| Author | Message | ||
| Tim Brandt (Timb)
Registered Member Username: Timb Post Number: 557 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.165.176.62  Rating: N/A |
Hi Folks. I guess I am experienced in a lot with my bus but not this subject. I want to renew the front linings on my Flx and was wondering do you typically purchase new shoes and R&R them or do I have to remove the old ones and have them relined somewhere? I don't know the normal protocol for large parts like these Thanks Tim (Message edited by timb on August 12, 2010) | ||
| Jim Wilke (Jim Bob) (Pd41044039)
Registered Member Username: Pd41044039 Post Number: 544 Registered: 2-2001 Posted From: 71.80.55.228  Rating: N/A |
When I did my 4104, I took the old ones off and went to a big truck brake shop. The linings are bolted on so they set me up with linings & I put them on. If I were to do it over, I would take the shoes AND drums to them, have the linings replaced if necessary, and then have them "arc" or grind the linings to match the diameter of the drums like cars & light trucks. Here it is years later and my shoes do not fully contact the drums yet. | ||
| Don Evans (Doninwa)
Registered Member Username: Doninwa Post Number: 278 Registered: 1-2007 Posted From: 208.81.157.234  Rating: N/A |
Tim, I would have the shoes and drum in hand to get the right stuff the first time around. Anyone know how the price of new drums compares to turning the old ones and having the shoes arced? Are new drums easy to find for our old rigs? Do new drums match new shoes? Don 4107 | ||
| George Martinez (Foohorse)
Registered Member Username: Foohorse Post Number: 194 Registered: 1-2010 Posted From: 72.144.61.67  Rating: N/A |
Tim. It is not an issue of (buying it matched), new linings must be ground to fit / arced in order to help them bed in sooner then years later, this is with new or old drums. what is necessary on used drums is to ensure that they are not scored or glazed Jims advice is sound. | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 1903 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 174.89.176.83  Rating: N/A |
Drums for trucks and buses can be had for as low as $75!!!! All depends on whether your size matches up to popular usage. Very important to measure the inside diameter of your drums to be sure they are not worn or cut too far. Two reasons: 1) The brake shoes and rollers can only expand to squeeze so far. Too big inside, they can't squeeze properly, and/or the s-cam will roll right over in the attempt, no brake action at the wheel until dis-assembly to fix it. 2) too little material left on the drum leaves it prone to cracking, and then shattering going down the road. I have picked up pieces of ones like this at the side of the road, cut too many times by shady operators and shops. Wouldn't be the first previous owner who stretched the parts on a coach they were planning to sell. happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| George Martinez (Foohorse)
Registered Member Username: Foohorse Post Number: 197 Registered: 1-2010 Posted From: 72.144.61.67 Rating: N/A |
Sir Bus Warrior,are the drums not marked with a maximum diameter size limit as a guide for the machinist cutting them? . like on all auto-mobiles? | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 1275 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 99.153.142.249  Rating: N/A |
Drums for trucks and buses can be had for as low as $75!!!! All depends on whether your size matches up to popular usage. True , but the drums come in a number of grade$ , and the better ones are factory balanced if you prefer not to ride on a buckboard. FF | ||
| David Evans (Dmd)
Registered Member Username: Dmd Post Number: 492 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 173.77.225.217  Rating: N/A |
Dont forget there are different grades of linings for different applications. A "softer" lining will give better braking but will wear relativly quicker. Let them know your bus weight and how you use your bus. Better braking for coaches wins over longevity i think. I had a softer lining installed in 98, still going strong or stopping strong rather. | ||
| George Martinez (Foohorse)
Registered Member Username: Foohorse Post Number: 198 Registered: 1-2010 Posted From: 72.144.61.67 Rating: N/A |
Fred if someone like myself was going to do this. how can I ensure that I am being sold quality instead of crap. are there brand names? like in the car world that I am used to? or is it a matter of knowing where to shop?. David thanks for the linnings grade titbit, I will remember that, it makes sense since the same applies to tires | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 1904 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 174.89.176.83 Rating: N/A |
Shady operators and shady tradespeople run in packs. He who pays the piper, calls the tune. You think those type of people give a rat's backside about "rules"? You gotta know something or you contribute your $$$ to their coffers. Trial by fire? Reading the nationally circulated transport trade press? Keeping up with the tech articles and new stuff? Ask for the brand names the store intends to sell you in getting quotes, and get online to research. Unless you know what you are doing, might be best to shop at national chains, big stores, name brands, or from your coach manufacturer when possible. You may pay more, but you get the right parts. You'll pay way more later if you get burned for knowing nothing at the sales counter. happy coaching! buswarrior (Message edited by buswarrior on August 13, 2010) | ||
| Ralph Peters (Ralph7)
Registered Member Username: Ralph7 Post Number: 137 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 69.97.185.250 Rating: N/A |
