I always get such great advice on this forum so here I go again, seeking your input for a brake question.
I'm not very mechanically minded so please excuse me if my questions sounds a bit dumb
My van is older (1988 Windsor) and the guy who owned it took off the hydraulic brakes (don't ask me why??) and put manual brakes on the van
I rang the RAA today and spoke to a tech and he advised me that there was no need to go to the expense of putting electric brakes on the van as it's only a 13` van and as long as I get the brakes serviced I shouldn't need to put on electric brakes.
So I have a few questions that I'm hoping to get a bit of advise on
1) What are the advantages of putting on electric brakes and is it worth the cost. 2) I'm considering buying a Pajero that already has electric brakes fitted, if I decide to go ahead and put electric brakes on the van, will they be compatable with the electric brakes on the Pajero or will I have to get a whole new electric brake set up for both the Pajero and the van 3) If the electric brakes on the Pajero are ok and I decide to put electric brakes on the caravan, will it be considerably cheaper just to get the van fitted with electric brakes.
The guy I bought the van from, unfortuantely has the onset of Alzheimers so I had a lot of trouble getting him to explain and show me things about the van eg the solar system and the gauges, so I might be asking for quite a bit of feedback on a couple of issues, I hope you all don't mind and I apologise in advance if some of my questions sound a bit dumb
Hi cee The electric brake "controller" on the pajero will be compatable with an electric brake set up on the van if you decide to go down that path. I believe electric brakes are a better option and give you some/more control over the braking force applied to the caravan. I think to upgrade yours it may cost about $300 a side (just a guess). I believe to change yours over they would only need to unbolt the exsisting brake backing plate and fit the new electric brakes. cheers blaze
quote>>) I'm considering buying a Pajero that already has electric brakes fitted,]
Correct term is >>>>>> electric brake controler fitted,, this unit controles the electric brakes on the van , as in applying the brakes when the foot brake is applied &/or by the manual operation control slide. At the same time the amount of braking effort applied to the van is controlled by a adjustment knob on the controller.
On a van of that age you may have to replace the entire axle assembly to have electrics fitted due to different brake backing plates &/or how the old ones are fitted. Also the bearing size a widths of the electric brake hubs possibily will not fit the existing stub axle.
If you stay with the manual brakes do not kill the system with load leveller bars,as this will prevent the brakes from working.
If you want more detail as to the problem with the bars I will follow up later.
-- Edited by justcruisin01 on Wednesday 8th of September 2010 10:06:13 PM
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justcruisin01 wrote:.......If you stay with the manual brakes do not kill the system with load leveller bars,as this will prevent the brakes from working.
Strange, I've had "level rides" on several caravans with over-ride brakes without any problem. You just have to make sure that the rods are free to travel in their brackets/chains on the A-frame. If they are not able to slide freely manouvering will be difficult too.
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justcruisin01 wrote:.......If you stay with the manual brakes do not kill the system with load leveller bars,as this will prevent the brakes from working.
Strange, I've had "level rides" on several caravans with over-ride brakes without any problem. You just have to make sure that the rods are free to travel in their brackets/chains on the A-frame. If they are not able to slide freely manouvering will be difficult too.
This is the part I was getting to earlier [ I had to step out to do another job]
Rolly, your on the right track with the use of chains on the a-frame , this allows a swinging action as the brakes are come on & off, also eliminates a lot of the cluncking when turning.
The other way of the bars sitting in a bracket like a saddle is where the problem starts,you can just survive with two bar system but when people fit a four bar system the amount of friction created on the saddle will not allow the overide coupling to function fully in wet slippery conditions , the weight of the van pushing the tug into a skid situation due to no brakes being applied on the van.
I have converted a few of these from saddle to the chain system due to people experiencing exactly what I have just stated . The other benifit is the bar tension is now adjustible as to the amount of lift that is required by just selecting the length of chain, same as a haymen system.
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Be your self; there's no body better qualified ! "I came into this world with nothing , I still have most of it"
Cee, There is one more thing to say about putting electric brakes on your van.. You will need to replace your drums.. Ok if you are going to keep the van get the same wheel stud patten as your tug.. If tyres will fit under the van ,just a thought....They are not that costly now ,I just did the back wheels on our van and got them from ebay, the same one at the caravan shop where twice that ...Just had a look on Ebay item number 180555895607 @ $225 for both sides..Thats drums and brakes and bearings and backing plates.And it shouldnt take a lot of time to change them over and they come with a backing plate holder..Worth a look.. hope this helps..
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Land Rover Discovery Chipped TD5 Manual ,Air Springs, Anti Sway. T.C. Auto level. Van, Roadstar 21.6 Voyager 4000 all sola powered.
Cee, There is one more thing to say about putting electric brakes on your van.. You will need to replace your drums.. Ok if you are going to keep the van get the same wheel stud patten as your tug.. If tyres will fit under the van ,just a thought....They are not that costly now ,I just did the back wheels on our van and got them from ebay, the same one at the caravan shop where twice that ...Just had a look on Ebay item number 180555895607 @ $225 for both sides..Thats drums and brakes and bearings and backing plates.And it shouldnt take a lot of time to change them over and they come with a backing plate holder..Worth a look.. hope this helps..
Not only thw drums, but the Backing Plates, Shoes and all the working gear along with magnets as well., as mechanical and hydralic brakes work differently to electric and the parts are not interchangable. Cheers, ozjohn
-- Edited by ozjohn on Thursday 9th of September 2010 04:31:43 PM
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Retired Engineer, Ex Park Owner & Caravan Consultant. Holden 2.8 Colorado - Roma Elegance 17'6" Pop Top. Location: Mornington Peninsula Vic.
Cee, There is one more thing to say about putting electric brakes on your van.. You will need to replace your drums.. Ok if you are going to keep the van get the same wheel stud patten as your tug.. If tyres will fit under the van ,just a thought....They are not that costly now ,I just did the back wheels on our van and got them from ebay, the same one at the caravan shop where twice that ...Just had a look on Ebay item number 180555895607 @ $225 for both sides..Thats drums and brakes and bearings and backing plates.And it shouldnt take a lot of time to change them over and they come with a backing plate holder..Worth a look.. hope this helps..
Not only thw drums, but the Backing Plates, Shoes and all the working gear along with magnets as well., as mechanical and hydralic brakes work differently to electric and the parts are not interchangable. Cheers, ozjohn
-- Edited by ozjohn on Thursday 9th of September 2010 04:31:43 PM
Please re-read my post. There is no point of buying brake & hub assy,s IF the bearing size & widths are different. which is quite likely to be the case due to the age of OE. This is why I stated you may have to go for a complete system which includes a axle. Reguardless of how cheap ebay or any thing else is if it dont fit then you have wasted your money.
Yes , it is good to have matching wheel sizes. If you are going to fit large wheels you need to have the correct size hubs a bearings. EG, the idear of having a holden hub with a l/cruiser stud pattern does not last, the size & weight of the l/cruiser wheel will continue to flog out the wheel bearings , because the bearings are too small & too close together.I have seen this problem before, so do it once & do it right. The price may seem right today but its a lot more expensive tomorrow when it all goes wrong.
-- Edited by justcruisin01 on Thursday 9th of September 2010 07:59:52 PM
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Be your self; there's no body better qualified ! "I came into this world with nothing , I still have most of it"
Thanks for the advice.........as always it's all been very informative and has given me lots to think about...I really do appreciate the time taken of you all to answer my (never ending) questions
