I was poking around under the coach a little while back and noticed that the slide pins on the passenger side rear rotor were pushed in flush while all others were standing out a bit. I was going to have to have my rear tires replaced soon after and while there, the tech called me over to show the results of a locked up caliper.
Loves wouldn't work on it so I'm going to replace the rotor and pads. I've been through the literature and the other threads but can't find a definitive part number for the rotor. Foretravel parts just has an internal part number that doesn't cross over to a Meritor number.
So I'm looking for pads and a rear rotor for a 1998 34' U270, I'd love to be able to get the parts before I rip it all apart if anyone knows the numbers from their repairs?
The part number is stamped into the edge of the rotor.
Gary B
Thanks Gary, I was hoping you would reply since I had read your thread about doing this yourself. Ended up having to take a grinder to it to expose the part numbers.
My rear rotor on a 98 34' 19,000 lb. rear axle is a K167 163 N for anyone who may be looking down the road.
I wanted to add that the Meritor Xpressway online catalog can be extremely useful for anyone willing to crawl under their coach and get the data plate off the axle assembly. The axle assembly is shipped as an entire unit complete with brakes so the part number off the axle also has the brake parts associated with it.
http://xpcatalogna.meritor.com/PartNumberLookup.aspx (http://xpcatalogna.meritor.com/PartNumberLookup.aspx)
This will give you far more information than you ever wanted to know about your axles but will allow you to know the exact part numbers you need rather than relying on a supply house to find an answer for you.
I have included a picture of the data plate on my rear axle for reference. The information that you would want to input into the Meritor site would be the model code RS21145NFCF433.
Does anyone know what the P/N is for the brake pads for a 2002 U320?
Update: P/N KIT 15625PM - Available from FOT @ $439.87 + shipping per axle. FinditParts @ 198.01 Free Shipping per axle.
Found a shop in Butte, MT that is familiar with Meritor Brakes and will replace for shop time @ $79.50/hr. Estimated time: 1/2 hour to 1 hour per caliper set.
Glad you found what you needed. One thing I have noticed is a vast disparity in prices for the various brake components. FT's price is quite a bit high as you found out.
The other big thing is that not many local parts houses want anything to do with helping you out since these are "old numbers" as the counter guy at Fleetpride said. Using the internet to have everything delivered is so much easier, as long as you know what you need, than dealing with counter sales.
I found Air Disc brake parts at FLEET PRIDE PARTS HOUSES, reasonable prices.
Gary B
Maybe I just got the worst employee they have ever hired. I won't ever find out since I will not be using them for parts in the future.
The guy did end up finding the rotor and pads at other locations but was quite adamant that he would never sell these parts out of his storeroom, since they were old part numbers, if I didn't show up to pick them up. I would have to pay in advance if he ordered them but he would rather I not bother him and just call the 2 other out of state stores that had the parts and deal with them directly. I had a very similar situation at the local Caterpillar supply house.
In the end, itts just more of a pain dealing with these guys, if you don't have a corporate account with them, than it is ordering off the internet if you already know all of the part numbers you need.
Sounds like the clerk needed an attitude adjustment. The one I use in Atlanta will use someone else's account number to give me a discount since I am only an occasional customer.
Gary B
Are the in board and out board pads suppose to be different thickness? I pulled my front ones out today and in board pad was 1", out board was 1/2". (I might have that backwards, but anyway both sides were similar so I'd assume all is normal.) What is the thickness of new pads?
I don't know what the thickness of new pads are. When I receive my new ones I will post.
Mine will arrive Friday or Monday and I will let you know. I would think that both pads would be the same and they appear in the literature that way. Yours could indicate a dragging brake pad from improper greasing though. I will let you know when they arrive unless Scott gets his first.
Could be brake drag due to improper lube or.............. Meritor does make a Helper Spring set that installs 2 each per caliper that provides additional OUT pressure. I am guessing that Meritor makes the Helper Springs due to recurring issues of brake drag - but with things of this nature no one fesses up to advise WHY they are producing the springs. Had the helper springs installed a few weeks ago on all calipers and found that the left rear pads were getting thin. So we are replacing the pads on the rear axle. The rotors are all good. WHEW.
