| Stopping Our Coaches [message #234899] |
Fri, 03 January 2014 05:46  |
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WD0AFQ
Messages: 7111
Registered: November 2004
Location: Dexter, Mo.
Karma:
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Senior Member |
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Not being a super duper mechanic I just never could keep my brakes up so they would stop our coach reliably. Before our first long trip I paid to have everything replaced. Brakes did not get me half way, 6000 miles, before I lost a front caliper. It just jumped off coming down a hill on the north side of the Columbia river. Before we got home I pretty much had no brakes and was back where we started when we bought the coach.
Next trip we lost the M/C out in west Texas. Came through El Paso at noon on Saturday with no brakes. Bob de K came to our rescue once we got to Arizona. He replaced the M/C and bled the lines. Had some decent brakes again. Made it through the trip and back to Mo. Next winter, lost brakes again in west Texas somewhere. Dang it. In mean time I had driven Rob M's coach. He had stopping power with front rear discs only. Anyway, after Quartzsite Jan 2011, we drove straight to Applied in the Bay Area. Had the one ton, with big brakes, installed, along with all 4 rear discs with reaction arm. It cost me a good chuck of change but now I have brakes like a van. No more "anticipated" stops. Panic stops are no problem. Yes, I paid a lot of money for parts and labor but we have a coach that your grandma can drive. If you are a mechanic and enjoy brake work, I have no doubt you can keep good brakes on the GMC. Heck, I even run disc brakes on the 66 vdub toad. No maintenance, just swap pads and go.
I like modern running gear on old vehicles. Got a 5 speed sitting here to swap into my 65 Mustang and it will also get disc brakes when I get around to it.
While I am on the keyboard, I never gear down an automatic transmission, I use the brakes. With my manual transmission cars I do gear down some, just for the fun of it. The vdub and Mustang sound good when gearing down. My most fun spot in the GMC is the western decent of the Tehachipies. I really let the coach fly then brake a little then fly again. I know I can stop so I don't worry about braking it.
Do what you need to do to have good brakes and a reliable coach. Keep your towing insurance paid up. Mine costs 100 per year but FMCA is now offering something for 70 bux. I did not check into it because I had just paid mine.
Happy Motoring in 2014. If you make Quartzsite please send me pictures, I love that place. Should you get close to our home, please stop by if you can.
And, never pass a GMCer without stopping to check on him/her.
Dan
3 In Stainless Exhaust Headers
One Ton All Discs/Reaction Arm
355 FD/Quad Bag/Alum Radiator Manny Tran/New eng.
Holley EFI/10 Tire Air Monitoring System
Solarized Coach/Upgraded Windows
Satelite TV/On Demand Hot Water/3Way Refer
[Updated on: Fri, 03 January 2014 05:47] Report message to a moderator |
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