We’re speaking DIY brakes. Why? As a result of large caravans want higher tow-vehicle brakes. Right here’s methods to improve your brakes with a day on the instruments for safer towing.
Make no mistake about it, the issues we ask our tow-tugs to do are far past the creativeness of the engineers who design them. Certain, on paper, the autos themselves can deal with 3500kg on the tow ball, however there’s no such factor as a free lunch. With a caravan on the again, your delight and pleasure gained’t cease or go wherever close to nearly as good because it does unladen. And stopping? Overlook about it.
In a really perfect world, the camper or caravan brakes shall be caring for the load again there whereas your tow-tug is simply worrying about itself, however issues aren’t at all times good. Lengthy descents, emergency braking conditions, and even only a brake controller a few notches too tame can all imply that your tow-tug brakes are carrying greater than their justifiable share. One thing you gained’t discover till they’re pink scorching midway down a protracted grade.
The challenge – an outdated 80 Sequence ‘Cruiser
We just lately acquired an outdated 80 Sequence ‘Cruiser with plans of lengthy weekends on the boat ramp and longer weekends within the bush with a camper and it grew to become obviously apparent the manufacturing unit brakes weren’t as much as scratch – together with the manufacturing unit engine, transmission, seats, and suspension – however we digress. So we figured earlier than we wind the jockey wheel down on the tow-ball, we must always set about rectifying that.
We checked out a couple of totally different choices for extra stopping energy however in the end determined the Final 4WD Brake Improve Package from Bendix can be one of the best bang for buck for this DIY brakes challenge. Coming in a whole package, it’d have every little thing we would have liked from rotors and pads via to brake strains and fluid. The case changing into an esky afterwards was laborious to argue with too. Right here’s how we did it.
Step 1. Make sure you’ve acquired every little thing – together with the talents
On the DIY scale of 1-10 for problem, a brake alternative is someplace across the 6 or 7 vary for a couple of good causes. The precise course of is relatively easy. The parts are usually like for like, so for those who’re helpful on the spanner roll and are assured you would change some shocks, you may in all probability change your brakes. When you’re not assured, greatest depart it to the professionals.
It’s value mentioning although, that your tow-tug shall be correctly out of motion as soon as you start. There’s no ducking right down to the elements retailer to get fluid for those who realise you ran brief. You possibly can piece collectively a package your self, however we discovered the Bendix providing made life easy understanding it was all in there.
Step 2. Work out what you’re doing
Whether or not you’ve acquired a 300 Sequence or an 80 Sequence, issues like brake strains, pads, and fluid are all going to be moderately just like swap over on a DIY brake improve. Nevertheless, there might be refined variations which will catch you out. On our ‘Cruiser, the rotor itself is put in on the again of the hub. Because of this, we would have liked to fully strip down the wheel hubs, bearings and all, to have the ability to change the rotor. Different rotors are merely held on by the wheel. It’s vital to know precisely what you must do beforehand so you may have the fitting instruments and elements available earlier than you get midway via the job.
Step 3. Set up the rotors
With the hubs stripped down, we had been capable of take away the bolts holding the outdated rotor on, bash it off, set up the brand new rotors on and cinch them down. It is a good time to interrupt out a can of brake cleaner (included within the package) and provides every little thing an intensive clear. Eliminate any constructed up rust flakes, grease, or normal highway grime.
There are faculties of thought with every little thing from grease to Loctite for the rotor bolts, however we’ve at all times discovered luck with a dab of anti-seize and torquing to spec. You possibly can see the Bendix discs are vented like inventory, but additionally embrace dimpling and cross-slotting. This not solely lets the disc shed off warmth extra effectively but additionally removes brake mud and gases from the floor of the pad. That’s a flowery approach of claiming your tow-tug will cease higher for longer.
Step 4. Get to work on the calipers
There’s a complete lot of science in relation to brake pad composition, the producer looking for the stability between noise, put on, outright braking efficiency and efficiency beneath load, at excessive warmth, low temperatures, and never mincing the rotors within the course of. All issues which can be vital in bringing your tow-tug and ‘van to a clean managed cease over and over.
The Final pads ticked all these containers, and got here within the package, in order that was a little bit of a no brainer for a DIY brake improve and set up. The pads are pushed in by pistons on either side. Because the pad materials wears away, the pistons get nearer and nearer collectively, and the brand new pads merely gained’t match. We gave the calipers a scrub to get years of grime off them, used a piston separator to make just a little house, and inspected the rubber boots on the pistons whereas we had been there.
Step 5. Begin placing issues again collectively
With the outdated parts properly and really within the bin, it’s time to start out re-assembling issues and on the lookout for the sunshine on the finish of the tunnel. With the pistons nonetheless unfold large open, re-install the brake calipers, guaranteeing the bleed nipple is up the highest. A dab of anti-seize right here on the mounting bolts will make this a neater job subsequent time and guarantee you will get the bolts torqued to spec as properly. However maintain it away from all of the brake {hardware}.
There’ll be just a little brake lube within the field you may placed on the slide pins to maintain them shifting. Give the rotors a as soon as over with the included wipes to take away any contaminants which have discovered their approach in, then pop the pads in, any locking {hardware}, and transfer on to the following step.
Step 6. Set up the brand new strains
From manufacturing unit, your tow-tug would have include versatile rubber brake strains connecting the laborious strains in your chassis/diffs to the calipers. Over time, and with publicity to harsh situations, these can dry out, crack, and begin perishing. Whereas in the end, they will fail and depart you brakeless, they will additionally trigger points properly earlier than that too.
Whenever you apply your foot to the brake, some quantity of power is absorbed by the strains bodily swelling. The braided brake strains within the package should not solely 30 years youthful than what we’re swapping out, however gained’t have that swell both, which means extra power utilized to the brakes themselves and a greater pedal really feel. Swapping the brake strains in is a straightforward DIY course of. A brake line spanner and a pair of pliers are all you’ll have to take away the outdated models and set up the brand new ones.
Step 7. Bleed the brakes
The package we acquired from Bendix got here full with a couple of bottles of their brake fluid, however you’ll want to choose up some clear tube and a set of brake line spanners as properly. With a spanner on the bleed nipple and the tube slipped on the tip, get your partner-in-crime to sit down behind the tiller and pump the brake pedal 5-6 occasions, then maintain it flat. Crack the bleed nipple, and a mixture of air/gunk/outdated fluid will come sputtering out. When it stops, lock the bleed nipple off once more and repeat the method till it’s nothing however contemporary, clear fluid coming via with no air bubbles. You’ll want to start out on the level furthest from the brake grasp cylinder and work your approach nearer, guaranteeing you retain topping up the grasp cylinder with contemporary fluid as you go. If it runs out, you’ll have to start out the method once more.
Step 8. Benefit from the fruits of your labour
When you’ve made it this far with out calling in a mechanic, congratulations. A brake improve is one thing that each single tow-vehicle will profit from. Whether or not it’s the instantly improved chunk while you push the cease pedal, or the higher capability to battle off warmth and the following brake fade you’ll get on lengthy steep descents, your towing shall be higher off for it. All that’s left is to mattress within the brakes. There’s a number of faculties of thought on methods to do it however we reckon hitching up the camper or caravan and heading bush would possibly simply be the right two-for-one.
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