In the parts book at Point Spring you need to say (coach brakes ) then there is a section on brake pads like standard,1x,2x,3x.(x means over standard). MCI/TMC coach brake drums are marked max cut like cars/trucks. Also s-cam bushings, snap-rings come as kit but I got nylon bushings ($1.24 ea.), you can get brass bushings also the bushings are not that bad to pound out or install and only the snap-rings I needed( kits list 17.50 ea.). Had to buy nuts with starlock attached seperately, some brass bolts that hold the brake blocks on shoes broke. A BIG caution brake shoes rust and may not be perfect so after removing the brake blocks one needs to chipp off the rust, I reused all of my shoes. Older coach brakes /drums were 14or 14 1/2in. big trucks today are 16. You may need to get some new brass blots that hold the brake blocks. I did not price brake shoe/exchange, big truck drive axle shoe exchange $55.00 ea. out the door. | ||
| larry currier (Larryc)
Registered Member Username: Larryc Post Number: 329 Registered: 2-2007 Posted From: 207.200.116.13 Rating: N/A |
Pull the shoes and drums. Take them to Commercial Brake and Clutch in Fife. They have done all the local transit buses for 45 years. They will measure the drums and check out the shoes. Sometimes you need to buy shoes and sometimes yours will take a reline, depends on several issues. We did an Eagle 6 months ago here in the shop. CBC rejected one set of shoes,(no good for core) found one oversize drum still in good shape, (I was ready to buy one) and used an appropriate size roller to make up for the difference. If you call and let CBC know you are driving from Waverly, they will likely do your work same day if you are there early enough. No one in the states will turn a drum beyond its legal spec. Drums crack when brakes are set up when they are very hot and they can not shrink when they are cooling as the springs are jamming the shoes into them. If you get the brakes hot, in a panic stop or long grade and must set the park brakes, any rookie trucker will tell you to release them every couple of minutes so you don't crack the drums. I think the shady brake dealers must all be in Canada, I have never had an issue in the states. | ||
| Tim Brandt (Timb)
Registered Member Username: Timb Post Number: 558 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.165.176.62 Rating: N/A |
Fife is a bit of a commute from Atlanta  Point taken though so I need to plan this out a little | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 1356 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.211.120.156  Rating: N/A |
I'm pretty much with Larry on this issue....probably some out there that would not do it right...as with anything in life, but my experience is that drums are pretty well paid attention to ( if that is a term ). Best thing in the long run, seems to me, is to drive in proper gear for the situation and use brakes as little as possible. (I'm from Colorado---well, not really, but lived and drove all manner of vehicles there for lo these many years.... since 1960s) Having said that I had a recent experience in New Mexico where I just could not get the gearing/jake into the mode I wanted and used more brake than I ever intended(wanted)....as RJL says, same gear downhill as uphill.... 'scuse me if I digress a bit.... : As BW says...brake drums are relatively cheap! Life, however, is another story altogether. FWIW RCB | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 1905 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 174.89.176.83 Rating: N/A |
Spring brakes won't crack a cooling drum, they will squeeze up as the drum contracts. Nothing solid there. If it cracks, it already did, and was out of spec/damaged to begin with. The only thing the inventor of this misinformation knows is that the drums were found cracked, how it happened...? Which old fart told that rookie trucker this bit of foolishness? happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| Bob MacIsaac (Wildbob24)
Registered Member Username: Wildbob24 Post Number: 104 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 98.92.176.123  Rating: |
Tim, There's a business in ATL called Atlanta Safety Brake. They are at 1077 Brady Ave, 30318. Phone: 404-875-0893. They're close the Atlanta Water Works on Howell Mill Rd. I did the rear brakes on my Buffalo in April, '09. As Larry suggested, I removed the drums and shoes and carried them their shop. Here's what they charged: Turn 2 Drums: $50ea $100 Block set $228.77 48 bolts $.50ea $ 24.00 Install Blocks $5.00ea $ 20.00 Tax $ 20.22 Total $392.99 Everything turned out nicely and it was well worth $20 to let them install the blocks. Your front brakes should be a little cheaper since they are much smaller. Bob | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 1278 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 99.153.142.249 Rating: |
"Fred if someone like myself was going to do this. how can I ensure that I am being sold quality instead of crap. are there brand names? like in the car world that I am used to? or is it a matter of knowing where to shop?. David thanks for the linnings grade titbit, I will remember that, it makes sense since the same applies to tires." My preference is to purchase from a source that is a BUSNUT , not a simple parts source. The decades of practical knowledge given freely is worth the extra UPS expense. My guy is LUKE at US Coach 888.COACH 34 For decades he has been helping fellow bus nuts , stuck beside the road or towed into a truck place , that has "mechanics" that have never seen a bus before. Call him , ask him, there are few questions that will stump him, and amazingly he has tons of parts in stock. FF | ||
| Tim Brandt (Timb)
Registered Member Username: Timb Post Number: 559 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.165.176.62 Rating: N/A |
Thanks Bob!! |
