Brakes

[Joe Mann]

I have been quoted $5500 for new brakes, rotors, drums, etc. for my 2000 Marquis. It has 75,000 miles on it and the RV repair shop says the brakes are shot and will not stop the coach. I had noticed they were getting "mushy" before this happened.
Is this reasonable for all new brakes?

[Doug Allman]

I can tell you this with our 2004 Marquis. 84,000 miles and disc pads & rotors are in great shape. Tag drums and shoes are also same way. We tow F-150 crew cab pickup and use the Air Force One system.
On our 1991 Contessa with had the poor feeling of not stopping as it had all drum brakes. We had the drums turned, they were seriously out of round but in spec after turning and with new shoes it made a world of difference. There was a complete feeling of confidence after work was completed. Did all myself except turning drums. Getting 22.5 drums turned is not easy to find a machine shop that does this.
1991 did not have an engine brake like the 2004 does. I do not know if your 2000 does.
Even without knowledge of what brakes you have it sounds very high to me.
Gerald Farris is the person I would contact before I did anything. He will know what you have.
One other item that we had occur on the 1991 was a blowout on the rear. This nearly severed the air line to the passenger side and it got real mushy after that. You just may want to check to make sure all air lines are in good order as the compressor can keep up until you are on the brakes a few times. It did on ours anyhow and we found that out going over Wyomings Big Horn mountains on 14A.

[Gerald Farris]

Joe,
Your coach has a Meritor ADB brake system and at 75,000 miles, this is probably the second, or possibly even the third brake job on your rear brakes, depending on caliper servicing and driving styles, but probably the first one on the fronts. I can not tell you what a shop charges for a brake job, because I always do the work myself, but I find it a little hard to believe that you need all four rotors replaced. My coach has 16,000 miles on it and I have replaced the LR rotor twice (once because the pads were metal to metal and one for a heat crack), but the RR is still the original rotor. I replaced the two front rotors at 150,000 miles when I replaced the front pads the second time, but my front brakes wear a little faster than most coaches with Meritor ADB brakes because I am using T 30 air chambers as opposed to the T 24 chambers that the coach came with.. The rear pads have been replaced 3 times.

Also, you should make certain that any shop that you have service your brakes, that they know the Meritor ADB brake system. There is a specific clay based grease that is required for lubricating the calipers, and a specific procedure that is required when lubricating them. I have seen Meritor brakes burned up in less than 8,000 miles when incorrect service procedures are used. If I can be of any assistance, just call (713-254-4156). I am in the Pacific time zone now.   

Doug,
Your coach has Bendix brakes, and they last considerably longer than the Meritor brakes that were used on the SMC era Marquis. Comparing Bendix or drum brakes to Meritor brakes is like comparing apples and oranges when it comes to service requirements or life expectancy.

Gerald

[Jim Murray]

Ditto to what Gerald said, GOOD LUCK !!

[Joe Mann]

Thanks to each of you and especially Jim and Leslie Murray. Your phone call was wonderful and full of information. I am so very glad to be pert of this organization!

[Jim Murray]

Glad Gerald and I were of help, look forward to that beer you promised me. Hope to see you in Canyonville. Did you get the info on '' Meritor Brakes ( service ) " off the internet ?