supercub wrote:
How do you visually check the brake pads on a 2004 Freightliner diesel pusher Freightliner Chassis? Approximately what is the minimal thickness of pad thickness? I haven't looked, but I believe I have drum brakes, if they're discs, I know how to check those.
Thanks
supercub,
As has been stated, a simple lay-down and squirm around to the back-side of ANY of the wheels will reveal the EDGE of the brake SHOES. You don't say what make/model you have, only the chassis. About 98% of the Freightliner chassis coaches of that era are equipped with regular drum brakes. The few higher end ones MIGHT have been equipped with disc brakes.
As I stated, you're only going to see the edge of the brake shoes by looking at them from behind the wheels. However, that will reveal at least one important factor. And that is, just how thick they are and, based on the mileage accumulated to that point of inspection, you MAY be able to tell ABOUT how long you may have left on them before any potential replacement.
Our coach, an '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the C-7 330HP CAT, now has right at 83,000 miles on it and the shoes (drums) are between 5/8" and 3/4" thick. Based on that thickness, it's a pretty fair assumption that I'd be able to easily double that mileage, to around 160,000 before even thinking about replacing the shoes. But, lot's can happen in between now and that kind of mileage.
Something we used on the FD in an everyday inspection of all our Fire truck brakes was a mirror and flashlight. You can get more and better angles of viewing using those, without actually worming around into positions to view the same angles. Good luck.
Scott
