other possibilities. I would have the rear inspected very close. A higher percentage of all braking is from the front but if your rear brakes were not working correctly, the fronts would have to compensate. Another possibility is push from the toad. Be sure that the SIP is set to turn on a slightly harder then normal stop. This will conserve the coach brakes. Another possibility is the method of the proportioning valve from front to rear. If that is not functioning properly, again the front is doing all the work.
I would watch that very close as it can not be normal. Go to www.irv2.com and post your situation with the Ford. You might find others with a similar problem and possible solutions.

That's all I have right now except for Pete's suggestion to be sure that the SIP is set to turn on a slightly harder then normal stop.
(what is SIP? I don't have the manual handy)
Thanks,
Treeman

Treeman · 09-22-2007, 12:27 PM

Just got back from getting my 2006 MB serviced for the trip down to Yuma. The Ford Truck center tech said the front brake pads were at 45% while the rears were at 95%. 7,000 miles on the rig!
The service manager said that if the wear proceeds as it's doing, the front pads will be replaced under warranty.
Anyone care to speculate why the front pads would wear out faster then
the rear? We do tow a Saturn Vue 4-down, but I can't see why that would effect wear on the front pads only. These are 4 disk brakes, so it's not like the rear drums aren't adjusted. (like in an older rig)
I'm using the Stay N Play on the toad, and it seems to be working just fine.
Response below is from Pete at SMI:
There is a mirad of other possibilities. I would have the rear inspected very close. A higher percentage of all braking is from the front but if your rear brakes were not working correctly, the fronts would have to compensate. Another possibility is push from the toad. Be sure that the SIP is set to turn on a slightly harder then normal stop. This will conserve the coach brakes. Another possibility is the method of the proportioning valve from front to rear. If that is not functioning properly, again the front is doing all the work.
I would watch that very close as it can not be normal. Go to www.irv2.com and post your situation with the Ford. You might find others with a similar problem and possible solutions.

That's all I have right now except for Pete's suggestion to be sure that the SIP is set to turn on a slightly harder then normal stop.
(what is SIP? I don't have the manual handy)
Thanks,
Treeman

Fred and Bonnie · 09-22-2007, 02:16 PM

I would say something is not right. While this may be apples and oranges, by friends W22 has around 30K miles towing a Ford Escort, no toad brake, and the front brakes still have 35% wear left.

Thoughts from others may bring more to light.

Fred

Gary RVRoamer · 09-22-2007, 05:30 PM

The front wheels of any vehicle do the lion's share of the braking, so it is quite normal for the front's to wear faster than the rears. But yours are way out of line - you should get much more than 12-14k miles out of a set of front brakes. Something is drastically wrong - insist that they find it and fix it.

I believe SIP refers to the Stay In Play brake.

I'm adding a shortcut to the Ford Chassis section to see if anybody else has seen this problem.

Drifter · 09-22-2007, 05:56 PM

Please post the name of the dealer that let leave without fixing your brakes, so nobody with brake problems goes there.

teofff · 09-22-2007, 07:33 PM

I would be looking at the proportioning valve...or even the lube on the calipers....the pads may be hanging up and not sliding back after you release the brake pedal????

TXiceman · 09-23-2007, 05:39 AM

I have to agree with RV Roamer. Seem to remember that on a car, the front brakes do something like 70% of the braking action. On a motor home this should be biased somewhat to the rear a bit more, since a much larger portion of the weight is on the rear axle and you do not get such a dramatic weight transfer to the front axle as in a car.

You need to start looking at calipers, pins, proportioning valves, etc.

Ken

Treeman · 09-23-2007, 05:49 AM

The Ford Truck service Center is Scarff Ford in Auburn, WA. http://tinyurl.com/29rsq2
I will be calling them tomorrow to schedule a look at my brake system. As I understand, I have the option of using a "super Duty," set of brake pads instead of the oem ceramic pads. I have two mountain passes to travel going South to Yuma from here.
Losing my brakes on a 6% grade doesn't sound like much fun! Thanks for your input and support on my situation.
Best,
Treeman

Hikerdogs · 09-24-2007, 09:03 AM

I'm not so sure a set of "Super duty" pads is going to do anything for your problem. The only way the pads wear is when they're in contact with the rotors. Either there's something mechanical binding like pns, slides or caliper pistons, or there's a problem with the hydraulics like a bad master cylinder or collapsed hose. I doubt the proportioning valve is causing the problem unless you notice yourself doing nose dives when you hit the brakes

Just replacing the pads only gets you back to square one as far as braking material is concerned. For reference our 01 Adventurer has about 60,000 miles on the odometer and it's still got over 50% on the front pads and close to 60% on the rears.

Treeman · 09-24-2007, 03:18 PM

Thanks Hikerdogs,
Checked with Ford parts and the Super Duty pads are what they use. I'll be taking the MH back to the dealer on 9/27/07 and they'll be taking a look at it again. (Seems they want to remeasure the pads again with the tires off)
They already measured them twice on my last visit! Whatever happens, I told them I could be their best customer or their worst customer. The ball is in their court.
Treeman

Treeman · 09-28-2007, 05:06 AM

Took the MH back to Ford today. They remeasured the front pads with the wheels off. Front pads are now 95%, same as rear. The excuse I got from Ford; "its really hard to get an accurate reading with the wheels on, for the front pads."
And yes, I got this in writing from the Ford service department.
Your mileage may vary!
Thanks to all that pitched in.
Best,
Treeman

george henry · 10-10-2007, 06:14 PM

Treeman , now you can have a safe trip to YUMA.
I could not believe what I was reading about your pads wearing out on only 7,000 miles on 06 MB. I hve friends that have over 50 to 70,000 miles and are still going strong lots of pads still left. I myself have only 7,100 on my 2006 THOR M/H and will be replacing the pads when I get around say 50,000 miles mostly flat roads between GA and South FL.

UPS 34 · 10-10-2007, 11:31 PM

I think I would find a new Dealer. How could he be that far off?

John Hilley · 10-11-2007, 04:51 AM

I had my brakes done yesterday. When I did the spring service my pads were just the opposite of yours. Since I still had 45% on rear, I thought I would wait until now to do the pads. I had about 60,000 miles on them this spring. Last trip out I heard metal to metal. The right rear inside pad had dropped off. The metal to metal contact ruined the rotor and added another $330 to the repair. Had 64,000 miles on it yesterday. Pads all around, 1 rotor and packing the front wheel bearings cost $1,045.