Classic Winnebagos & Vintage RVs

Topic Boards => Dodge - Chrysler Chassis => Topic started by: cosmic on June 13, 2014, 03:29 PM

Title: Hard Brakes
Post by: cosmic on June 13, 2014, 03:29 PM
hoping for some help here. I am currently in Darian lake Ny. as I was coming into the boarder crossing I stepped on the breaks and click. the pedal goes hard and now my breaks are hard as hell. I  have to stand on the pedal to stop.
I suspect the  the booster. I read the chassis manual and it shows a diaphragm in the booster. but on my m300 I cant find that diaphragm. do I need to change the whole booster.
I have proper vacuum. on my dash gauge. I have checked all the hoses going into the booster. I have checked my power steering pump. Good.
when im on the break pedal I feel a slight chugging of the engine.
Any help would be great. I still need to go 200 miles home. The rig runs great but stopping it is another story.
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: Froggy1936 on June 13, 2014, 05:03 PM
 ??  The click could have been the safety valve closeing off 1/2 of the syestem due to a fluid leak Most likely on one of the frt wheel brake lines , Leaving only the rear brakes operating causing the haveing to stand on the pedal to stop . You shoulds also have gotten a brake warning light come on on the dash . Look for fluid wetness everywhere ? Frank
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: legomybago on June 13, 2014, 05:25 PM
You lost your power brakes for sure...I think if you lost your booster diaphragm you would have a vacuum leak ALL the time, not just when you press on the peddle...The check valve on the lower portion of your booster housing could be stuck??

Wait...do you have Hydroboost? or Hydravac brake system? Sounds like you have Hydroboost due to you not finding the vacuum diaphragm can Hm? and you mentioned the power steering pump.  i??

Im going to go and ride a roller coaster myself now......
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: cosmic on June 13, 2014, 06:13 PM
I just inspected all the lines and looked under each brake for signs of fluid. Nothing. I opened the reservoir and im not missing any fluid. The light on dash has not come on. when I start the engine with the brake pedal pushed. the pedal does not soften as the engine starts. this is why I suspect the booster for being the culprit.
I pulled the hose on the booster and I have tons of suction on the line going into the booster.
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: legomybago on June 13, 2014, 06:24 PM
can you pull the bottom check valve assembly out? make sure its allowing the vacuum to activate your power brakes? Idea?
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: cosmic on June 13, 2014, 06:27 PM
I don't have a bottom check valve. to me it looks like the booster is a sealed unit and I saw the check valves on the bottom of the other kind of boosters in the manual. unfortunately this is not the system I have.
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: legomybago on June 13, 2014, 06:31 PM
Can you have someone pump the brakes and bleed the unit? See if fluid/pressure is going out of the unit? maybe the inner power pistion is stuck in the cylinder not allowing power brake to work? idea??
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: cosmic on June 13, 2014, 06:33 PM
bleed the master cylinder?
Ok I cracked the lines on the master and bleed the master. no difference.
I then phoned napa to find out that there is no availability on the booster and master. how ever they can send it out and get it back to me in 3 to 4 weeks. lovely. just my luck.
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: DaveVA78Chieftain on June 13, 2014, 06:59 PM
Before you get inundated with questions you have a Bendix Master-Vac System (http://dave78chieftain.zxq.net/M300_74.html) with the booster mounted to the master cylinder

(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdave78chieftain.zxq.net%2FM300_74%2FM300_74.JPG&hash=af73190222c714fd7a00da37648bc0478d8e2d19)

Indications say you no longer have any boost assist.  Link (http://dave78chieftain.zxq.net/MasterVac_brakes.html) to description and checkout procedure.

Let me run down parts

Dave
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: cosmic on June 13, 2014, 07:08 PM
Thanks for jumping in Dave. test one. there is no difference at curb idle. the feel is the same either way.on the pedal. I do have plenty of vacuum when I pull the hose out of the booster.
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: DaveVA78Chieftain on June 13, 2014, 07:17 PM
Did NAPA say that neither 5473143 (booster alone) nor 509261 (booster with mastercylinder) are available?  NAPA is a CARDONE distributor.

