Results for "brakes"

Engine Easy N/A 132 👍 0

Ford E-350 vs E-450 Chassis: RV Fuel Economy, Power & Weight Capacity

Last weekend I felt this awful engine strain and heard sluggish acceleration sounds while test-driving a 2017 Phoenix Cruiser #2351 with its E-350 chassis and V10 engine. I'll be doing extensive western touring through mountain and plains regions, which means substantial mountain grades and wind challenges. I'm comfortable driving slowly and want to understand two key things: 1) Will this E-350 chassis handle mountain grades without major issues, and 2) What's the real-world fuel consumption like? I plan to do an initial inspection this weekend, followed by a third-party mechanical review. I'm not overly concerned about fuel economy but want to understand the actual performance limitations. I'd appreciate insights from owners who have experience with similar touring conditions on an E-350 chassis. …more

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Propane Easy 15 min read 102 👍 0

RV Auto Hold Parking Brake: Complete Guide to Operation and Troubleshooting Basics

Woke up this morning and spotted my 1999 Damon Daybreak 3270's auto hold parking brake light blinking on the dash when it was perfectly fine yesterday. I'm still learning everything about motorhome systems and I'm confused about the auto hold parking brake feature.

The system doesn't seem to be working properly (barely holds at all), but honestly I'm not even sure I understand how it's supposed to operate in the first place. Is this something that engages automatically? Do I need to do something specific to activate it?

Could someone explain how these auto hold parking brake systems work on motorhomes, how to use them properly, and maybe some troubleshooting tips? I want to make sure I understand the basics before I start trying to fix anything. …more

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Chassis Hard 4-6 hours 94 👍 0

RV Hydroboost Brake System Leak: Repair Guide & Solutions

Around my neighborhood, opinions on hydroboost fluid seepage are all over the map—my neighbor calls it normal wear, the RV dealer screams safety hazard, and YouTube mechanics can't agree either. It's not a major leak - just some dampness and staining where it mounts. I'm remembering a previous forum discussion where a user named Subford had similar seepage years ago and wanted to follow up on their experience.

The seeping seems minor right now, but I'm worried it could suddenly get worse while we're on the road. I had attached a picture similar to one I saw in an older forum post. Should I stop driving immediately and get it fixed? Or is some seeping normal and okay to monitor?

My main questions: Is minor hydroboost seeping immediately dangerous? Did Subford ever end up replacing their hydroboost? What does the replacement job involve? I want to be safe but also don't want to panic if this isn't urgent. …more

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Best RV Leveling Blocks & Jacks

4.6 (9,800 reviews)

Slideouts Medium 2-4 hours 90 👍 0

Lippert Power Gear Slide Motor Replacement: Complete Guide to Parts &

Walked out to prep our RV this morning and discovered our Lippert Power Gear slide motor is making grinding noises and won't extend properly. My RV's slide motor is failing and I'm trying to figure out the best way to get replacement parts. The slide is getting sluggish and I suspect it's either the motor brushes or possibly something in the gearbox itself.

I've been searching everywhere for Lippert Power Gear parts but I'm not sure where to look or what my options are. As it stands, the replacement parts are ridiculously expensive - a $100 gearbox, $50 brake, and $100 motor, but Lippert wants nearly $1000 for the whole assembly. I just want to replace the brushes, but they won't even sell those separately!

Can I buy just the motor component, or do I need to replace the entire gearbox assembly? I really need to know where I can actually purchase these parts and how to determine whether it's a motor issue or a gear problem before I spend a fortune on the wrong repair! …more

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Chassis Medium 2-4 hours 89 👍 0

F53 Hydroboost Brake System Problems: Complete Repair & Troubleshooting Guide

Between the small hydraulic leak that started on my 1995 F53 hydroboost brake system last month and what's happening now, I'm wondering how much worse this nightmare can get. Right now it's just a slow drip - maybe one drop per minute - and I can feel the power steering is slightly stiffer than normal, plus the brake pedal requires a bit more effort than usual.

