Meritor brakes and wrong lube.

Topic: Meritor brakes and wrong lube. (Read 2874 times) previous topic - next topic

Meritor brakes and wrong lube.

April 19, 2014, 11:06:35 pm

We received the helper springs and have a local truck mech. scheduled to install and perform maintenance this Monday. I understand that clay based lube is what should be used on the caliper. I looked at the slide pins today and it appears that there is grease, fresh grease, on the fitting on top of the caliper. We had the oil changed and chassis lubed in Phoenix recently and it appears that the tech. may have put the wrong grease in the calipers fitting. I specifically asked the Service Manager if they greased the brakes and he said that they do not. Liability. I told him that only clay based grease should be used there. Could this have caused pad drag on our left front wheel? The grease color around the fitting is an orange/red/purple color.

If the wrong grease has been used how can I get it out before it causes (more) damage? I use the brakes sparingly and have driven from Phoenix to Prescott approx. 120 miles - up hill.

The slide pins look pretty clean. I sprayed a small amount of CorrosionX on the pins.

As usual your thoughts and comments are always appreciated.

Update: It appears if I remove the Reliefe Valve from the caliper I should be able to force out the bad stuff with the good?

Re: Meritor brakes and wrong lube.

Reply #1 – April 20, 2014, 12:01:11 am

Scott,

If the wrong grease has been used on the calipers, it needs to be purged asap. This page from Barry Beams sight will explain better than I can and will show you the clay based grease to be used. Brake Maintenance [ForeForums Foretravel Motorcoach Wiki]

I don't believe you've done any damage yet and forcing the wrong grease out should help the situation. George Hatfield had this same problem and did a great write up with pics on this subject. Wrong grease in brakes

Hope this helps,

Jerry aka Murph

Re: Meritor brakes and wrong lube.

Reply #2 – April 20, 2014, 12:11:12 am

Thanks Murph -

Hadn't found George H's thread. Found maint. stuff on Barry's site though.

Update: Read George's thread. I will chat with the mech. and attempt to purge the red stuff out with the good - clay based. Hope he has some in his shop.

Thanks again - Ya'll

Re: Meritor brakes and wrong lube.

Reply #3 – April 20, 2014, 12:28:10 am

Every mechanic, even the best will shoot some grease into every zerk grease fitting he sees. It is their natural extinct. Even if they are told to skip brake lube, and agree, they have no idea what we are asking.

Very very very few mechanics have ever seen a Meritor disk air brake, so they have no reason to skip brake zerk fittings.

We now have small cable ties wrapped around each of the 3 brake zerks so at least the tech MAY ask why the ties are there.

The wrong grease and the wrong purging procedure cause so much damage, it pays to do something to protect our brakes.

Re: Meritor brakes and wrong lube.

Reply #4 – April 20, 2014, 12:30:06 am

ARGH.....................

Re: Meritor brakes and wrong lube.

Reply #5 – April 20, 2014, 01:23:52 am

@Scott I don't think there has been enough time to cause any damage. Since the mechanic is coming to do the brake helper springs have him push the clay based grease through and you will be good. If you have trouble finding the grease call around to the fire stations in the area and ask where they have their brakes serviced and then call those shops and see if they have it. You may have to drive to Phoenix but at least you will be able to sleep at night!

see ya
ken

Re: Meritor brakes and wrong lube.

Reply #6 – April 20, 2014, 07:53:25 am

It will take a full tube to purge all the brakes. I had cummins do mine and they had another FT in and the guy used the wrong grease. They pulled everything and washed it and applied the proper grease and gave me the extra tubes for my troubles. Over zealous mechanic did it after saying not to. I had just changed over to Synthetic too. Oh well I have a couple more tubes of it. They only sell it in 12 tube boxes, so out motorcade group bought a box and split it up.

Re: Meritor brakes and wrong lube.

Reply #7 – April 20, 2014, 07:53:48 am

Scott,
I just finished the same project. I had my trans serviced awhile back and they told me when finished they had greased the calipers and driveshaft. I cant say the grease caused the problem as the pins appeared to have something like maybe anti seize on them.
I would try to locate the grease as soon as possible. Atlanta has a lot of truck parts and Maintenance facilities, but locating the grease proved to be a much bigger problem at a local shop then finding Meritor parts.

