Greased the brakes....Dang nab it

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Greased the brakes....Dang nab it

May 27, 2014, 04:35:35 pm

Oh boy. Took the MH in for service here in Tucson, shop has good reviews and liked what I saw.

Had them change the oil, find an air leak, and a few other items..Told them NOT to grease the brakes..

They called a few minutes ago to let us know they found the leak (going from 120-30 in 4 hours). When I had the step conversion done they capped off the air line-cap came undone... I spent 4 hours under in and around the coach, never looked.

Of course, Carol mentioned the brakes; yup, they greased em..Going to do the searches here but if anyone has a quick link on how to fix it would be appreciated.

Hopefully they can just add the correct lube. Have sent them Barry B's Meritor link...

Service writer also said all the Foretravels they service get greased...

Interesting....

Re: Greased the brakes....Dang nab it

Reply #1 – May 27, 2014, 05:22:20 pm

You will find lots of posts, they all say the same fix. Just regease them with the correct grease, which will force out the bad grease.

Re: Greased the brakes....Dang nab it

Reply #2 – May 27, 2014, 05:24:57 pm

A little more complicated than just greasing the zirk with the correct grease until the correct grease comes out.

Yes, grease with the proper clay-based grease following the proper procedure so it is not OVER-greased which can lead to one pad staying in contact with the disk.

Best defense is to put plastic caps over the brake zirks AND be able to actually talk with the man doing the work, not just the service writer.

Re: Greased the brakes....Dang nab it

Reply #3 – May 27, 2014, 05:33:17 pm

I had to have my brakes redone with a whole new tube. I had them totally purged till the new grease came out the other end. You can not just put more in and be ok.

Re: Greased the brakes....Dang nab it

Reply #4 – May 27, 2014, 05:33:55 pm

Or you can put wire ties on the grease nipples like I did. When I thought I had the same problem I removed the nipples used to grease the calipers. There was no purple grease inside! So I was OK. Putting normal chassis grease in the automatic slack adjusters is OK. Just have to worry about the calipers which can get very hot and thus need a special grease.

Re: Greased the brakes....Dang nab it

Reply #5 – May 27, 2014, 07:00:38 pm

I am wondering if the factory would have a sure way of preventing this wrong grease issue. Maybe a type of plug instead of a zerk which would require the removal and installation of a zerk before it could be greased.
Does anyone know where to buy a plug that would thread into the grease zerk?

Re: Greased the brakes....Dang nab it

Reply #6 – May 27, 2014, 07:37:56 pm

Telling someone to not grease brakes, does little when the tech does not know the zerks are part of the brakes. They believe that brakes don't have grease fittings. Most think owners are ignorant about such things

The higher recommended the shop and the more competent & experienced the tech, the more they take pride in not missing any zerk fittings. They take their time to look all over and find those hidden zerks. So these shops offer little safety. One should expect techs to put chassis grease in brakes.

Our Meritor disk brakes are probably a rare item on vehicles, so few even know they exist, so when a tech says he knows something about them, they may not realize he has never seen one.

Removing and plugging the three zerk grease fittings on each wheel must be only way to protect the coach. This is no problem as brakes probably should only be lubricated every few years, maybe at the time of cleaning slide pins.

Re: Greased the brakes....Dang nab it

Reply #7 – May 27, 2014, 07:43:43 pm

John, plugs would be either 1/8th or 1/4 inch NPT. Unless FOT used something else.

Richard B

Re: Greased the brakes....Dang nab it

Reply #8 – May 27, 2014, 09:06:09 pm

Buy an extra set of zerk fittings same as on your coach. "Customize" the grease gun ends with a small hammer. Then replace your good zerks with the custom ones. Tell service writer to leave them alone or they will have to pay for total flush, your time, and correct grease. Alternative: Hang tags with instructions on custom zerks to leave them alone!!!

Re: Greased the brakes....Dang nab it

Reply #9 – May 27, 2014, 09:08:02 pm

Quote from: Dave M – May 27, 2014, 08:07:25 pm

A for sure method of preventing the grease monkey from going nuts would be to unscrew the zerk fitting and insert plug. Would guess they are the 1/8" NPT, a most common fitting, maybe different.
Since no one touches my zerks but me, it is no concern to me.
FWIW

Great idea for those who do not do their own chassis lube , John and Dave.

Re: Greased the brakes....Dang nab it

Reply #10 – May 27, 2014, 09:59:21 pm

Re: Brett's comment "A little more complicated than just greasing the zirk with the correct grease until the correct grease comes out."

After you grease the caliper with the correct clay grease (or flush the bad grease out with clay grease) you need to expell the excess grease from inside the caliper. If the excess grease is not expelled, the caliper can drag.

Per the Meritor manual:

1) Remove the caliper pressure fitting and pull (or remove) the slack adjuster pawl, then turn the slack adjuster screw and back the caliper all the way back. This will expell excess grease out of the pressure relief hole. I've done this and a fair amount of grease will come out.

2) Re-install the caliper pressure fitting and re-adjust the slack to spec.

3) Release (or re-install) the slack adjuster pawl.

Re: Greased the brakes....Dang nab it

Reply #11 – May 27, 2014, 10:07:33 pm

And, they only need to be greased once or twice in the life of the brake pads-- this is NOT part of an annual lube job.

