Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Weekend trip / brakes and power steering (long) (Lookout Mountain TN)
| Weekend trip / brakes and power steering (long) [message #84856] |
Sun, 16 May 2010 16:51  |
jknezek
Messages: 1057
Registered: December 2007
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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We had a great run this weekend TO the greater Chattanooga area. Coach ran great from Birmingham up to Chattanooga. Took it Saturday up Lookout Mountain to Rock City, the top of the Incline Railway, and Ruby Falls. Lost my front brakes coming down the mountain.
Checked the master cylinder and the back compartment was basically empty. Started looking for leaks and couldn't find any. Didn't see too much boil out on the master cylinder, so while there might have been some, it wasn't much. Called Jim Bounds, filled the master, bled the brakes, back on the road. Didn't have a problem for the rest of the trip. Strange. I would have bet on a leak but it seems to have been a boil problem. I might just replace the brake lines anyway since I'm a suspicious man and I don't like losing my brakes. Rock City was a long way up Lookout Mountain, but Lookout Mountain really isn't that big...
Chattanooga West KOA was a nice campsite for a couple night. Would be great if you have kids. Bounce area, nice pool, good playground, gameroom, lots to do for kids and it was jammed with families. We weren't there much except for sleeping but I'll go back when my daughter is older. 1100 feet up and it's a bit steep to get to the campground but very manageable from the North or South.
Got back to the campground and noticed that my leaking wiper motor had bled out all my power steering fluid. Took the trip back from Calhoun, up to Chattanooga, up and down Lookout Mountain to happen, so I figured filling it up would get me home.
No such luck. After a morning at the TN Aquarium we headed home through some driving storms. Running the wipers must have really worsened the leak as we stopped after 75 miles, 25 miles, and 10 miles before limping in to the driveway.
I think I'll be getting one of Ken's wiper kits for Father's Day because I won't put on another "remanufactured" wiper motor. That one only lasted 2 years and it's looking like garbage at this point. I'll pull it off and check, but it's leaking (flowing) from somewhere on the back side of the wiper motor as near as I can tell.
Anyway, trip postmortem includes a nice KOA, Rock City is outstanding, the incline railway is neat but unless you really like that kind of thing it doesn't really take you to or from anywhere interesting. I've been to better cave tours than Ruby Falls, but the falls themselves are absolutely spectacular. The TN Aquarium is the best fresh water aquarium I've ever been to, but the saltwater side is underwhelming. My wife and I agree that Rock City and the Aquarium are worth going back to, the incline and Ruby Falls not so much.
Now to fix all the stuff that broke!
Thanks,
Jeremy Knezek
1976 Glenbrook
Birmingham, AL
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| Re: [GMCnet] Weekend trip / brakes and power steering (long) [message #84863 is a reply to message #84856] |
Sun, 16 May 2010 19:35  |
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ljdavick
Messages: 3548
Registered: March 2007
Location: Fremont, CA
Karma: -3
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Senior Member |
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Jeremy,
When I had the coach at Tom Hampton's place in Ohio I had him replace all the brake lines. He makes stainless steel hard lines that have been called jewelry! It was an extravagance but one I would do again.
I understand from reading this list that his quality is second to none. Installation problems with his lines are nearly nil, however others have reported minor modifications needed for brake lines bought from different vendors.
I'm a big fan of Tom's work and thought I'd spread the news.
Larry Davick
The Mystery Machine
On May 16, 2010, at 2:51 PM, Jeremy <jtknezek@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> We had a great run this weekend TO the greater Chattanooga area. Coach ran great from Birmingham up to Chattanooga. Took it Saturday up Lookout Mountain to Rock City, the top of the Incline Railway, and Ruby Falls. Lost my front brakes coming down the mountain.
>
> Checked the master cylinder and the back compartment was basically empty. Started looking for leaks and couldn't find any. Didn't see too much boil out on the master cylinder, so while there might have been some, it wasn't much. Called Jim Bounds, filled the master, bled the brakes, back on the road. Didn't have a problem for the rest of the trip. Strange. I would have bet on a leak but it seems to have been a boil problem. I might just replace the brake lines anyway since I'm a suspicious man and I don't like losing my brakes. Rock City was a long way up Lookout Mountain, but Lookout Mountain really isn't that big...
