We headed away for a week in Walter the RV.
Week before we left there was a problem with a rear wheel cylinder. Bought two new ones from America and got them fitted, took longer than expected as sadly our Mechanics Mother passed away. He unbelievably turned up the next day to finish the job, despite me saying to leave it - understandably.
I took the opportunity to buy a new master cylinder.
We headed of last Sunday 14th October, we were about to leave Castlewellan TITTs on the Monday morning and I noticed some drips from the van. Thought I better check that out as we were driving to Kildare.
One connection on master Cylinder was leaking, got that tightened and pressed the pedal, all was good. Pressed pedal again and it went to the floor! What the hell!!
As the fluid was coming from inside the wheel we thought the seals on the caliper had burst, 27 years old, back brakes fixed, more pressure etc etc - I clamped the brake hose and topped it up with brake fluid and decided to head for home. Holiday over
Got less than a mile down the road and there was no way we were driving so I pulled in, topped it up with fluid again but couldn't understand where it was going. I inspected again and it was running out of the rear wheel!! Dismayed I topped it up and headed back to Castlewellan TITTs.
So I thought, no other option but to get it recovered home. I phone 3 recovery companies, one of them was the respected Agnew's. Not one of them rang me back with a price, wtf! Stranded.
I phoned my mechanic, whom I didn't want to annoy and he knew straight away what was up with the rear wheel, he couldn't understand the front caliper but agreed it must be that. I ordered two new calipers from America and asked him to collect them when they arrive and bring them to Castlewellan to fit them. It was a cheaper option than the £500 plus prices we were being suggested to get carried home, it's automatic so we couldn't tow it.
You may ask why I didn't have breakdown cover, well it's old and not everyone wants to do it, also it's 5.5tonne. I had a company recommended by FC but when I went do it online I couldn't find a selection for that vehicle, I have since went back and see it had a "Chevrolet - Motorcarvan" option - but hey, too late for this occasion.
New calipers arrived on Thursday and the mechanic came to fit them. We had moved to Castlewellan campsite as we needed electric to operate his welder and Dave & Naomi came to meet us, we were heading to Kildare to meet them!
As the mechanic thought, the rear wheel cylinder piston had popped out, a common fault on those hubs, whatever holds the cylinder in place is not the best, he welded it back in with two tacks of weld, it will not move again.
He started to take front wheels off and realised it was a hose had split and it was a fine jet of spray was spraying onto the calipers and making it look like them that was leaking. Of course he had no hose, so clamped that hose off, and we bled the system and had brakes, albeit only 3.
I drove around to get the toilet emptied fill up with water etc and when I got back noticed more fluid coming out of the front. By this time .....
well you cam imagine!
On further inspection it was a transmission cooling hose leaking, Dave and I took it off and inspected, we got it tightened up and the leak stopped.
We drove home a week later on the Sunday and all was going well. Brakes were surprisingly great but I took it very easy and very slow!
Getting near Antrim, coming up the M2 and passing the Apple Green I seen masses of smoke from the back, immediately pulled over to the hard shoulder and just thought "what now!""
The transmission hose this time had burst and the gear oil was pouring onto the exhaust. Walked back to Apple green, bought two litres of Automatic transmission Fluid, phoned Father who came up with tools, cut the pipe shorter and refitted and then topped up with fluid, dipped it and good to go.
We made it home. The RV is currently getting two new calipers fitted, the other rear wheel cylinder tacked and new hoses all round. It will now be a complete new braking system from front to back.
The transmission hoses are brand new so we think maybe a sharp edge on the jubilee clip, that will be investigated.
Some holiday, eh!?
Week before we left there was a problem with a rear wheel cylinder. Bought two new ones from America and got them fitted, took longer than expected as sadly our Mechanics Mother passed away. He unbelievably turned up the next day to finish the job, despite me saying to leave it - understandably.
I took the opportunity to buy a new master cylinder.
We headed of last Sunday 14th October, we were about to leave Castlewellan TITTs on the Monday morning and I noticed some drips from the van. Thought I better check that out as we were driving to Kildare.
One connection on master Cylinder was leaking, got that tightened and pressed the pedal, all was good. Pressed pedal again and it went to the floor! What the hell!!
As the fluid was coming from inside the wheel we thought the seals on the caliper had burst, 27 years old, back brakes fixed, more pressure etc etc - I clamped the brake hose and topped it up with brake fluid and decided to head for home. Holiday over
Got less than a mile down the road and there was no way we were driving so I pulled in, topped it up with fluid again but couldn't understand where it was going. I inspected again and it was running out of the rear wheel!! Dismayed I topped it up and headed back to Castlewellan TITTs.
So I thought, no other option but to get it recovered home. I phone 3 recovery companies, one of them was the respected Agnew's. Not one of them rang me back with a price, wtf! Stranded.
I phoned my mechanic, whom I didn't want to annoy and he knew straight away what was up with the rear wheel, he couldn't understand the front caliper but agreed it must be that. I ordered two new calipers from America and asked him to collect them when they arrive and bring them to Castlewellan to fit them. It was a cheaper option than the £500 plus prices we were being suggested to get carried home, it's automatic so we couldn't tow it.
You may ask why I didn't have breakdown cover, well it's old and not everyone wants to do it, also it's 5.5tonne. I had a company recommended by FC but when I went do it online I couldn't find a selection for that vehicle, I have since went back and see it had a "Chevrolet - Motorcarvan" option - but hey, too late for this occasion.
New calipers arrived on Thursday and the mechanic came to fit them. We had moved to Castlewellan campsite as we needed electric to operate his welder and Dave & Naomi came to meet us, we were heading to Kildare to meet them!
As the mechanic thought, the rear wheel cylinder piston had popped out, a common fault on those hubs, whatever holds the cylinder in place is not the best, he welded it back in with two tacks of weld, it will not move again.
He started to take front wheels off and realised it was a hose had split and it was a fine jet of spray was spraying onto the calipers and making it look like them that was leaking. Of course he had no hose, so clamped that hose off, and we bled the system and had brakes, albeit only 3.
I drove around to get the toilet emptied fill up with water etc and when I got back noticed more fluid coming out of the front. By this time .....
well you cam imagine!
On further inspection it was a transmission cooling hose leaking, Dave and I took it off and inspected, we got it tightened up and the leak stopped.
We drove home a week later on the Sunday and all was going well. Brakes were surprisingly great but I took it very easy and very slow!
Getting near Antrim, coming up the M2 and passing the Apple Green I seen masses of smoke from the back, immediately pulled over to the hard shoulder and just thought "what now!""
The transmission hose this time had burst and the gear oil was pouring onto the exhaust. Walked back to Apple green, bought two litres of Automatic transmission Fluid, phoned Father who came up with tools, cut the pipe shorter and refitted and then topped up with fluid, dipped it and good to go.
We made it home. The RV is currently getting two new calipers fitted, the other rear wheel cylinder tacked and new hoses all round. It will now be a complete new braking system from front to back.
The transmission hoses are brand new so we think maybe a sharp edge on the jubilee clip, that will be investigated.
Some holiday, eh!?
