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nanahub's avatar
nanahub
Explorer
Oct 13, 2013

Workhorse P32 chassis brake issues

I would like to know if anyone might have some information about my brake issue on my 2000 Itasca Suncruiser with a Workhorse chassis with 4-wheel disk brakes. The disk brake pads are good, the brakes have been bled and there are no leaks and I have replaced the master cylinder. The problem I have is a low brake pedal. After it has been applied a couple times it comes up to where it should be for stopping but after traveling some distance you have to go through the same process again. Would anyone have any fixes or ideas or is this just the nature of the beast.
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  • APRSRVer's avatar
    APRSRVer
    Explorer
    Oct 13, 2013
    A warped rotor(s) will push a pad too far back into the caliper to where pumping the pedal is needed to get it to contact the rotor upon applying the brakes. If you have a slight pulsation during an easy application of the brakes, a warped rotor is likely. Also, calipers need to slide in their mounts. If for some reason the caliper doesn't slide, the mounts will flex until the brake works and then when it relaxes the pads move back too far from the rotor again.
  • prism's avatar
    prism
    Explorer
    Oct 13, 2013
    APRSRVer wrote:
    A warped rotor(s) will push a pad too far back into the caliper to where pumping the pedal is needed to get it to contact the rotor upon applying the brakes. If you have a slight pulsation during an easy application of the brakes, a warped rotor is likely. Also, calipers need to slide in their mounts. If for some reason the caliper doesn't slide, the mounts will flex until the brake works and then when it relaxes the pads move back too far from the rotor again.


    I fixed brakes for a living and have never heard of or encountered such idea,s (eg) warped rotor causing low brake pedal and usually when calipers have seized up sliders it does not effect pedal travel
    it simply wear,s out the piston brake pad prematurely because its carrying the whole load as the outboard padis not being applied
    Having to pump your brakes two or 3 times to achieve a decent pedal
    to me says theirs still air in the system
  • sum1's avatar
    sum1
    Explorer
    Oct 15, 2013
    I would re-bleed then consider the points that APRSRVer has made.
  • armadillo_17's avatar
    armadillo_17
    Explorer
    Oct 24, 2013
    My 2002 Damon Daybreak 2750 has 'hydro-boost" brake system....it uses the power steering pump boost to assit in the braking. Pumping the pedal does help. I have wondered about setting the idle higher.
  • aadam56's avatar
    aadam56
    Explorer
    Oct 24, 2013
    If None of the above works, you might have purchased the the wrong master cylinder. I have done this before... its from taking the m cyl into the store and asking for another. the problem is if someone put the wrong one on before, it gets another wrong one. you have to give them all the info or go to the dealer with the serial number.

    Also be sure the pedal is returning all the way back so it can refill both chambers.

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