Re: Meritor brakes and wrong lube.

Reply #8 – April 20, 2014, 09:07:26 am

Scott, you may want to check the specs on the grease they put in. It might be just fine. I believe it is all about temperature ratings. The parts guys at MOT told me this.
Also, I think the pins are better left dry with no lubricant.

Re: Meritor brakes and wrong lube.

Reply #9 – April 20, 2014, 10:28:18 am

Ken - I did not sleep well last night.

Thanks for the thoughts guys. I will contact Rocky Mountain Cummins, as they performed the lube and check on temp rating of the lube they used. I will also check with local fire depts and check the other stuff.

I am guessing I could have a couple of tubes sent from FOT. Will Check on Monday. Should be pulling out for southern Utah on Tues. Will probably have to change plans.

Thanks again.

Re: Meritor brakes and wrong lube.

Reply #10 – April 20, 2014, 10:40:26 am

I've had the same thing happen even after explicit instructions to avoid greasing those zerks. Even had them painted red and had the service writer highlight the instructions. In that case I had FT fix it. They just forced out the wrong grease with the gray stuff. However, I agree with Old Hippie and think we are making way too much out of this requirement.
jor

Re: Meritor brakes and wrong lube.

Reply #11 – April 20, 2014, 10:45:56 am

I am not a big believer in coincidence as we encountered brake drag while on a short drive the other day. But.......................Sent an email to Meritor requesting more info and local service centers. Will post results.

Re: Meritor brakes and wrong lube.

Reply #12 – April 20, 2014, 10:52:57 am

Scott, look for a shop that works on fire trucks,a lot of them have the same brakes we do.

Re: Meritor brakes and wrong lube.

Reply #13 – April 20, 2014, 11:14:31 am

Chassis lube is a super easy job and requires very little physical strength, flexibility, or technical knowledge. Anyone who can get on a creeper and roll under the coach should be able to wipe off the grease fittings and squeeze some grease in using a one hand pistol grip grease gun with a flexible hose. There aren't very many fittings so the whole job can be done in a few minutes. I just did it the other day in the parking lot at work just before I left on a trip. I think the majority of readers on this forum should be able to do this job themselves, just saying. Why pay someone else to mess up your coach?

One thing I discovered on my coach is that there are two fittings on opposite sides of the cross in each of the universal joints on the driveshaft. I greased them both even though I took a wild guess that only one of them needed to be greased. I figured they put two fittings on opposite each other so one of them would always be pointed down. I asked Stewart & Stevenson and Foretravel this question and they both agreed that only one of the fittings needs to be greased, whichever one is easiest to reach. Greasing both fittings doubles the chance of accidentally getting dirt into one of the fittings... Other than that everything else is just like greasing fittings on any other piece of equipment you've ever greased in your entire life... Super easy stuff folks.

Should someone on this forum write up a chassis lube tutorial with photos? ...or is there one on here already?

Re: Meritor brakes and wrong lube.

Reply #14 – April 20, 2014, 03:48:14 pm

Quote from: Carol & Scott – April 20, 2014, 10:28:18 am

Ken - I did not sleep well last night.

Thanks for the thoughts guys. I will contact Rocky Mountain Cummins, as they performed the lube and check on temp rating of the lube they used. I will also check with local fire depts and check the other stuff.

I am guessing I could have a couple of tubes sent from FOT. Will Check on Monday. Should be pulling out for southern Utah on Tues. Will probably have to change plans.

Thanks again.

Mobil 28 is a clay based synthetic and I used it for my brakes. It is a bright red color. It is also readily availible
Google
http://www.exxonmobil.com/Belgium-English/Aviation/PDS/GLXXENAVIEMMobilgrease_28.aspx
Good luck,
Rick

Re: Meritor brakes and wrong lube.

Reply #15 – April 20, 2014, 03:51:09 pm

Scott is correct on easy & simple, why I trust no one to grease my coach. Also I have only used silicone grease on all including caliper fittings. Yes added springs, at 104 k miles, everything looks & smells like new. Understanding how to grease the calipers is a biggie.
The silicone beats the temp requirement per the clay based grease. IF it or my procedure was at fault, I would expect an issue, but so far I am the happy puppy doing it all the wrong way per the "Experts"

Re: Meritor brakes and wrong lube.