>
> Chattanooga West KOA was a nice campsite for a couple night. Would be great if you have kids. Bounce area, nice pool, good playground, gameroom, lots to do for kids and it was jammed with families. We weren't there much except for sleeping but I'll go back when my daughter is older. 1100 feet up and it's a bit steep to get to the campground but very manageable from the North or South.
>
> Got back to the campground and noticed that my leaking wiper motor had bled out all my power steering fluid. Took the trip back from Calhoun, up to Chattanooga, up and down Lookout Mountain to happen, so I figured filling it up would get me home.
>
> No such luck. After a morning at the TN Aquarium we headed home through some driving storms. Running the wipers must have really worsened the leak as we stopped after 75 miles, 25 miles, and 10 miles before limping in to the driveway.
>
> I think I'll be getting one of Ken's wiper kits for Father's Day because I won't put on another "remanufactured" wiper motor. That one only lasted 2 years and it's looking like garbage at this point. I'll pull it off and check, but it's leaking (flowing) from somewhere on the back side of the wiper motor as near as I can tell.
>
> Anyway, trip postmortem includes a nice KOA, Rock City is outstanding, the incline railway is neat but unless you really like that kind of thing it doesn't really take you to or from anywhere interesting. I've been to better cave tours than Ruby Falls, but the falls themselves are absolutely spectacular. The TN Aquarium is the best fresh water aquarium I've ever been to, but the saltwater side is underwhelming. My wife and I agree that Rock City and the Aquarium are worth going back to, the incline and Ruby Falls not so much.
>
> Now to fix all the stuff that broke!
> --
> Thanks,
> Jeremy Knezek
> 1976 Glenbrook
> Birmingham, AL
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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Larry Davick
A Mystery Machine
1976(ish) Palm Beach
Fremont, Ca
Howell EFI + EBL + Electronic Dizzy
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| Re: [GMCnet] Weekend trip / brakes and power steering (long) [message #84866 is a reply to message #84863] |
Sun, 16 May 2010 19:41 |
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USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
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Senior Member |
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Larry,
I have noted the fact several times on the GMCnet that I got my SS brake
lines from Classic Tube to save a buck and I sure wish I had gotten them
from Tom!
The modifications required were NOT minor! There was a section of tubing
missing and it took LOTS of finessing to get them to fit.
Regards,
Rob Mueller
Sydney, Australia
AUS '75 Avion-The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion-Double Trouble TZE365V100426
-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
[mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Larry Davick
Sent: Monday, 17 May 2010 10:35 AM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Weekend trip / brakes and power steering (long)
Jeremy,
When I had the coach at Tom Hampton's place in Ohio I had him replace all
the brake lines. He makes stainless steel hard lines that have been called
jewelry! It was an extravagance but one I would do again.
I understand from reading this list that his quality is second to none.
Installation problems with his lines are nearly nil, however others have
reported minor modifications needed for brake lines bought from different
vendors.
I'm a big fan of Tom's work and thought I'd spread the news.
Larry Davick
The Mystery Machine
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
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| Re: [GMCnet] Weekend trip / brakes and power steering (long) [message #84867 is a reply to message #84866] |
Sun, 16 May 2010 19:48 |
Ron
Messages: 250
Registered: February 2004
Location: Conifer, Colorado
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Larry..
Are you sure that the front pads have not worn down enough to lower the Master level.
As they wear the fluid will go down.. Perhaps overheating them caused them to wear very prematurely..
Ron (who has lots of experience with brakes on my GMC)
now a P.O.
Conifer, CO
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| Re: Weekend trip / brakes and power steering (long) [message #84869 is a reply to message #84856] |
Sun, 16 May 2010 19:52 |
jknezek
Messages: 1057
Registered: December 2007
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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I replaced the front pads on the way back from Dothan last year and we haven't put that many miles on it in the meantime. If they wore that badly coming down the mountain then I was doing something wrong. Still, something else to check. I haven't heard the squealer go off, and that was really annoying the last time I wore the pads pretty bad.
