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Park Brake leaks-'89 GV

August 20, 2016, 09:28:28 am

I have a "slight" problem with our park brake. It does hold, but the coach can roll about a foot when I actuate the lever to the park position, after taking my foot off the brake pedal. Back end of the tranny, where the park brake works, is all wet where the hoses are located. My problem is: where is the reservoir for the fluid?
I don't want to take the hoses off and not be able to refill.
Is the reservoir the same as the brake reservoir on the front wall ahead of the driver's feet?

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Re: Park Brake leaks-'89 GV

Reply #1 – August 20, 2016, 09:40:02 am

Norm,

I have no first hand information on your set up.  But, be very careful with adding fluids.

I ASSUME, again ASSUME that the parking brake uses a hydraulic fluid (could be Dexron, could be engine oil, could be hydraulic fluid). Many coaches with drive line parking brakes are spring applied, hydraulic pressure released.  Common source of hydraulic pressure was the power steering pump.

I also ASSUME it is totally unrelated to the hydraulic brakes (reservoir in the front) which uses Dot 3 BRAKE FLUID.

Hopefully, someone who has worked on this system on an ORED will know.  If not, would probably call Freightliner in Gaffney on Monday.  They MAY have someone still familiar with that chassis.

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Re: Park Brake leaks-'89 GV

Reply #2 – August 20, 2016, 09:42:33 am

Sorry, Brett, the three times I called a Freightliner service facility they acted like I was asking about my 1959 Edsel--and I never owned one!!

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Re: Park Brake leaks-'89 GV

Reply #3 – August 20, 2016, 12:50:55 pm

Not familiar with the hydraulics but every truck with a trans output mounted brake will exhibit some roll when you apply because it has to take up the slack in the driveshaft and differentials etc. Very much like putting an automatic in park it can still move a bit.

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Re: Park Brake leaks-'89 GV

Reply #4 – August 20, 2016, 01:44:47 pm

Thanks, Toby, but I am just a "little" bit fastidious when it comes to leaks. Messy on the driveway, coach, hands and tools when I am working underneath. Sooner or later a small leak can evolve into a problem.
Our coach is an '89 that just turned over 80,000 miles and is clean as a whistle and I would like to keep it that way.. Almost zero rust anywhere and I wouldn't be afraid to wipe a piece of bread on the walls in the engine compartment insulation and then eat the bread.
I keep it clean!! I wash the engine compartment every year, along with maintaining the entire coach in pristine condition. Call me anal, but I have always tried to keep my "things" in good working order.

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Re: Park Brake leaks-'89 GV

Reply #5 – August 20, 2016, 02:06:19 pm

For sure. Leak definitely needs attention. However even with no leaks there will be some initial movement. Very little movement in the driveline is a lot at the outside of the wheel.

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Re: Park Brake leaks-'89 GV

Reply #6 – August 20, 2016, 05:21:52 pm

Our driveline parking brake on the SOB was just a front wheel brake assembly off of a '40's/'50's GM pickup. the pump compressed the big arsed spring to release the brakes... The pump used hydraulic oil..... not ATF as I was sad to learn, anyways..... the pump had it's own tank mounted close to the pump, and you could adjust the brake shoes same as if it were still on the GM pu.

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