| New RV Buddies article [message #112691] |
Sat, 22 January 2011 20:28  |
 |
Hardie Johnson
Messages: 483
Registered: January 2004
Location: Raleigh NC
Karma:
|
Senior Member |
|
|
"Once again, driving with these brakes won’t just
make you smile – you’ll laugh-out-loud.
The performance is ridiculous. However you must
remember to be responsible. As much as you will think
you’re in a sports car – remember you’re
traveling in a 26,000 motor home!"
Well, it's still a 1978  and it weighs about 12,000 pounds, even though it is 26 feet long. There's a real number in there somewhere . . .
"With the new 6-wheel rear suspension
and disc brakes, you can now stop on a dime."
Has anyone actually done any braking distance runs? 60-0 in how many feet? And where are the two extra wheels mounted?
"The “Chuck Aulgur Rear Anti-Skid Kit” prevents
the back rear wheels from skidding and having
the rear of the RV move in front of you.
It also eliminates torque on the center bogie arms
which provides for more effective braking on
all four rear wheels. Translation: Your coach is safer
and you won’t end up with four bald spots on
your tires after a panic stop."
Does this overstate the case? If the rear wheels cannot be locked up (isn't that what it means if they do not skid?) has anything been improved? Clearly this text describes the effect of some sort of ABS technology, which I do not think it actually implements, does it? If one pair locks up then retarding force would be reduced, but if the other pair would continue to roll that would reduce the tendency to skid. I thought that was the behavior we have with the stock system?
Does it 'eliminate torque' as he writes, or just change the way the reaction forces influence the chassis? Eliminating the torque from brake reaction is of course impossible. Changing how it affects the chassis and the wheels, maybe.
The new system may well be better, but it would be helpful if someone actually quantified this.
Certainly in the last 30 years a lot has been learned about suspension action under braking and acceleration, anti-dive and anti-squat are common considerations for geometry these days, and if anyone has stepped up to the plate for our coaches it is Jim and Chuck.
I am not saying the system is an ineffective use of time, money, and effort, just it seems the level of rhetoric about the advantages is escalating. Numbers would help.
The article can be found at:
http://rvbuddies.net/project-gmc-phase-1-brakes-and-suspension-applied-gmc/
"Jim, congratulations on the new disciple!"
Hardie Johnson "Crashj"
1973 26 foot Glacier, White Thing
Raleigh NC
|
|
|
|
GMCforum
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