Thanks,
Jeremy Knezek
1976 Glenbrook
Birmingham, AL
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| Re: [GMCnet] Weekend trip / brakes and power steering (long) [message #84891 is a reply to message #84856] |
Sun, 16 May 2010 22:25 |
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Thirty years ago I'd do stuff like that. My last time at Rock City
(September) I said "I wouldn't enjoy getting Silver Lady up here". I was in
a Honda at the time. It has straight transmission.
Thirty-four years ago I went up to Mt. Nebo in Arkansas from Lake
Dardanelle, a rise of about 800 feet. Not quite as twisting but still
interesting. I was worried about the brakes in the rented Eleganza I was
driving. But, keeping it in second and tapping the brakes I did OK. It
helped that it was night.
That Arkansas trip was my first trip in a GMC.
Byron
Jeremy wrote:
>
>
> We had a great run this weekend TO the greater Chattanooga area. Coach ran
> great from Birmingham up to Chattanooga. Took it Saturday up Lookout Mountain
> to Rock City, the top of the Incline Railway, and Ruby Falls. Lost my front
> brakes coming down the mountain.
>
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--
Byron Songer
Full-timing to enjoy the USA
Former owner but still an admirer
GMC paint schemes at -
http://www.songerconsulting.net
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| Re: [GMCnet] Weekend trip / brakes and power steering (long) [message #84930 is a reply to message #84891] |
Mon, 17 May 2010 09:29 |
jknezek
Messages: 1057
Registered: December 2007
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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Byron -- I wouldn't go up to Rock City again in the coach. Even with the bags all the way up we scraped a few times, especially toward the top of the incline railway. Still... we don't tow yet so it was take the coach or not go and I'm glad we went. Had a really good time, even though it was a bit nerve-wracking. Not sure how those guys out west handle real mountains if this little hill was making me unhappy!
Thanks,
Jeremy Knezek
1976 Glenbrook
Birmingham, AL
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| Re: [GMCnet] Weekend trip / brakes and power steering (long) [message #84968 is a reply to message #84930] |
Mon, 17 May 2010 12:34 |
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Jeremy,
Out west they have more space to build real roads up taller mountains. I
think they call them interstates. The ride from Auburn, CA to Reno, NV
through Truckee is beautiful. Heading down from Truckee it's like rafting in
the rapids if you do it just right.
Next time you can ride the incline to the top then pull out the thumb. That
would be an experience. Dressing the daughter in some real tacky clothes
might even help you get a ride faster.
Byron
Jeremy wrote:
>
>
> Byron -- I wouldn't go up to Rock City again in the coach. Even with the bags
> all the way up we scraped a few times, especially toward the top of the
> incline railway. Still... we don't tow yet so it was take the coach or not go
> and I'm glad we went. Had a really good time, even though it was a bit
> nerve-wracking. Not sure how those guys out west handle real mountains if this
> little hill was making me unhappy!
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
--
Byron Songer
Full-timing to enjoy the USA
Former owner but still an admirer
GMC paint schemes at -
http://www.songerconsulting.net
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| Re: [GMCnet] Weekend trip / brakes and power steering (long) [message #84978 is a reply to message #84968] |
Mon, 17 May 2010 14:24 |
Steven Ferguson
Messages: 3447
Registered: May 2006
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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We'll be headed that way next week.
On Mon, May 17, 2010 at 10:34 AM, Byron Songer
<bsonger@songerconsulting.net> wrote:
> Jeremy,
>
> Out west they have more space to build real roads up taller mountains. I
> think they call them interstates. The ride from Auburn, CA to Reno, NV
> through Truckee is beautiful. Heading down from Truckee it's like rafting in
> the rapids if you do it just right.
>
> Next time you can ride the incline to the top then pull out the thumb. That
> would be an experience. Dressing the daughter in some real tacky clothes
> might even help you get a ride faster.
>
> Byron
>
>
> Jeremy wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> Byron -- I wouldn't go up to Rock City again in the coach. Even with the bags
>> all the way up we scraped a few times, especially toward the top of the
>> incline railway. Still... we don't tow yet so it was take the coach or not go
>> and I'm glad we went. Had a really good time, even though it was a bit
>> nerve-wracking. Not sure how those guys out west handle real mountains if this
>> little hill was making me unhappy!
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Steve Ferguson
'76 EII
Sierra Vista, AZ
Urethane bushing source
www.bdub.net/ferguson/
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