Coming down Hwy 50 in CO from Salida to Colorado Springs, I noticed my right rear inner tire running hot with plenty of braking. Noticed temperatures near 160F. Took my infrared thermometer to compare and got similar results. The left rear inner tire was around 130F at the same time. I'm wondering if I have a brake issue or if this is possibly normal?
The rest of the drive through Kansas and Missouri, most braking was done with the retarder and temperatures didn't get above 120.
I have not adjusted the brakes nor do I believe they have been adjusted in recent years. Anything in particular that I should be looking at?
Don't think these brakes have any "adjustment" other then servicing the slide pins and greasing the calipers,how are you monitoring the tire temp while driving.
TireMinder TPMS. I should also add that the tire pressure doesn't change much with the increased heat. The temperature was also the WHEEL and not the tire itself. Not sure if the TPMS is reading the temperature of the metal valve stem or the air in the tire, but I'm assuming much of the temperature is coming from the stem, which is coming from the wheel.
They do have adjustments
When was the last time you performed brake pin service?
Basically cleaning and inspecting for corrosion. Everyone says assemble dry but manual mentions WD40
IMO that is a great time to add helper springs. Brake pads are expensive but should last forever unless a caliper is dragging like on yours.
Scott
Manual is online ad I reccomend downloading and following. Adjuster is a square drive 5/16 square drive socket as I recall so double check. Also will need to make a paw lifting device. I just placed a washer under the head to keep unlocked. Remove when done. Read the manual and follow instructions closely when lubricating IE; more is not better
Here is the manual DSD is referring to from the media section.
https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?action=media;sa=media;in=1701
Mike
This is one job that you don't want the Cliff's Notes book version so read and follow and you will be fine.
Our Foretravels do come equipped with self-adjusting brakes but like others have said they can be manually adjusted. A good practice while stopped and emergency brake off stab your brakes maximum application a few times. If the automatic slack adjusters are working properly they will adjust your brakes within spec.
Mike thank you for posting. I 100% agree. Those pads I posted a picture of were that way when I purchased my coach with 52K miles on them and six years in service..
Thank you for the replies and help. I will do some maintenance on the brakes and see if there are any changes.
Is this maintenance that can be done with the wheels on or should I take them off? I know I can get to the calipers and such with the wheels on.. maybe I should read the manual first.
The self adjusters should keep the brakes adjusted. They can be manually adjusted with the wheels on but to service the slide pins the wheels must come off.
Based on your comments and my two years of dealing with brake problems and dumb shops, which is another story itself. I feel the right rear is adjusted too tight and it was doing more or most of the braking. With that said, with that one brake doing more work then the others, the pads are going to be worn down more then the others.
If the right rear brake was dragging you would have come on here way before that down hill run.
There is no adjustment for the self adjuster itself. If you back the adjustment off it will just return to the current adjustment. More likely problem would be lack of helper springs or sticky slide pins.