Re: Greased the brakes....Dang nab it

Reply #12 – May 27, 2014, 10:35:47 pm

Jeff - Had the same thing happen to us at a Cummins in Tempe. Told them NOT to grease and they did. I only found out after I inspected the zerk fittings after some brake drag on the left front wheel and a fair amount of smoke. After talking to the Cummins Service manager he stated that the grease they use conforms to the Meritor specs. I got their grease part # and checked. It conforms to the heat and viscosity specs that Meritor requires. Should I believe them?

? Having rear shoes installed on Thurs. of this week. I will ask them if they will purge, per above procedure using the Grade 1 lube. I will feel better, I think.

Re: Greased the brakes....Dang nab it

Reply #13 – May 28, 2014, 11:49:30 am

Jeff,

Print this out and give it to them. Stand over them and make them do it right. Seems to be yet another operation that never reads manuals or service bulletins!

Brake Maintenance [ForeForums Foretravel Motorcoach Wiki]

Keith

Re: Greased the brakes....Dang nab it

Reply #14 – May 28, 2014, 06:03:53 pm

Why not simply print off a bunch of cards with the pertinent information re: DO NOT GREASE MY BRAKES!! IF YOU DO YOU WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR RECTIFYING YOUR MISTAKE. THE WRONG GREASE CAN CAUSE BRAKE FAILURE!!

Re: Greased the brakes....Dang nab it

Reply #15 – May 28, 2014, 09:15:04 pm

While I still believe buying a Foretravel was a wise decision, the Meritor disk brakes have been my most frustrating aspect. The first time my brakes were greased, I didn't know better. The second time I specifically said to not grease the brakes, and they greased them anyway. Truck shops don't know about Meritor disk brakes, and don't care. After reading the posts here, I'm thinking virtually all Foretravels have had improperly serviced brakes at least once.

Re: Greased the brakes....Dang nab it

Reply #16 – May 28, 2014, 09:47:24 pm

Still like the suggestion of putting dead plugs in place of the zirks.

Even of you threaten and tell them in writing not to grease them-- do you then crawl under to check???

Very easy to remove and install dead plugs.

Re: Greased the brakes....Dang nab it

Reply #17 – May 28, 2014, 10:03:05 pm

Yes, that sounds like it might work. The first time when I didn't know better, the shop charged me to replace a caliper zerk that wasn't taking grease. Who knows, they might charge me to replace a plug where a zerk should be. These guys are fanatics about greasing everything...

I'm going to change where I get service...

Re: Greased the brakes....Dang nab it

Reply #18 – May 28, 2014, 10:15:12 pm

Sounds like having only places that know Foretravels is the way to go.

Re: Greased the brakes....Dang nab it

Reply #19 – May 28, 2014, 10:29:07 pm

There lies the problem. When I first approached this shop (Detroit Diesel and Allison service center in Mpls) they assured me yes they work on motorhomes all the time. In fact they were doing an in-frame re-build on a Foretravel 6V92 when I toured the shop. I remember thinking, wow, this is my shop. I have learned to ask specifically about Meritor brake experience.

Re: Greased the brakes....Dang nab it

Reply #20 – May 28, 2014, 10:29:58 pm

Printing a threat card won't work if they don't know those zerk's are on brakes, and we don't know they did it until long after leaving.

Re: Greased the brakes....Dang nab it

Reply #21 – May 29, 2014, 12:09:54 am

"I'm thinking virtually all Foretravels have had improperly serviced brakes at least once."

Main reason I started this thread. Be careful. I usually ask before service that i want a count on how many fittings they grease. I know the right answer; if different I want an explanation. Believe this is the first time I left the coach somewhere for service..That will teach me...Oh well, another of lifes learning experiences...

Re: Greased the brakes....Dang nab it

Reply #22 – June 02, 2014, 09:55:04 pm

Had an appointment with Peterbuilt in Missoula, Mt. today. Meritor gave me their name as a "Certified" shop. Scheduled to have the rear pads replaced and the grease purged with the proper Grade #1 stuff. Talked the the tech that was going to do the deed. He seemed to understand the issues. He came to see me in the lounge and advised that the rear brakes looked almost new and did not need to be replaced. So - he purged the grade 2 lube with grade 1 per the maintenance instructions, put the wheels back on and I was gone. 1-1/4 hour charge. I will take a pic of the bill and send to my Cummins Friend in Mesa, AZ with a request for reimbursement. (Fat chance - but I will try) I will also attempt return the brake pad kit that I purchased - needlessly.

As the wourld turns. Wish I had a pit.....

Re: Greased the brakes....Dang nab it

Reply #23 – June 02, 2014, 11:08:17 pm

I was at a cummins and there was a FT in the day before and I was coming in for a sticking brake. They fixed me up and I made sure they used the right grease. The tech came to talk to me and wanted to know why I wanted the expensive stuff as the other FT did not request it. I told him and he brought back the shop foreman and service manager. We talked about it and they bought a full case of mobile one synthetic for clay based grease so they would have it on hand and they pulled the other guy in and purged the brakes too. I bet cummins will be responsive.

Re: Greased the brakes....Dang nab it

Reply #24 – June 03, 2014, 09:23:51 am

Scott - where did you call to get the Meritor "certified" shop list?

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