What I really need to understand is the theory behind how hydroboost systems operate, since this is different from the vacuum brake boosters I'm used to. More importantly, if this leak gets progressively worse and I don't address it immediately, what's my worst-case scenario? Will I completely lose power steering and power braking assistance, or would I still have manual control of both systems? I'm trying to figure out whether this is something I need to drop everything and fix right now, or if I have some time to plan the repair properly. …more

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Engine Easy 5 minutes setup 89 👍 0

Best OBD2 Scanner for Ford E450 V10 Motorhome: Top 3 Diagnostic Tools

Three different OBD2 scanners are showing 6 active codes on my 2015 Ford E450 V10 motorhome but every manual says this engine should only throw 2-3 max. I've been dealing with intermittent check engine lights and some transmission quirks, but my basic code reader just gives me generic codes that don't tell me much.

I keep hearing about tools like BlueDriver and some Ford-specific software, but I'm not sure what actually works well with these motorhome chassis. I need something that can give me real Ford-specific diagnostics, not just the basic OBD2 stuff. Has anyone found a scanner or diagnostic tool that actually works properly with the E450 V10 setup? I'm willing to learn something new if it means getting better diagnostic capability. …more

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Engine Easy 15 min visual, 1 hour full 89 👍 0

Ford F53 Motorhome Brake Inspection: Complete Guide to Checking Rotors and Pads

Turned onto that steep mountain grade last week and heard grinding from my 2014 F53 chassis, but I can't figure out how to properly inspect the brake pads and rotors. I've been crawling around under there, contorting myself into every possible position, but I just can't get a good view of the brake components through the wheel openings.

Is there a specific technique or approach that actually works for getting a proper look at the pad thickness and rotor condition? I really want to stay on top of brake maintenance, but the limited visibility is making this nearly impossible. Should I be using special tools, or is there a better method I'm missing? …more

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Chassis Medium 3-4 hours 89 👍 0

2003 Ford F53 RV Chassis Wheel Bearing Grease Guide - Best Products &

I'm wondering if my grease choice is wrong for my 2003 Ford F53's front bearing replacement when my neighbor's identical motorhome runs perfectly after his service. The original grease that came out was a dark gray/black color and while there wasn't any catastrophic damage, the races showed enough wear marks that I decided to replace everything while I'm in there.

I've been researching different options and keep seeing conflicting recommendations. Some people swear by standard lithium grease, others recommend full synthetic formulations, and I've even seen mentions of specific brands like Valvoline MaxLife and Timken. I know the F53 chassis carries significantly more weight than a typical pickup truck, so I want to make sure I'm using something that can handle the load.

I have the torque procedure down (30 ft-lbs initial, back off, then final setting at 17 in-lbs), but I want to make sure I'm pairing that proper installation with the right grease. What specific grease products work best for the F53 front wheel bearings, and are there any compatibility issues I should be aware of when selecting a replacement grease? …more

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Slideouts Medium 2-3 hours 88 👍 0

HWH RV Slide Hydraulic Hose Repair: Complete DIY Guide

Replaced my HWH slide's hydraulic hose last month and now it's spraying fluid everywhere again with our three-week cross-country trip starting Friday! My 2007 Monaco Dynasty with HWH hydraulic system decided to throw me a curveball when the bedroom slide hydraulic line (1/4" I.D.) decided to spring a leak. After some detective work (and a lovely puddle of ATF to mark the spot), I traced it back to where a 1" air line to the front caliper had been playing the world's slowest game of 'saw through the hydraulic hose' for who knows how many miles.

I temporarily patched with Gorilla Tape and 1/2" hose clamps, which got the slide almost closed but still creeping. I'm planning to fix this with a compression coupling since that seems like the most straightforward approach for a DIY repair. Two quick questions: Can anyone confirm the 1/4" I.D. hose size for HWH systems? And once I get this coupling installed, will I need to bleed the system, or does it sort itself out? I'm hoping this repair goes smoother than my attempts to explain to my spouse why we're currently camping with a slide that's permanently 'almost' closed! …more

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Chassis Medium 2-3 hours 86 👍 0

Ford F53 RV Power Steering Flush: Complete DIY Guide (1995-2022)

Looked under the hood of my newly purchased RV and discovered the previous owner left the F53's external power steering reservoir with three return lines in absolutely terrible condition. They all clamp onto separate fittings on the bottom of the reservoir.