The joys of buying 15 year old equipment. The pins were actually in good shape, removed with no problem, but there was a heavy layer of burned on grease over the calipers. I pulled the whole unit out so I could clean it up and have ordered the springs and the correct grease, front wheels only so far. Dave, would you give any credit to the retarder for the longevity of your pads? I have a retarder, but not the joy stick. Maybe it would pay to get it.
My FT did not have the joystick when I bought it and I installed one immediately. I consider it to be the best upgrade I have made and couldn't imagine being without it now. I wish all automatic transmission vehicles had one.
We are near 110K miles by the odometer. We bought the coach at about 64K miles. We've had brakes adjusted at FOT. We have brakes inspected as part of regular service. Lubrication and adjustment are "if appropriate." Had two slide pins replaced while changing a wheel bearing seal. We've done no other service or replacement.
We added the joystick to our U295. We are pleased to have it, but we use it only on long, steep grades. We leave the "Retard" switch "on" so the retarder assists the brakes during most driving. That has worked well for us. Transmission and brakes both appear to be in good condition.
I highly recommend the joystick. I regularly use ours, and it's especially nice when descending long grades. I would not want to be without the transmission retarder and joystick.
When our Helper springs were installed the slide pins were good and the slack adjusters were adjusted. I can not attest to what the PO did. I can only do what appears to be best now.
Hi Gayland,
Our 1997 U 320 came without the joystick. I used it that way. I thought the brakes were great. Added the joystick a year later. Wow, I will never be without a joystick again. It is just an awesome feature.
Raymond
plus one...
NO replacement for the joystick. And the xtarder that works on cruise....
I do intentionally turn off the xtarder and work the service brakes hard regularly. Warmed up and deglazed they are impressive by themselves.
Following up on this.
They are different thicknesses, much to my surprise. The inner pad is approx. 1-1/16" thick and the outer is only about 7/8". They are also shaped quite differently.
Thanks, based on that, it appears my inner pad at 1 inch is still basically new, and the outer one has been dragging a bit. I'll further assume there hasn't been maintenance problems, just a design problem that they are fixing with the added spring. I wonder why they only want one spring per caliper? Seems that would put a twist torque. But wait....isn't there 2 springs per caliper now? In Barry's Utube video he states it is strongly recommended only one per caliper (Meritor Air Disk Brakes Maintenance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N-St4Px8cs#ws)) at approximately the 32 minute mark. An excellent video, and I suspect done quite some time ago so maybe recommendations have changed.
Helper springs come two to a package and you install ONE per PIN.
Gary B
2 springs per caliper, one on each slide pin.
I have springs on all 8 pins
Can somebody please post the Part Number for the "helper springs" that go on the slide pins?
Also, I found this post on another forum that lists many different PN including sets of pads from other vendors (post 4) RV Service Center in Atlanta?? - iRV2 Forums (http://www.irv2.com/forums/f115/rv-service-center-in-atlanta-129688.html)
Searching the forum for Meritor helper springs brings up KIT15018
Helper springs on Meritor disc brakes (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=16318.msg103973#msg103973)
We bought ours from FindItParts, here's the link to the springs KIT15018 by MERITOR - KIT (http://www.finditparts.com/products/39506/arvin-meritor-kit15018)
You can get them through NAPA, though they might have to order them in.
We bought our set from: Heavy Duty Truck Parts Online, Medium Duty, Light Duty - FinditParts (http://www.finditparts.com/)
Adding a couple of pictures of the disfigured rear pads.
I forgot to take pictures of the removed caliper before I got it all cleaned up. The iron/rust on the caliper from the outer pad had to be removed with a grinder and a wire wheel. What a mess.
Question for anyone who has replaced the pads- the inner pad (the one that moves) seems to travel just fine when the caliper moves but on the return, it gets a little cockeyed and the top of the pad doesn't seem to always return fully to the caliper though the bottom does. Does this just need to filed and sanded down a bit more?
Meritor has definitely limits on the amount of slide pin/bushings wear. You maybe need to check on that.
Gayland,
This is with the caliper completely removed and sitting on a workbench. I'll probably just file it down a bit before I reassemble everything and see if I can get it moving smoother.