I’m driving around right now with brakes that actually don’t really work. They just barely stop the vehicle. I am using my exhaust brake mostly to stop it, and then it just barely will stop the last bit with the regular brakes.It has been a logistical nightmare trying to get this fixed on the road as a full timer. Either nobody wants to do it, because they are too lazy to use a floor jack, or they want me to remove the truck camper which means I have to dump all of my water and take all of that time. ( I am very busy working not retired.) Or, they are charging me $300 for an everyday caliper.Every time I have someone work on this truck, they break something. I am sick and tired of letting other people do the work on it just because I am full timing and traveling.What I would like to do is stop into a campground and do a quick brake job. What are the odds I could do this? I am currently in upstate New York. Would a campground let me do it if I ask them? Or would that be an automatic no? Should I just try to do it quietly?Any other thoughts? The Walmart parking lot option does not seem good to me because it is dangerous to do that. I’m not cheap. I’m happy to pay. But I don’t like the quality of work that people do on my truck.

well stop at the CG and ask. if you got the tools ,it ain,t rocket science. pads ,calipers ,rotors . and be done with it.might even hire a helper.

midnightsadie wrote:well stop at the CG and ask. if you got the tools ,it ain,t rocket science. pads ,calipers ,rotors . and be done with it.might even hire a helper.Well, that’s just it. Stop at what campground? There are dozens of them. I guess start calling around and asking? Has anyone ever done something like this before? I thought this was very much frowned upon.I don’t stay at campgrounds very often. I’ve only stayed maybe four or five times. So I’m not all that familiar with how the rules and regulations are.

First--> do not forget your emergency brake. It works and it's there just for this reason.Now why I know that, I was towing a 34ft fiver just south of Calgary and had a brake piston fail. The emergency brake worked well and I did an emergency brake job in the camp ground. No one said a thing about it. Finding a auto parts store in Calgary was oddly difficult being conditioned to the large number of that type of shop in any American city. They also charged two to three times as much.

Calling and asking is the best advice. We would say "no. Too much risk of an accident and not everyone is neat and careful about cleanup. Also most people would actively avoid stayiing in an auto repair yard and that is what the park would appear to be to your neighbors. However not all parks think alike, so call around.

if you don,t stay at CG, find a wal mart and swear you broke down, had mine changed in a P.A fair grounds one time caliper locked up. p.s. got a jack and 4x4,s that can handle it.

Can I Get Away With a Quick Brake Job in a Campground?

1320Fastback
Explorer
Jun 01, 2019
Check in rental garages if you still want to do it yourself. That or the parking lot of a vacant business building.
Veebyes
Explorer II
Jun 01, 2019
I have been able to do minor non messy repair work in various CG. Explain the situation. Ask nicely. Best chances of getting a yes are if you are staying more than a few days & do the work weekdays when the CG is quiet. Had a family member of one CG actually jump in & help in a big way once.
Edd505
Explorer
Jun 01, 2019
soren wrote:
I would just pull into a NAPA, or similar, buy the parts, park the truck off to the side, and have at it. If there is any question, tell anybody that's bothering you that it's an emergency, you nearly went through the last light, and found fluid flowing out of the caliper.

I was towing a travel trailer through Bangor Maine one summer, when a front brake pad decided to separate from the backer, and leave the scene. I did exactly what I suggest, and nobody cared. The other good part of that plan is that you are right there when you discover that you need some additional part to get the job done.

I see this almost every day, son was a manager at an auto zone, they loan tools also.
HadEnough
Explorer
Jun 01, 2019
Bird Freak wrote:
HadEnough wrote:
Honestly, I think a lot of you are inexperienced and don’t know what you’re talking about. You have never owned a vehicle with an exhaust brake, manual transmission and a diesel engine. I don’t think you understand how to even drive one. These brakes have lasted many tens of thousands of miles because you don’t really use them when you have an exhaust brake.

I can drive all day. 400 miles. And never use my brakes except for when I am in town. I don’t use them even a little bit on the highway.I just drove from Ottawa to Toronto to upstate New York around the lake, no problem. Hundreds of miles. I never touch the brake pedal. I barely touch the brake pedal on secondary roads. The only time I really need it is coming to a complete stop at a stop sign or light.

So wake up. Stop posting stupid stuff.
From a old trucker here you are an idiot if you think that granny gear and exhaust brake will do anything for you in a panic stop.
You are a danger to all around you and think its ok.

Well, worked fine today.

I was easily able to do as good as the ABS system (rear wheels only, of course) and put rubber down on the ground with the wheels still rolling a couple times in just the situation you're describing. Did that twice today when people cut me off or traffic came to a screeching halt from 75mph.

It'll be a lot nicer to have fully working brakes tomorrow though. Not gonna lie. Looking forward to it.
HadEnough
Explorer
Jun 01, 2019
Got an auto parts store to allow me to do the fix tomorrow in the lot.

Bought new front calipers, pads, rotors, torque wrench, brake fluid and floor jack.

Ready to tear into it as early as possible tomorrow.

Plan to replace all, bleed front and rear brake lines, torque up the wheels and go. (Then retorque after 50 Miles)

Thanks for all the input regarding the campground and the offers for a spot to do it in. The positive posts were much appreciated. Kind of laughing at the haters instead of getting annoyed.

When you are semi-stranded, the auto parts stores are pretty nice about doing things like this in their lot. Especially when you spend about $800 (before core returns) in the store.

Happy To be doing these myself too. Faster, more attention to detail, can have confidence in the work. Since this truck has never seen the snow, hoping the rotors will pop right off.

In NJ now. Nobody's dead. No scratches on anything, haters. Lol
But I did back into someone's RV today in NJ. Custom vanity plate said, "jfkmk". I left a note to say sorry. That should do it, right? ;)
jfkmk
Explorer
Jun 01, 2019
Did y’all miss his third post where he said the brake fluid is all gone??? He needs more than a 30minute pad replacement.
Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Jun 01, 2019
To answer your original question, I replaced the rear brake pads and rotors on our toad in a Florida state park campground. It's an easy car for brake jobs though, and it only took about 30 minutes per side. I did not ask permission, and no one complained.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
May 31, 2019
They can order those pads and rotors for you! You can even go online and order them to the store you want to pick them up at.
spud1957
Explorer
May 31, 2019
HadEnough wrote:
Take it easy there guys. I have an exhaust brake. And a granny gear. I can get down to 10 or 5 mph. It’s coming to a complete stop that is proving to be very difficult. It works, just not well.

Sorry, that don't cut it. Exhaust brake or your granny gear won't do much if a person/child crosses in front of you.

Get them fixed!!!
Bird_Freak
Explorer II
May 31, 2019
HadEnough wrote:
Honestly, I think a lot of you are inexperienced and don’t know what you’re talking about. You have never owned a vehicle with an exhaust brake, manual transmission and a diesel engine. I don’t think you understand how to even drive one. These brakes have lasted many tens of thousands of miles because you don’t really use them when you have an exhaust brake.

I can drive all day. 400 miles. And never use my brakes except for when I am in town. I don’t use them even a little bit on the highway.I just drove from Ottawa to Toronto to upstate New York around the lake, no problem. Hundreds of miles. I never touch the brake pedal. I barely touch the brake pedal on secondary roads. The only time I really need it is coming to a complete stop at a stop sign or light.

So wake up. Stop posting stupid stuff.
From a old trucker here you are an idiot if you think that granny gear and exhaust brake will do anything for you in a panic stop.
You are a danger to all around you and think its ok.

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