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Topic: Rear Brake Rotor Failure (Read 901 times) previous topic - next topic

Rear Brake Rotor Failure

After living this many years and seeing just about anything that can go wrong or brake,  I have to admit I've never seen a brake rotor completely come apart.  As you can see in the picture, the friction part of the rotor COMPLETELY broke away from the mounting portion of the rotor.  When the brakes were applied and the disc squeezed the rotor it had absolutely no braking effect.  The outer rotor was stopped but was no longer connected to the wheel.  Happened on the Driver's side rear.

Nick
1999 U295 40'

Re: Rear Brake Rotor Failure

Reply #1 –
?Needs Caulk?
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Rear Brake Rotor Failure

Reply #2 –
I would guess that coach don't get driven very often.  Never seen a rotor that rusted and corroded.

Needs a COMPLETE 4-corner brake job ASAP!  Check the pads, rotors, slide pins, and probably wheel bearings plus a (clay based) grease job.

1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Rear Brake Rotor Failure

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Nick Cagle –
After living this many years and seeing just about anything that can go wrong or brake,  I have to admit I've never seen a brake rotor completely come apart.  As you can see in the picture, the friction part of the rotor COMPLETELY broke away from the mounting portion of the rotor.  When the brakes were applied and the disc squeezed the rotor it had absolutely no braking effect.  The outer rotor was stopped but was no longer connected to the wheel.  Happened on the Driver's side rear.


After seeing many "disc rotor failures" on our coaches..it always seems to be the passenger side rear...thoughts ?.
Hans & Marjet
1995 U300 "Ben" (#4719)
3176B Cat,4060HD,Jake
SKP#139131
Motorcade#17579
2006 Honda Element (towed)

Re: Rear Brake Rotor Failure

Reply #4 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
?Needs Caulk?

OK, I KNOW this need explanation.

We live on the water front in Fort Myers.  Every time we see a half sunk boat, the joke is "NEEDS CAULK".  Same when we are in New Mexico and see to totally derelict building-- "NEEDS CAULK".

Sorry, I digress.

Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Rear Brake Rotor Failure

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Hans&Marjet –
...it always seems to be the passenger side rear...thoughts ?.
I would say it's simply a coincidence...but then again, there IS Gibbs Rule #39.....

1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Rear Brake Rotor Failure

Reply #6 –
Where is the shinny rotor? If the rusty part is the rotor, this brake has not been working for a very long time.

Re: Rear Brake Rotor Failure

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie –
I would say it's simply a coincidence...but then again, there IS Gibbs Rule #39.....


Hmmmmmm.Gibbs Rule ?? please
Hans & Marjet
1995 U300 "Ben" (#4719)
3176B Cat,4060HD,Jake
SKP#139131
Motorcade#17579
2006 Honda Element (towed)

Re: Rear Brake Rotor Failure

Reply #8 –
Sorry, all that rust happened in the rain after the rotor was removed.  The coach is used regularly!!
Nick
1999 U295 40'

Re: Rear Brake Rotor Failure

Reply #9 –
It might be interesting to know where and by whom it was manufactured.
88 Grand Villa 36' ORED 3208 (throwaway)Cat.
 Build # 3150
Happiness is the maximum agreement of reality and desire.

Re: Rear Brake Rotor Failure

Reply #10 –
"?Needs Caulk?" Structural caulk, specifically. <grin>

Yes, a nice, shiny rotor left outside in the rain overnight can look like that. Fortunately, when it happened to me it was a rotor that had been replaced with a new one.

Yes, it would be interesting to know who made it. Even more interesting would be to know how many others are on our coaches that haven't failed - yet.

Re: Rear Brake Rotor Failure

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Hans&Marjet –
After seeing many "disc rotor failures" on our coaches..it always seems to be the passenger side rear...thoughts ?.
Crown of the road causes more corrosion on passenger side. I would speculate vibration induced by disc irregularities caused by corrosion as displayed by the disc. Would also speculate others are similar. Just weird it was on drivers side? Certainly time for complete brake service and pin inspection and service. They are probably in the same shape. I would recommend adding additional caliper helper springs at this time.  Glad no one was hurt.
Scott

Re: Rear Brake Rotor Failure

Reply #13 –
Quote from: dsd –
Crown of the road causes more corrosion on passenger side.
Could you provide the reasoning and/or research supporting that statement?  Inquiring minds want to know.

1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Rear Brake Rotor Failure

Reply #14 –
The crown is engineered in to move water to the curb consequently all the contamination and oil residue etc concentrates there.
88 Grand Villa 36' ORED 3208 (throwaway)Cat.
 Build # 3150
Happiness is the maximum agreement of reality and desire.