I'm trying to figure out the right way to flush this system. Should I be disconnecting each return line one at a time from the reservoir and doing them separately? And if I do that, do I need to cap off the reservoir fitting where each line was connected so it doesn't just dump fluid everywhere when I'm working on the other components?

Or is there a simpler approach that'll get all three components clean without all the hassle of disconnecting lines? …more

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Engine Medium 2-4 hours diagnosis 82 👍 0

RV Engine Stalling & Transmission Issues - Diagnosis Help

Replaced multiple parts but I'm still standing in the auto parts store aisle staring at diagnostic tools with no clue which one I actually need for my RV's stalling and transmission issues. When I'm cruising and let off the gas, sometimes the RPMs drop like a rock, other times they just hang there until I slow down more. That's weird enough, but here's the real kicker - every now and then the whole engine just dies on me when I'm rolling up to a stop sign or red light. Maybe happens twice in 600 miles or so, so it's not constant but definitely not normal either.

I'm wondering if these two issues are connected somehow? Like could whatever's causing the stalling also be messing with how the transmission acts when I let off the throttle? Really hoping someone has seen this combo before because I'm in Germany and finding RV-specific help is tough.

I'm looking for any insights from folks who might know what could cause this - hoping to get to the bottom of this before it becomes a bigger problem! …more

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Best RV Sewer Hoses & Kits

4.6 (31,500 reviews)

Engine Easy 2-4 hours 80 👍 0

Ford E-450 Class C RV Chassis Service in South Florida - Complete Dealer Guide

Need chassis service on my Ford E-450 Class C in South Florida and the regular Ford dealers keep turning me away because of the RV body. Called four dealerships and none of them want to touch it. Looking for a shop that actually works on RV chassis down here. …more

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Engine Medium 2-3 hours 79 👍 0

How to Fix Intermittent Cruise Control on Damon Daybreak F53 Chassis -

Standing here staring at my 2009 Damon Daybreak F53 that's 15 years old and starting to have intermittent cruise control failures — should I repair or replace the system? The dash light doesn't come on when I press set, and cruise won't engage. Previous owner spliced the red wire from an aftermarket trailer brake controller into a wire in the steering column. When I fiddle with the brake controller or jiggle that connection, cruise sometimes starts working again.

Can I safely disconnect the brake controller's red wire from the steering column to fix this? Will the brake controller still work if I remove that connection? …more

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Engine Easy 1 hour to diagnose 79 👍 0

Ford E-450 Class C RV Front Squeak: Complete Diagnosis Guide for Brake

Between leaving my campsite last night and starting up this morning, my Ford E-450 Class C developed this awful front-end squeaking that definitely wasn't there before. My 2004 E-450 Class C with 54k miles has developed a squeak coming from the front end, and I'm not sure how to figure out what's causing it.

The squeak seems to happen at different times - sometimes when I'm braking, other times when going over bumps or rough roads. I've heard it could be anything from brake issues to suspension problems, but I honestly don't know how to tell the difference or what to check first.

Could someone help me understand how to properly diagnose where this front squeak is coming from? I'd really appreciate any step-by-step guidance on what to look for and how to identify whether it's a brake problem versus suspension issue. …more

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Engine Easy N/A - informational 78 👍 0

2001 Triple E Diesel Pusher Buying Guide: Critical Inspection Tips & Red Flags

Standing next to my neighbor's flawless 2001 Triple E Signature diesel pusher makes the concerning issues on this one I'm considering buying even more obvious. Never owned a diesel coach before, only gas units. At 24 years old, what are the critical inspection points I should focus on? Should I be concerned about the age, or is Triple E known for quality construction that holds up over time? …more

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