Reply #16 – April 20, 2014, 06:27:44 pm

RE: check on temp rating of the lube they used

In my opinion, the wrong grease, while it may not hold up to higher temps, is not the major cause of brake damage. Damage comes from not purging out excess grease, which causes the caliper to not fully 'relax', causing them to keep too much pressure on the rotor.

Re: Meritor brakes and wrong lube.

Reply #17 – April 20, 2014, 07:55:50 pm

Another point is that the brakes only need to be lubed once or twice during their lifetime according to Meritor.
jor

Re: Meritor brakes and wrong lube.

Reply #18 – April 20, 2014, 08:09:40 pm

Barry is correct on improper caring for the caliper grease/over greasing will cause it to drag, also important is the slack adjuster / adjustment. Seems there are a few who have little clue to the requirements, and should relay on outside service. Me, I trust no one on my brakes & wheel bearings, been playing with wrenches too long and seen too many idiots playing mechanic.
Most of us have opinions.

Re: Meritor brakes and wrong lube.

Reply #19 – April 21, 2014, 07:00:01 am

I use Mobile SHC 32 synthetic clay base for the brake calipers it is red as well. I agree with Barry most likely more problems are caused by improper purging, and mechanics "greasing the fitting". I talked to Meritor a while back while the person on the other end of the phone, didn't positively say OK, he indicated that a quality synthetic high temp grease would do just fine, as long as any old grease was purged.

Re: Meritor brakes and wrong lube.

Reply #20 – April 21, 2014, 05:09:23 pm

I made a copy of the U320 lubrication diagram with a DO NOT GREASE BRAKE CALIPER FITTINGS written in red on it which I give it to the tech.

It should be in your manual. If anyone wants a copy I will look for it and post it here.

Keith

Re: Meritor brakes and wrong lube.

Reply #21 – April 22, 2014, 08:40:13 pm

Had the helper springs installed yesterday for a local mechanic. He had performed maintenance and stuff on the local FD equipment. The lube that Cummins used is Rated: NLGI, Grade 2 with a temp rating to 375 deg. F. I contacted Meritor's Help line and they stated the spec is: NLGI, Grade, 1 with a heat rating of 310/340Deg. F. They advised that the Grade 2 with temp to 375 would be OK. It is my understanding that nay Grade 1 lube will work and some grade 2s if the heat spec meets or exceeds the Meritor spec. The difference being - the viscosity of the grade 2 is thicker than the grade 1. Grade 2 is considered to have the viscosity of peanut butter and the grade 1 is as tomato paste. So grade 1 flows easier. With the newer lubes available I understand that the overriding concern is heat so the grade 2 if it's spec meets or exceeds the 310/340 Deg. range it will work. When we get to Montana I will acquire some Grade 1 lube and purge and re-lube the calipers. Drove from Prescott, AZ today to Glendale, UT and rarely used the brakes. Between the retarder and gear changes the only time I touched the brakes was when we came to a stop - less than 5 mph. He also cleaned the slide pins and adjusted the slack adjusters.

I do not believe in fate but - the left rear had been dragging and the pads will have to be replaced when we get to Montana next month. He said we had about two to three thousand miles left before we damage the rotor - don't want to do that. He could have changed them for us today but we wanted to get on the road.

Thanks again for your interest and input.

Oh - $20/spring kit and $80.00/hour to install. Total just over $400.00. Are they absolutely necessary? I don't know. I feel better now so I guess the cost was worth it.

Re: Meritor brakes and wrong lube.

Reply #22 – April 22, 2014, 09:02:08 pm

@Scott Glad to hear you got everything straighten out. You'll sleep better tonight!

see ya
ken

Re: Meritor brakes and wrong lube.

Reply #23 – April 22, 2014, 09:15:23 pm

After the wrong grease almost got into my brakes a couple of years ago at the local Tucson Inland Kenworth, I put wire ties on all the brake grease nipples. Of course I also tell them not to do it.

George

Re: Meritor brakes and wrong lube.

Reply #24 – April 22, 2014, 10:16:34 pm

Ken - Hope to sleep better tonight. We are in a nice valley with green grass in a nice little park. I still am feeling your pain. Wish I could help.

George - After I purge and put in the correct stuff I will probably wire tie it as well. It often seems like important information, regardless how well meaning people are, often gets lost. BTW - hows the knee?

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