| Author | Message | ||
| Tim Brandt (Timb)
Registered Member Username: Timb Post Number: 355 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.165.176.62  Rating: N/A |
Hello fellow busnuts I have a question I know someone can weigh in on. WHat is the difference between a rotochamber and a standard service brake chamber? I notice in my service manual the Flx had rotochambers on the front one of which has been replaced with a standard chamber. Is this a problem???? I have googled this quite a bit and can't find a description that shows the difference in the two but I know there must be one. | ||
| David Dulmage (Daved)
Registered Member Username: Daved Post Number: 252 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 142.46.199.30  Rating: N/A |
Try the Bendix website. A roto chamber has a rolling type diaphram that is clamped at its outer edge and also at its inner edge. It is larger and has more parts than a standard service brake chamber. A standard service brake chamber, such as used on steering and tag axles without an emergency or parking brake function (i.e. not a spring brake or DD3) has less parts than a roto chamber and usually includes about 5 major parts: the end cover; clamp band assembly; diaphram; push rod assembly, return spring and non-pressure body. According to Bendix, a roto chamber gives long life and constant output force through the stroke. Please note I am not an airbrake expert. FWIW | ||
| Jim Gibson (River_rat)
Registered Member Username: River_rat Post Number: 70 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 75.95.96.192 Rating: N/A |
Tim, I'm sure you will get lots of response, but I was just reading my 04 manual on brakes and it said something to the effect that it is very important that they match, ie if you change a return spring in one, be certain it is the same as the other or you will have uneven brake application as the air has to overcome this to move the diaphram and if they are different, one will move first. I think they said if you change one, change the other. Seems a bit risky to have two different kinds on the same axle. Jim, (not a brake expert) | ||
| Tim Brandt (Timb)
Registered Member Username: Timb Post Number: 358 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 74.244.14.221 Rating: N/A |
Jim that was my thinking as well. Was trying to decide if I should try and find a replacement rotochamber or match the replacement that was put on before I got the bus | ||
| George M. Todd (George_mc6)
Registered Member Username: George_mc6 Post Number: 861 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 64.55.111.6 Rating: N/A |
Tim, An uneven brake application on the drives might not be noticeable, or the pull would be so slight you wouldn't care. Tag equipped buses, you just would never feel a thing... Steering axle is a whole different thing! Any different braking force will cause the bus to pull toward the stronger braking side. The pull would vary with the pedal pressure, making the bus a real PITA to drive, not to mention dangerous. As you're not mentioning problems, keep on driving and enjoying, and don't worry about it. The braking effort produced by the different styles is obviously exactly the same. HTH, George | ||
| Ralph Peters (Ralph7)
Registered Member Username: Ralph7 Post Number: 19 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 66.59.120.171 Rating: N/A |
Drove my MCI-7 from S.C. without a left rear drive brake( disconnected can). Under normal slow down no problem, but I tried a hard peddle and held tight to wheel and it pulled right, so I knew to watch closley at traffic. | ||
| Tim Brandt (Timb)
Registered Member Username: Timb Post Number: 359 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.156.75.86 Rating: N/A |
I have never had any issues with pulling even with my foot mashed to the floor so I guess I wo't worry about it. | ||
| Chuck Newman (Chuck_newman)
Registered Member Username: Chuck_newman Post Number: 360 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 99.0.41.3  Rating: N/A |
Tim, A great source of data from Bendix: https://www.bendix.com/EN-US/SERVICE/LIBRARY/Pages/SDSheets.aspx Good luck! |