Down Hill Braking on a Ford Chassis
Guru's, This may seem a silly question, but, on my DP when going down a long or steep grade, I just downshift my Alison to a lower gear and hit the exhaust brake as needed. I never have to use the ...
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Gas engines DO have some engine braking when the throttle is closed.
But one does need to mind their braking P's and Q's with a gas chassis, hydraulic brakes. Go down steep grades in a lower gear; 2nd or third. Don't ride the brakes. When you pick up some speed, apply brakes firmly for 5 seconds, off for ten a few times to scrub speed. Riding them can boil the fluid. Bleed the brakes every other year at the least and use high temp brake fluid. My 98 F-53 at 20K pounds left me white knuckled a fwe times. The DP is a joy to drive in the mountains by comparison.
But one does need to mind their braking P's and Q's with a gas chassis, hydraulic brakes. Go down steep grades in a lower gear; 2nd or third. Don't ride the brakes. When you pick up some speed, apply brakes firmly for 5 seconds, off for ten a few times to scrub speed. Riding them can boil the fluid. Bleed the brakes every other year at the least and use high temp brake fluid. My 98 F-53 at 20K pounds left me white knuckled a fwe times. The DP is a joy to drive in the mountains by comparison.
