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[GMCnet] Brake problems [message #271283] Fri, 06 February 2015 07:09 Go to next message
Advanced Concept Ener is currently offline  Advanced Concept Ener   United States
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Registered: December 2014
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Senior Member
If I were to need the brake shoes cam ground does anyone know where I could get this done? I called around this area and have not found anyone that does this or even that re-lines the old brake shoes. I was thinking of using a contour gage on the drum and sending that along with shoes since shipping the drums is not an option. What does anyone think about grinding them myself. They won't be perfect but will soon wear in. I can use contour gage to keep close during the process. Thinking about using a bench belt sander/ grinder.

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Re: [GMCnet] Brake problems [message #271292 is a reply to message #271283] Fri, 06 February 2015 09:43 Go to previous messageGo to next message
GMC.LES is currently offline  GMC.LES   United States
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Jon,
Googling the topic provided me with a link that shows how you can do it yourself.

DIY Bedding with sandpaper: http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/303134/

As was mentioned here by Jim Hupy. The shoes need to have a slightly smaller radius than the drums to avoid sensitive brakes that lock up. The DIY instructions tell you to bevel the ends which help with this. The thickness of the sandpaper placed inside the drums also provides some radius reduction, so it should work well if done evenly on all four wheels.

If you are still determined to find someone else to do this, look for an old shop that has an old drum/disc lathe. Often the older lathes were set-up with the shoe grinder on the same table. My Ammco lathe kit is set-up that way. This doesn't guarantee that the owner of the lathe will know how or is willing to perform the job.

Les Burt


> On Feb 6, 2015, at 8:09 AM, Advanced Concept Energy Solutions wrote:
>
> If I were to need the brake shoes cam ground does anyone know where I could get this done? I called around this area and have not found anyone that does this or even that re-lines the old brake shoes. I was thinking of using a contour gage on the drum and sending that along with shoes since shipping the drums is not an option. What does anyone think about grinding them myself. They won't be perfect but will soon wear in. I can use contour gage to keep close during the process. Thinking about using a bench belt sander/ grinder.
>
> Sent from my iPad
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Re: [GMCnet] Brake problems [message #271295 is a reply to message #271283] Fri, 06 February 2015 10:49 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Mr ERFisher is currently offline  Mr ERFisher   United States
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Registered: August 2005
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Senior Member
Where s " this area?"

On Friday, February 6, 2015, Advanced Concept Energy Solutions <
aces4nrg@gmail.com> wrote:

> If I were to need the brake shoes cam ground does anyone know where I
> could get this done? I called around this area and have not found anyone
> that does this or even that re-lines the old brake shoes. I was thinking of
> using a contour gage on the drum and sending that along with shoes since
> shipping the drums is not an option. What does anyone think about grinding
> them myself. They won't be perfect but will soon wear in. I can use contour
> gage to keep close during the process. Thinking about using a bench belt
> sander/ grinder.
>
> Sent from my iPad
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>


--
Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
-------
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Re: [GMCnet] Brake problems [message #271298 is a reply to message #271283] Fri, 06 February 2015 11:30 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Matt Colie is currently offline  Matt Colie   United States
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
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Senior Member
Most of us have functional sigfiles.

This can be added easily in the Control Panel/Account Settings and scroll down. Don't forget to scroll down to Update when you are done.
If you are using the E-mail system, a sigfile can be loaded there as well.

The sigfile should have:
A real name, so we know who you are when we meet.
A short about the coach, year model and major mods
A geographic reference, so another that may want to help will know if you are in range.

This may seen like an old archaic and silly thing, but it is friendly like a welcome mat in this friendly group.

We will try to help anyway, but a good sigfile makes it easier and probably faster.

Matt


Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
Re: [GMCnet] Brake problems [message #271303 is a reply to message #271283] Fri, 06 February 2015 11:58 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Larry is currently offline  Larry   United States
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Registered: January 2004
Location: Menomonie, WI
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Oh for goodness sake...put the shoes on and drive it. Even if you do find an arcing machine, rarely have I seen a perfect match. You will have a spongy pedal but in a couple of hundred miles, they will self arc. You may need to adjust the brakes several times during break-in just to keep the pedal up. If your pedal does not firm-up you either have not used the brakes enough or you've got another problem to address...like air in the lines. JWIT

Larry Smile
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.
Re: [GMCnet] Brake problems [message #271314 is a reply to message #271303] Fri, 06 February 2015 15:57 Go to previous messageGo to next message
USAussie is currently offline  USAussie   United States
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Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
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Senior Member
Larry,

Thank you for this response, I agree 100%!

Ken Frey found two things wrong with his brakes that could have affected his problems; one of the adjusters had a tooth missing and
another one had a broken or incorrectly installed adjuster spring (I can't remember which one it was).

Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426



-----Original Message-----
From: Larry

Oh for goodness sake...put the shoes on and drive it. Even if you do find an arcing machine, rarely have I seen a perfect match.
You will have a spongy pedal but in a couple of hundred miles, they will self arc. You may need to adjust the brakes several times
during break-in just to keep the pedal up. If your pedal does not firm-up you either have not used the brakes enough or you've got
another problem to address...like air in the lines.
JWIT
--
Larry

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Regards, Rob M. (USAussie) The Pedantic Mechanic Sydney, Australia '75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428 '75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
Re: [GMCnet] Brake problems [message #271323 is a reply to message #271314] Fri, 06 February 2015 17:54 Go to previous messageGo to next message
GMC.LES is currently offline  GMC.LES   United States
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Registered: April 2014
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Senior Member
Rob,
You also reported that Ken identified the drums had been turned, and shoe fit was not ideal.

The big problem with RV brakes is that we expect them to work perfectly after a brake job, and don't give them the time or conditions in which they can seat in. Driving a long highway trip, it might take way over a thousand miles before the linings seat in correctly. Even if we drive in stop and go traffic, it might take several hundred miles before you get decent brakes, and it will likely require several adjustments along the way.

Larry's comment to drive it is valid, keeping the above comments in mind. If you don't have the ability or patience to drive it until the brakes get better, then cam grinding the shoes might speed up the process.

If it were my coach, I'd be using it as my daily driver for a week or two to give the brakes a good workout and help seat in the shoes. I'd much rather go through that process close to home, so I don't have bad luck on a long trip.

Les Burt


> On Feb 6, 2015, at 4:57 PM, Robert Mueller wrote:
>
> Larry,
>
> Thank you for this response, I agree 100%!
>
> Ken Frey found two things wrong with his brakes that could have affected his problems; one of the adjusters had a tooth missing and
> another one had a broken or incorrectly installed adjuster spring (I can't remember which one it was).
>
> Regards,
> Rob M.
> The Pedantic Mechanic
> Sydney, Australia
> AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
> USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Larry
>
> Oh for goodness sake...put the shoes on and drive it. Even if you do find an arcing machine, rarely have I seen a perfect match.
> You will have a spongy pedal but in a couple of hundred miles, they will self arc. You may need to adjust the brakes several times
> during break-in just to keep the pedal up. If your pedal does not firm-up you either have not used the brakes enough or you've got
> another problem to address...like air in the lines.
> JWIT
> --
> Larry
>
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Re: [GMCnet] Brake problems [message #271324 is a reply to message #271323] Fri, 06 February 2015 18:22 Go to previous messageGo to next message
USAussie is currently offline  USAussie   United States
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
Senior Member
Les,

Agreed.

On Double Trouble I wound up installing rebuilt 80 mm calipers on the front and middle wheels and new drums on the rear. The pads
and shoes were all carbon metallic.

Short of installing a reaction arm system the brakes are as good as they get.

Regards,
Rob M.

-----Original Message-----
From: Les Burt

Rob,
You also reported that Ken identified the drums had been turned, and shoe fit was not ideal.

The big problem with RV brakes is that we expect them to work perfectly after a brake job, and don't give them the time or
conditions in which they can seat in. Driving a long highway trip, it might take way over a thousand miles before the linings seat
in correctly. Even if we drive in stop and go traffic, it might take several hundred miles before you get decent brakes, and it will
likely require several adjustments along the way.

Larry's comment to drive it is valid, keeping the above comments in mind. If you don't have the ability or patience to drive it
until the brakes get better, then cam grinding the shoes might speed up the process.

If it were my coach, I'd be using it as my daily driver for a week or two to give the brakes a good workout and help seat in the
shoes. I'd much rather go through that process close to home, so I don't have bad luck on a long trip.

Les Burt



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Regards, Rob M. (USAussie) The Pedantic Mechanic Sydney, Australia '75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428 '75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
Re: [GMCnet] Brake problems [message #271328 is a reply to message #271283] Fri, 06 February 2015 20:31 Go to previous message
Bob de Kruyff   United States
Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
Senior Member
Advanced Concept Ener wrote on Fri, 06 February 2015 06:09
If I were to need the brake shoes cam ground does anyone know where I could get this done? I called around this area and have not found anyone that does this or even that re-lines the old brake shoes. I was thinking of using a contour gage on the drum and sending that along with shoes since shipping the drums is not an option. What does anyone think about grinding them myself. They won't be perfect but will soon wear in. I can use contour gage to keep close during the process. Thinking about using a bench belt sander/ grinder.

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Here's the scoop based on real lab work in conjunction with some of the largest brake manufacturers in the world. Most quality brake shoes are already cam ground out of the box. Many Chinese manufactured linings (regardless of the brand name on the box) are not cam ground. This is only an issue when installing new linings. Place the new linings in the drum and see if they contact in the center, at the ends, or all around. You should only install linings that contact in the center--preferably about 2/3 of the length of the lining or less. If they contact on the ends or fit perfectly, you will encounter problems such as locking, grabbing, chatter or lack of seating in over time. If you have any doubt, take the lining and manually rotate it in the drum with a slight pressure against the drum. If it slides effortlessly, you will be OK. If they bind or drag even the slightest bit, you will have problems. Our rear brakes are self energizing and linings that touch on the ends will self energize and cause all kinds of problems. If you feel that your linings are not ground correctly, you can take a power sander and sand down the ends for a length of about 2" top and bottom. Don't be afraid to take off a lot of material--it won't compromise performance or wear. The other option is to just slap them on and drive like others here appear to say--you be the judge.


Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
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