Brakes

[JimC]

I have just taken delivery of a new twin axle van, I drove it from the dealers 40 miles or so, and on arrival at my storage site I checked the brake drums. The off side were very hot and the nearside were cold.It had appeared to be handling very well on the road, but I called the dealer for advise. He says "as it's new give the brakes time to bed in" and let him know how it goes.

I have a nagging doubt that the brakes are not set up properly,has anyone any thoughts on this or should I just do as he says?

Regards JIm

 

[sparkes]

Hi

How hot was they? could you touch the wheel?

If so, they are OK. let them bed in and even off and all should be fine. If they start to glow, then is the time to take it back

Steve

 

[JimC]

Hi Steve

Yes I could touch the wheel OK they were cool. I was actually touching the drums through the ally spokes, I could not have touched them for very long though,as I said the other pair were cold.

Thanks for the comments I will see what happens next time out!

Regards Jim

 

[gary]

I would be more confident of letting them bed in if both sides were hot, however I don't see how one side is ever going to come in to line with the other in this situation.

"one side are very hot and the other side are cold" who knows what if anything the cold side is doing?

It's my opinion the brakes are out of balance and they will stay that way until adjusted.

 

[sparkes]

If there is that much of a difference between the drums then insist that the dealer takes a look.

Steve

 

[BigRoy]

I agree with Steve take it back, it could be a couple of things, either the brakes on one side are binding or the brakes on the other side aren't working at all.

Even under normal operating conditions you would expect some heat on both drums and as you say one side was cold this suggests that they are not working on that side.

Either way there is a definite imbalance

 

[stuart3]

I would suggest that you insist on the dealer sending an engineer out to check the brakes, if not at least arrange to have it checked out, sounds like they have not been set up properly and with one side doing all the braking you could be in trouble. Stuart.(caravan engineer)

 

[Steve L]

Totally agree with Stuart. You should get these brakes cheched out. They could be sufficiantly in-balanced to cause you to swerve if you tried an emergencey stop.

Balanced brakes are as important on caravans as they are on cars.

Steve.

 

[MONKEY1]

Jim,

Totally agree with much of the sentiment above, I think you've a problem and let's face it your dealer is paid by you to PDI the van as part of the delivery costs. Irrespective of how you purchase the van it's with paying for the PDI and delivery element on a Credit card; as you've a lot of comeback later when in a situation like this.

I am at a total loss with the caravan industry, these things are massively less complicated than a car or truck and yet dealers still fail to do the fundamentals right. To my mind if you've done your PDI right and then your customer phones up with your scenario then you would have a fitter in a van out to you doubly quick?

Not only is it good service but for me I would use it s a marketing tool - business is all about what sets people apart. If your satisfied then your tell someone if your impressed your customer they tell a lot more !!

Back to your original point I also think you have a problem (so to speak of)

Monkeys Husband

 

[JimC]

Thanks everyone for your comments.Today I have jacked the van up and tested the handbrake operation. With the handbrake on all 4 wheels are firmly braked, and when I take the hand brake off they all completely release.The play in the cables is within AL-Ko tolerance 5mm to 8 mm.

I am now satisfied that I am not towing with the brakes binding.I do realise that if I'm still not satisfied with there performance I must take it back to the dealer.

Regards Jim

 

[Royston]

Jim C,

I own a 1998 caravan, first trip out out after having it serviced upon arrival at the site (110 Miles)checked both wheels and found them to be very very hot, my first thought was that the brakes must be binding,upon unhitching the van, I noticed thet the twin elect cables had caught themselves under the hand brake handle causing it to raise up 1 notch, On the return journey I made sure that the twin cables lay across the top of the hand brake handle, checked both wheels when I arrived home , found to my relief that both wheels where cool.

Since then I always check that the cables are on tip of the brake handle.

Roy