Re: Rear Brake Rotor Failure

Reply #15 –
Quote from: Olde English –
The crown is engineered in to move water to the curb consequently all the contamination and oil residue etc concentrates there.
Salt and deiceing chemicals too. Narrow streets also may have mud and dirt that are also slung under the chassis and provide a layer that holds moisture and all the other road junk.
Scott

Re: Rear Brake Rotor Failure

Reply #16 –
Quote from: Olde English –
The crown is engineered in to move water to the curb consequently all the contamination and oil residue etc concentrates there.
Quote from: dsd –
Salt and deicing chemicals too.
Thanx.  Sounds logical.  We seldom use salt and the deicing crap in West TX, but the oilfield trucks often spill/leak caustic chemicals on the roadways, so I guess we would have the same problem. 

We had a caliper hang up on corroded/pitted slide pins - would not retract - ruined the pads and rotor.  Fortunately, rotor did not fracture.  Curb side rear corner, of course.  8)
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Rear Brake Rotor Failure

Reply #17 –
Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie –
Thanx.  Sounds logical.  We seldom use salt and the deicing crap in West TX, but the oilfield trucks often spill/leak caustic chemicals on the roadways, so I guess we would have the same problem. 

We had a caliper hang up on corroded/pitted slide pins - would not retract - ruined the pads and rotor.  Fortunately, rotor did not fracture.  Curb side rear corner, of course.  8)

Rust belt states rely on a thin veneer of sodium or calcium chloride on the roads to ease your ride home when the snow begins.  From snow in, to several weeks after snow out the roads are a constant slurry of corrosive salts.  When disk brakes became the new normal, some of us voiced the idea that maybe drum brakes were a better choice for winter roads and purchased our winter sacrifice to the salt god appropriately equipped.
1992 Foretravel Grand Villa
U225 SBID Build No. 4134
1986 Rockwood Driftwood
1968 S.I.A.T.A. Spring
1962 Studebaker Lark
1986 Honda VF700C
1983 Honda VF750C
Charlie, the Dog was broken out of jail 24 Oct 2023
N1RPN
AA1OH (H)e who must be obeyed.

Re: Rear Brake Rotor Failure

Reply #18 –
The more I look at the two parts that were once one I can't help thinking, pour manufacturing of a questionable design spec.
There doesn't seem to be enough meat/metal to hold it all together, the break pattern on both pieces presents symmetrical. To me this indicates a weakness in the design/manufacturing process. Casting take a lot of attention to control, think Liberty bell and Big Ben, same foundry, same crack.
Or is this the result of an extremely warped rotor ?
IMO
88 Grand Villa 36' ORED 3208 (throwaway)Cat.
 Build # 3150
Happiness is the maximum agreement of reality and desire.

Re: Rear Brake Rotor Failure

Reply #19 –
Quote from: Olde English –
Or is this the result of an extremely warped rotor ?
IMO

More likely the result of a stuck caliper pressing from one side of the rotor.
1992 Foretravel Grand Villa
U225 SBID Build No. 4134
1986 Rockwood Driftwood
1968 S.I.A.T.A. Spring
1962 Studebaker Lark
1986 Honda VF700C
1983 Honda VF750C
Charlie, the Dog was broken out of jail 24 Oct 2023
N1RPN
AA1OH (H)e who must be obeyed.

Re: Rear Brake Rotor Failure

Reply #20 –
Quote from: Old Toolmaker –
More likely the result of a stuck caliper pressing from one side of the rotor.


Which has happened to a number a folks, particularly if slide pin cleaning/inspection/replacement isn't part of their regular maintenance, and hence the suggestion to do that and add the helper springs.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Rear Brake Rotor Failure

Reply #21 –
Yes there have been many examples of stuck calipers but how many rotor failures have there been ?
88 Grand Villa 36' ORED 3208 (throwaway)Cat.
 Build # 3150
Happiness is the maximum agreement of reality and desire.
 

Re: Rear Brake Rotor Failure

Reply #22 –
Quote from: Olde English –
Yes there have been many examples of stuck calipers but how many rotor failures have there been ?
Most people don't try hard enough.
1992 Foretravel Grand Villa
U225 SBID Build No. 4134
1986 Rockwood Driftwood
1968 S.I.A.T.A. Spring
1962 Studebaker Lark
1986 Honda VF700C
1983 Honda VF750C
Charlie, the Dog was broken out of jail 24 Oct 2023
N1RPN
AA1OH (H)e who must be obeyed.