Brake Seizure - Front Right Side

josephhh · 03-25-2004, 04:51 PM

Hey folks,
After having completely rebuilding the caliper piston assembly, the right front brake is still dragging on my '79 motorhome. I drove it a 4 miles last evening and the wheel was smokin hot when I got home. Someone said that if a unit sits too long, rubber brake flex lines can sometimes let fliud go TO the brake and then NOT let it return FROM. Hence the lock up. I was told the fix is replaceing the flex line.
So, I am trying to do that as a next attempt and the NAPA guy says I need to know the size of the REAR brakes in order for him to match up the correct FRONT brake hose.

Can anyone shed some light here? Where do I look up brake sizes? Or better yet, what's the part number for the brake line I need?

Unit is '79 24' Excella 454.

Thanks
Joe

fangthorpe · 03-25-2004, 05:07 PM

Take the hose to the store. Size (of hose) shouldn't matter. This is a common problem and should go away with the new hoses. Do both.

josephhh · 03-25-2004, 05:10 PM

Thanks,
I'll do that. Glad to hear the hose can fix it.

My picture looks pretty good if you stand about 50 feet back from your computer screen.

Joe

wb13798 · 03-25-2004, 05:41 PM

i got my hose from napa and that was my problem. but i would change both. left and right . will cost about $50 for the hoses.
if napa doesn't have them go to oreily. do a good bleed job after you get the hose replaced front and rear.
i ruined a tire when mine locked up. better check the tire also.

wb13798 · 03-25-2004, 05:48 PM

re read your post you need to find a new parts store . the guy doesn't know what he is talking about. make sure the end that bolts to the caliper is the same as the old one. the only question would be drum brakes or rear disk brakes.
napa couldn't match up my rear lines. i was going to replace those also haven't found the correct line yet, but i stopped looking.

josephhh · 03-25-2004, 06:03 PM

I was just out under it looking for the obvious disconnect points but they weren't obvious.

On the caliper end, the rubber hose crimps onto a short metal hose that ends in a little square thing on top of the caliper with a bolt going down into it. Is that the bolt I need to loosen to free the caliper end?

On the other end, I see a nut on top of the mounting point and a thin nut below the mounting point. The upper, big nut looks to be the one to loosen. Do I need to hold the lower one while cranking on the upper one?

jc

davidz71 · 03-25-2004, 06:08 PM

That reminds me, I have an eye doctor appointment next week. Maybe he should see me earlier.

josephhh · 03-25-2004, 06:16 PM

Can you read the letters at the top of the picture?

whistler · 03-25-2004, 07:08 PM

Never worked on a motorhome, but service brakes all the time. Yes the bolt goes through the end of the hose into the caliper, that bolt needs to be removed. When you remove it you will see that it has 2 copper washers on each side of the hose. These are very important washers, they should be replaced and should come with the new hoses. These washer provide a seal on each side of the brake hose, without them you will have a leak. On the other end the larger nut should be part of the brake hose, the smaller nut should be on the metal line running to the master cylinder. Hold the large nut and turn the smaller one, be careful not to twist the metal line off. If the line is rusted, soak it with penetrating oil. Good luck.

whistler

wb13798 · 03-25-2004, 07:19 PM

yes you remove the bolt that threads into the caliper. that is a castle bolt. on the upper end it is mounted to the frame and the steel hard line has a fitting that screws into the flex line. the flex line is secured sometimes with a bolt but most cases with a clip.
remove the clip or nut first . and yes with two wrenches. then force the hard line thru the frame mount and put a line wrench on the nut that is on the steel line, so you don't screw it up. you can use what ever you want on the old flex line just so you get it removed. the new flex line should be identical to what you take off. especially the hole for the castle bolt , should be the same size. you will have a bolt (1/4 20) holding the flex line to the rocker arm . got to remove that nut and bolt and be sure to put it back, it is a pain in the back to do. unless you have small hands , i got paws. of course put it all back like it was. do not over tighten the bolt that goes in to the caliper. good in tight is enough.

josephhh · 03-25-2004, 07:21 PM

Thanks much Whistler. Exactly the details I needed.
And thanks to everybody else.

I'll report back as soon as I have broken the metal lines off.

Joe

wb13798 · 03-25-2004, 07:21 PM

dont forget the copper washers use the new ones you get with the new hose. in worse case use the old ones. gotta have them.

josephhh · 03-25-2004, 07:24 PM

Oops. I missed your note there Al & Sue. Thank you also for the tech advice. I'll let it all soak in Liquid Wrench for a couple a days and then give it a try.

ThX
joe

wb13798 · 03-25-2004, 07:38 PM

been there done that. be sure to use a line wrench on the hard line.