I have a 1997 U320 40-foot Foretravel (no slide) on which I am going to have new tires installed locally.
1. Where should the jacks be placed?
2. Can the air-over-disc-brakes controller be accessed WITHOUT removing the tires?
The installer of the new tires may not be all that familiar with Foretravel coaches and I would prefer to take the coach to Knoxville for service of the controller where they know how to service the controller with the proper clay-based grease.
As far as I know the Jacks should be placed on the Axle.
I would not do anything to your brakes if they are working correctly and you have enough brake pad. Two years ago I had new tires put on and while they were doing that I notice my rear rotor was all scarred up from brake pads being worn out. I did not even know I had a problem. Once I let someone work on the brakes, I have had nothing but hell with them. I was at MOT last week and hopefully they have fixed all of the problems now.
My take on the installation for rv's is to use a special michelin tire lube for the assembly.
Otherwise the std soaps/whatever break down inside the tire and promote rust.
Someone with more knowledge here may be able to post what the product is?
At one time it was called RuGlide, that was years ago.
Several products will aid the machine in getting the bead over the wheel without any damage. Rust not a problem as most all of us have Alcoa aluminum wheels.
Pierce
But what about my other QUESTION?
2. Can the air-over-disc-brakes controller be accessed WITHOUT removing the tires?
Will someone please tell me why
"2. Can the air-over-disc-brakes controller be accessed WITHOUT removing the tires?"
is not a technical question?
Duane,
If you are using the term controller to describe the caliper where you can grease, (if you just want to flush it with new grease) no you can do that with the wheels on. But if you are going to service the guide pins (which should be looked at) then you need to have the wheels off. This would be a good time to look over the slack adjusters, air cans, & the linkage.
Pamela & Mike
Duane,
If you are asking why the topic was moved, you had posted it in the "Forum How-To and Support". Per the description of that board that one is for asking questions about how to use the forum
itself, not for questions about coaches. The "How To Guides" sub-board the topic was originally posted in is the repository of instructions on the different
forum features and operation.
What is a "air-over-disc-brakes controller", what does it do and where is it located?
Controller at wheel Multiple Choice:
Air Chamber ?
Slack Adjuster ?
Caliper ?
The steel cord belts inside the tires rust from the water vapor in any non dry air you put in the tires and from the use of water as an ingredient in any mounting lube.
I bought a 4.5 pound Myers lube container to have any tire mounting people use on my coach.
The ten years life on a Rv is why IMO it's needed.
Seen many rusted cord belt blown up radial truck tires in my Rv sales manager days.
Foretravel's chassis air chuck is after the air dryer if memory serves me.
I use dry nitrogen myself.
Starting with dry air and/or dry nitrogen and zero water based mounting lubricant lessens the amount of rusting internally the tires will be subject to.
I used to deflate and refill the tires several times with nitrogen to lessen the water vapor in the tires.
High temps and pressure seem to drive the water vapor through the thin internal covering of the steel cord belts Imo.
External cracking is visible for judging replacement time but internal rust is harder to find unless you dismount the tires and inspect for visible rusting.
Still might be there behind the belts covering although.
Good to be paranoid in my opinion
Sorry about doing that,Michelle. - my brain ain't working as good as it used to. Thanks for your help!