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dtucker3usa's avatar
dtucker3usa
Explorer
Sep 22, 2017

Parking Brake Chamber???

Has anyone ever heard of a parking brake chamber on a P30 chassis? Do you know if it is located on the auto park system or is it part of the emergency brake system. I have a 1997 Damon Intruder 352 on a P30 chassis and the brake pedal runs all the way to the floor and the brake light comes on on the dash. The service center is telling me that it is leaking from the parking brake chamber and I cannot find any information about this part. If anyone has any info please let me know. Thanks in advance.

18 Replies

  • It is 36ft long, no tag axle. They said they checked the brake lines for leaks, didn't have to add any fluid to the master cylinder. If the brake fluid got hot to the point it was boiling would that cause the service brakes to fail?
  • The auto park system is totally unrelated to the service brakes. If the shop wants to replace parts in the auto park system I would find a different shop because they have no idea what they're doing. The auto park system, depending on the version, uses either the pwoer steering pump or it's own pump to release the brake. Spring tension applies the brake so when the system fails it fails in brake applied mode. Your's is disconnected so shouldn't even be a point of discussion.

    Service brake pedal going to the floor, air in the system or a leak. Did the shop bleed the brakes or add brake fluid?
  • Every thing you ever wanted to know about Auto Park
    Old Used Bear is the go to guy for Auto Park.

    Richard
  • dtucker3usa wrote:
    Has anyone ever heard of a parking brake chamber on a P30 chassis? Do you know if it is located on the auto park system or is it part of the emergency brake system. I have a 1997 Damon Intruder 352 on a P30 chassis and the brake pedal runs all the way to the floor and the brake light comes on on the dash. The service center is telling me that it is leaking from the parking brake chamber and I cannot find any information about this part. If anyone has any info please let me know. Thanks in advance.

    What is the length and weight of this rig and in other words, are you sure that you even have AP? Does it have a tag axle?
    Most of the version 3's had a yellow knob on the dash, but no foot pedal. Some of the early ones did have a foot pedal as well, however.
    The only chamber, I can think of is the vacuum canister for the tag axle brake system, if so equipped. These are usually full of brake fluid from the tag's master cylinder, which fails eventually and most aren't even aware that the tag brakes aren't working.
    Unless of course, they are referring to the actuator, which contains the spring and it sounds like this is what they are referring to.
    This being the case and common for leaks, contact oldusedbear and he will provide you with info on removing it and sending it to him in OR for rebuilding and for a give away price, I might add.
  • On the old ones, the park brake was spring applied and hydraulic pressure from a pump to release. On some that had hydro boost service brakes instead of vacuum boost, it was the same pump for both, so for a few years a park brake problems food affect the service brake.
  • Do a search here for "autoPark" You will get a lot of hits and information about the system, including individuals (oldusedbear, and others)who can supply you parts to fix it.
  • It has 4 wheel disc brakes. It also has a separate foot pedal brake. They are now telling me it is actually a solenoid on the auto park system that needs replaced and they have no explanation why the brake pedal went to the floor and that it is no longer going to the floor. They can't find any leaks in the braking system and the master cylinder they say is good. They want $882.00 for the solenoid and $300.00 labor to install it. The only thing is the auto park system has been disconnected for some time now and I've been using the foot pedal emergency brake and chocking the wheels when we stop.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Far as I know the parking brake is the auto park, this I believe is a separate system from your service brakes. I think the service center is blowing smoke.

    HOWEVER, that said. I do not know the P-series brakes that well.

    Question: other than the parking brake, which is usually A drum on the tail of the trnasmission... Are the service brakes DRUM or DISC.. on a vehicle of that vintage I"m not sure what is used.

    I once had a 1992 Chevy Lumina APV. it had front DISC but rear drum. I had excessive brake pedal travel but NO leaks,, Factory Trained technican at the dealer went over it 3 times and never found the problem

    Drums worn beyond spec. way beyond spec. I finally figured it out myself.