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Message |
Stephen Fessenden (Sffess) (67.226.254.47)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 15, 2002 - 8:24 pm: | |
I just got done doing my drive axle brakes. Ray and Steve at A1 Speedometer and Wrecker Service, Lakeland, FL advised me and gave me a hand. No one in town could turn the drums. Truck and trailer places thought they could be done locally but they were too big. One place had a lathe that could do it but said it also needed a grinder for hard spots that the lathe will not cut. Since I already had the drums off and new drums were not available either I took them 30 miles to Tampa to get them turned. Turning took 2 hours on a lathe with a grinder at Fleetpride, formerly Tampa Brake. New linging were bolted on and system put back together. Was told to set slack adjusters a little tight because it would loosen up quickly with new brakes. I did not do anything with the brake chamber or air system. It was easier than drum brakes on a car except for the weight of the drum. Used a floor jack to raise it and position it.
If I did it again I would plan to have the bus up on blocks for a week. Then take off the drums and shoes and take them to a brake parts place that could do the turning and grinding and put the linings on. They would sandblast and paint the shoes before bolting on the linings. Here in Lakeland that would take up to three days because the parts have to be taken to the big city and back. But Fleetpride does the transport. I didn't have the time because I waited too long to start.
There are only a few shops that can do the drive axle drums on a bus. They are about as big as they come. Mine are 14 inch with 10 inch wide shoes. So if you plan on doing brakes for the first time, plan on allowing a few days for someone else to do the trasporting and lining. Also they only stocked "transit" linings (and drums) transit drums are undersize and transit linings are not the right composition, according to Prevost, for highway speeds and mountain driving. Need EX (or MX) linings (Apex brand designations). Your local supply house will probably need a heads up to get the proper linings in too. Apparently transits change brakes a lot more often so they keep their linings in stock.
I used the oak blocks cut with a chainsaw from removed tree trunks. I also had some pine blocks. The pine had deep indentations in it at the end. The oak held up fine.
Problem with new drum availability was probably that a lot of charter companies may be doing maintenance right now in preparation for summer. Drums would have taken 2 to 3 more days. New drums would have been about $140 each. Turning was $27 each.
Steve Fessenden, 81 Prevost |
R.C. Bishop (128.123.88.7)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 15, 2002 - 10:32 pm: | |
Good post, Steve, thanx for the information and the detail, especially. Trust it all went well.
RCB |
Dave-9-Fl (63.243.52.32)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 15, 2002 - 10:40 pm: | |
Did the brakes on my old 81 mci9 last year.
The prevost dealer up here in Jax. had good prices new drums $85 pads $70 per axle and they had every bushing, s cam , etc.
Air brakes, at least the wheel end, is so simple to rebuild. |
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