The front disc brakes on my RV (class A, if that matters) overheated. I smelled something burning, then my tire sensors on both front wheels set off the alarms on the tire monitoring system. Both tires were 170 degrees. It looks as if the brakes were sticking. Anytime I've seen something similar discussed on this forum, the advise is always to have the calipers replaced. Yet, a retired heavy duty mechanic who took a look at the brakes stated that all that I needed to do was to have the brake pads replaced & the pins lubricated with an anti-seize lube to prevent the brakes from sticking again. Does this make sense? I can save a lot of money by having this guy do the work rather than taking the RV to a shop. But I don't want to be pulled over on the side of the road 10 miles after starting a trip only to find that the brakes have overheated again. Opinions??

It's not the pads that stuck, it's the calipers that didn't release the pads.Replace them without a doubt.

I would be replacing the pads, brake lines and fluid. The rubber brake lines colapse on the inside not allowing the fluid to return to the master cylinder causing the brakes to drag. Fluid should be changed occaisonally. I normally change or have it changed every two years depending on how hard I have worked the brakes. Make sure the fluid is high temperature rated.The calipers should be OK but the rotors could be warped. They could a have small heat cracks. These cracks can be very hard on new pads.

Here is your recall info, IF it has not been done before by the previous owner. Holiday Rambler recallIf you don't know whether or not it has been done, check here by entering your VIN and registering on this website. Workhorse chassisThis is not the same recall that had the Bosch calipers automatically changed on WH chassis.

Artum Snowbird wrote:It's not the pads that stuck, it's the calipers that didn't release the pads.Replace them without a doubt.The pins are what cause the brakes to "stick"...the pins are part of the caliper.This really depends on the rig you have. If it's on a Workhorse Chassis from 2004-2008, there was a recall issued and honored by Navistar, current owner of Workhorse. You can put your VIN number into the Navistar website and it will tell you if you're impacted.The problem was with a certain series of Bosch calipers, btw.If it's not within the above description, yes, I would lube the pins, probably replace the pads since you're already in there and pads are cheap, and you'd likely be good to go providing there is no damage to your rotors, and from the sounds of it, you already had a brake specialist look at it.Jim***edit***Looks like Bud and rja beat me to the punch :)

Anyone of the above mentioned things can cause overheated brake,calipers,pins,hoses. If he can properly lube pins he should be able to replace calipers and hoses as calipers have to come off to lube pins.You should be able to get remanufactured calipers at Napa or Carquest stores.They both use different material pistons to prevent sticking.I used to service local schools buses and i removed calipers and cleaned and lubed guiges or pins every summer. dave

Brakes overheated-must I replace calipers | Good Sam Community

Artum_Snowbird
Explorer
Oct 04, 2013
It's not the pads that stuck, it's the calipers that didn't release the pads.

Replace them without a doubt.
enblethen
Nomad
Oct 04, 2013
I would be replacing the pads, brake lines and fluid. The rubber brake lines colapse on the inside not allowing the fluid to return to the master cylinder causing the brakes to drag. Fluid should be changed occaisonally. I normally change or have it changed every two years depending on how hard I have worked the brakes. Make sure the fluid is high temperature rated.
The calipers should be OK but the rotors could be warped. They could a have small heat cracks. These cracks can be very hard on new pads.
rgatijnet1
Explorer III
Oct 04, 2013
Here is your recall info, IF it has not been done before by the previous owner. Holiday Rambler recall
If you don't know whether or not it has been done, check here by entering your VIN and registering on this website. Workhorse chassis
This is not the same recall that had the Bosch calipers automatically changed on WH chassis.
Lobstah
Explorer
Oct 04, 2013
Artum Snowbird wrote:
It's not the pads that stuck, it's the calipers that didn't release the pads.

Replace them without a doubt.

The pins are what cause the brakes to "stick"...the pins are part of the caliper.

This really depends on the rig you have. If it's on a Workhorse Chassis from 2004-2008, there was a recall issued and honored by Navistar, current owner of Workhorse. You can put your VIN number into the Navistar website and it will tell you if you're impacted.

The problem was with a certain series of Bosch calipers, btw.

If it's not within the above description, yes, I would lube the pins, probably replace the pads since you're already in there and pads are cheap, and you'd likely be good to go providing there is no damage to your rotors, and from the sounds of it, you already had a brake specialist look at it.

Jim

***edit***

Looks like Bud and rja beat me to the punch :)
dakdave
Explorer
Oct 04, 2013
Anyone of the above mentioned things can cause overheated brake,calipers,pins,hoses. If he can properly lube pins he should be able to replace calipers and hoses as calipers have to come off to lube pins.You should be able to get remanufactured calipers at Napa or Carquest stores.They both use different material pistons to prevent sticking.I used to service local schools buses and i removed calipers and cleaned and lubed guiges or pins every summer.
dave
prism
Explorer
Oct 04, 2013
99% of the time when a caliper is the cause of brake overheat its the caliper piston not retracting and thus will cause brake pad to drag on rotor which cause friction which causes brakes to overheat.When the caliper pins(slides) are seized most of the time it causes the outside pad to not wear and the inside pad to wear out prematurely because its doing all the work.
Now in the OP case it may be he just used his brakes improperly and caused them to overheat? BUT most time when Brakes get that hot it burns the Caliper boots and therefore calipers need to be rebuilt.I worked on these things for 30+ years
VintageRacer
Explorer
Oct 04, 2013
Prism has it right, from my experience. I have never, not once, had a caliper or pad stick because of the pins, but I have had a number of them stick because of the piston seals causing the pistons to stick. Every time I do the same thing - change both calipers on that axle, new pads, new discs if they were damaged, and flush the brake fluid. Last ones were last winter on my F250 rear axle.

Brian
Daveinet
Explorer
Oct 04, 2013
The question is how hard is it to push the pistons back into the caliper. If they push in fairly easy. Normally it does require putting a C-clamp on them, to force them back into the caliper, but it should be fairly easy to turn the c-clamp. Basically you should almost be able to push them in my hand. If it is tighter than that, then the piston is binding and the calipers need replaced.
randallb
Explorer
Oct 04, 2013
delete
Executive45
Explorer III
Oct 05, 2013
Since your rear brakes failed in August and were completely replaced, did they not check the fronts???..It seems strange that your rear brakes would fail completely and then the front brakes would go out completely a month later. I'm thinking there's something wrong with this picture.....Dennis