CARDONE Rebulder (http://www.cardone.com/Products/Product-Detail?productId=54-73143&make=Dodge%20Trucks&model=M300&year=1974&info=w%2fVacuum+Booster%3a%3a%3a)  54-73143 is he universal CARDONE number for both 74 and 75

Booster Sources (https://www.google.com/#q=cardone+54-73143+booster)

Dave
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: DaveVA78Chieftain on June 13, 2014, 07:22 PM
Then based on the test (was extracted from service manual)
You sort of have your answer.  Sorry it is not what you want to hear.

Dave
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: Rickf1985 on June 13, 2014, 07:40 PM
Really long shot here but since you are on the road and parts are not available you have nothing to lose. Pull the check valve out of the grommet in the booster and make sure vacuum is going through it. You say you heard a click and I don't think I have ever heard of a booster going bad by going "Click". IF that check valve is bad then you could get a new one or scrounge one in a junkyard, they are all about the same I believe.

Rick
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: legomybago on June 13, 2014, 07:45 PM
Bummer..
The click sound could have been the internal spring breaking inside the booster assembly

I was working on the wrong type/part....my bad. It doesn't even look like you can easily take that type of booster apart to work on it.

Hope you find a booster assembly
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: cosmic on June 13, 2014, 09:51 PM
I was looking for the booster and master cylinder. The guy said it was unavailable. tomorrow I will call back with the part numbers you have gave me Dave. And try again.  i??
Thanks. Vic
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: DaveVA78Chieftain on June 13, 2014, 10:01 PM
I simply used NAPA cross reference feature using Dodge P/N 3732195
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: cosmic on June 13, 2014, 11:07 PM
in the diagram Dave provided. what is the valve assembly that is located on the frame rail by the cross member? is this basically a splitter?
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: DaveVA78Chieftain on June 13, 2014, 11:14 PM
Combination Metering Valve / Brake Warning Switch (http://dave78chieftain.zxq.net/ControlValves.html)

Dave
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: cosmic on June 14, 2014, 09:11 AM
  !-!
So as of this morning. neither of them are available. they needs to call the Cardone plant Monday morning.
I always thought these were still available. lesson for all here. $@!#@! I have a spare of everything but the booster. of course....lol.
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: RickBright on June 14, 2014, 12:21 PM
 I was checking on parts for a M500 Chassis with NAPA about a week ago, went to my local NAPA with the NAPA and the Dodge part numbers they said parts not available. I called a second NAPA about 30 miles and they had the parts I wanted in the store.  The second store I just gave the year/make/model. First Napa was in a mid sized town, second was in a small rural town.

First store counter guy just clicked on the computer, second guy looked in a book. First Napa guy was about 25 years old second Napa guy was about 60.. Just my recent NAPA experience.

Rick
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: Rickf1985 on June 14, 2014, 01:07 PM
I would bet the second guy looked under different years instead of what the computer said to look at. This has been brought up before, old vs. new. Old wins every time.
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: cosmic on June 14, 2014, 11:36 PM
Update.
We made it home without any issues. :)ThmbUp
now Monday i'll find those parts. Now I don't care. it can sit in my driveway until the master and booster are changed.

Thanks for all your help everyone. It sucks when your on the road and in the back of your head your wondering if you will make it home. Or how long until you make it home. lol I guess this is the nature of owning a vintage rv.
I bet the new ones break too... i??
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: Elandan2 on June 15, 2014, 08:44 AM
Glad to hear you made it home OK.  I don't know if you have tried any of the small parts jobbers in your area, but I find that they are much better at finding obscure parts than the major parts stores in Canada. BTW, those new rigs look cool, but when they break down...  Friends of ours had a BRAND NEW rig on a Ford chassis.  They took a trip up to northern Ontario and the transmission went out.  They spent two weeks waiting for Ford to supply a new unit.  So although it was under warranty, it was still a major inconvenience.  Rick
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: Oz on June 15, 2014, 11:57 AM
A lot of us know the feeling... stressed-out on that drive back... hands aching and white knuckles clamped on the steering wheel, talking all the way, "Come on... you can make it."  Approaching the traffic light... "Turn green... turn green... turn green..."

