Brake lock up LXI

[davidbrady]

Hi Tommy,

I wholeheartedly agree with Melvin and I think you have a good habit developed: an IR thermometer or a touch of the palm is indispensable for checking heat at tires, wheels, and hubs. I also got to know my coach's coasting abilities. Even with a toad connected, when on an almost imperceptible incline if I shift into neutral and let off the service brakes the coach will freely roll (forward or back). Once a day or so I do this to see if the coach is freewheeling the way I think it should. Another tip-off to issues is the use of a tire pressure monitoring system. If there's a hot tire you'll see an anomalous increase in pressure on that one tire; some TPMS have a built in temperature sensor. Also, we do want to periodically carry out the DOT air brake test to check for air leaks and brake safety. I learned somewhere along the way that a full application of the service brakes should cause only a small drop in tank pressure. With my LXi a full brake application dropped the gauge reading by 2.5psi. This is a sign of well adjusted automatic slack adjusters. If a single application drops more than 7 psi then the adjusters aren't adjusting. Malfunctioning automatic slack adjusters can also tighten up and cause brakes to drag. Been there, seen that!

In addition to checking temps you also want to inhale deeply for signs of unusual heat or burning odors, also visually scan around the entire sidewall of each tire to check for defects or damage, look for a starburst pattern of greasy oil streaking out from your tophats which might signify a hub fluid leak, listen for clicking and other sounds that might signify extreme heat expansion and contraction. Over time we all become familiar with the normal appearances, sounds, smells, and temperatures of our buses; nothing beats a periodic walk around with all five senses on alert for possible issues. (Okay, maybe we don't want to lick our buses, LOL)!