I'll be you let out one long, loud sigh of relief when you finally turned-off the ignition.

All's well that ends well. 

:)clap
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: DaveVA78Chieftain on June 15, 2014, 03:50 PM
Glad to hear all is well.  Now you can concentrate on getting the brakes fixed without a lot of worry.

Dave
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: cosmic on June 15, 2014, 03:52 PM
So I found a booster and master, in 2 different places. going to coat me $366 Canadian. So I will try in the States. They show it at napa for $140 USD. Unfortunately they cant get it. So I'm thinking there has to be one in America that I can find cheaper then the first quote I got from partsource.
Let the fun begin

Thanks for the support and concern. guys. Its always good to know your all here to help. Cheers
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: DaveVA78Chieftain on June 15, 2014, 04:47 PM
You did see the booster source link I provided in post 10( http://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/index.php/topic,9757.msg52213.html#msg52213 ) (http://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/index.php/topic,9757.msg52213.html#msg52213)

Dave
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: cosmic on June 15, 2014, 05:47 PM
Don't no how I could have missed that but I did. lol thanks Dave
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: legomybago on June 16, 2014, 11:00 AM
QuoteA lot of us know the feeling... stressed-out on that drive back... hands aching and white knuckles clamped on the steering wheel, talking all the way, "Come on... you can make it."  Approaching the traffic light... "Turn green... turn green... turn green..."


So true :)ThmbUp

Glad you made it home :)clap
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: cosmic on June 16, 2014, 12:20 PM
Ok I found the parts from Illinois. Both the booster and the master for 169.00 delivered. to Canada..Nice.
Autoplicity - booster (http://autoplicity.com/products/2803321-a1_cardone_54_73143_brake_booster.aspx)
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: DaveVA78Chieftain on June 16, 2014, 06:18 PM
:)clap :)clap :)clap

Dave
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: ramit on June 16, 2014, 09:58 PM
for the canadian guys http://www.johnstuartpowerbrake.com/

Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: cosmic on July 01, 2014, 10:45 AM
 !-!Do yourself a favor. don't order from autoplicity.com. still haven't even shipped my product. 15 days later.
going to buy another from somewhere else.
Update today. After being hung up on 8 times. I was able to get to a human. I found out that it was shipped out through USPS on June 29th.  THATS 14 DAYS LATER> $@!#@! $@!#@!
I still have not received the product to say what it is I will receive. But if I was stuck somewhere waiting for this part I would be beyond pissed off.

As I said above. DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR.  !-!
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: cosmic on July 08, 2014, 07:34 PM
Got my parts today. 21 days.  $@!#@!
better times to come. hopefully tomorrow im back in action. :)clap
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: LJ-TJ on July 08, 2014, 09:32 PM
Didn't I tell you it's easier,cheaper and faster to have parts delivered to Port Huron and then bring them back you self. D:oH!
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: TerryH on July 09, 2014, 01:39 AM
I do the same thing when ordering from the US. My sister lives 5mins. from the border and has a parcel/mail delivery address that is 2mins. across the border on the US side, so I have things shipped there to her.
If the items qualify under NAFTA there is no duty.
More often than not she is waved thru the Canadian side without having to pay tax.
Shipping is often free within the contiguous states, so if I order from Florida, shipped to Blaine Wa. shipping is free.
At the same time she fills up with that wonderfully inexpensive US gas. (Vancouver today - $1.53/litre. I won't convert the price because I'd throw something and then have to add to my to do list to repair.

Terry
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: DonD on July 09, 2014, 03:01 PM
3.78 liters per  US gallon. About $5.78 per gallon, but heart transplants are free  ;)
Title: Re: Hard Brakes
Post by: Stripe on July 14, 2014, 03:39 AM
Blaine's not too far from where I picked up Penny..  Nice country up there..