Brakes

B

Baden87

Joined
Feb 18, 2010
Posts
460
Likes collected
213
Funster No
10,320
got a auto trail apache bought new in 2019 , breaks squealing like a banshee 2000 miles covered told not covered by warranty , what's that all about
 
Baden87 said:
got a auto trail apache bought new in 2019 , breaks squealing like a banshee 2000 miles covered told not covered by warranty , what's that all about
Click to expand...

Yes, quite a usual issue TBH. The best thing is to place a gentle (and equal) smere of copper grease on the back of the metal pad mounts.
 
Common problem I'm told. Twice I've had mine stripped down and copper grease applied. Only seems to last a short while. Thought I would try a different make of pad, but yet to try it.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
I have had two fiat Ducati Motorhome. Driven around 40k miles total

I have never had squealing brakes. Even after it got left on the drive for 18 months health and Covid they didn’t squeal.

fiat warranty is two years. Phone a fiat professional dealer and see what they say

the motorhome dealer I suspect would not be interested I would go direct to Fiat

copper slip has its uses but at 1 year old and only 2k miles something more is needed
 
Brownhills again they said brakes only covered for 500 mile I kid you not , I’m going to ring fiat on Monday to see what there take is I don’t know how brownhills can diagnose it ver the phone ?; they said they need stripping down and cleaning ( at my expense ), what after 2000 miles I said , and what happens after the next 2000 will it need doing again?
 
Baden87 I had a similar issue in 2016, new motorhome, brakes squeaked, got them adjusted after two weeks, went away and they squeaked again especially when going around a roundabout. Went back to the Fiat garage, and they charged me £120, said not covered on warranty and would not let me take vehicle unless I paid......My arguement was they adjusted them first time and was not ok after....eventually got refund after contacting Fiat Camper assist. (y)(y)
 
I fitted Mintex disc’s and pads on my 2001 fiat base van and they squealed, contacted Mintex and they sent anti squeal stick on pads, not had a problem since.
 
Blue Knight said:
Yes, quite a usual issue TBH. The best thing is to place a gentle (and equal) smere of copper grease on the back of the metal pad mounts.
Click to expand...
Yes, this..... but don’t forget the bit of the pad backing that runs inside of the calliper runners (usually the pointy bits at top and bottom)👍

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Most Disk Brakes have a thin steel shim between the pad and the "pot". If this is not there or is Gunged/corroded up you can experience a squeal. Fileing a "lead" on the leading edge of the pad sometimes helps. A good clean and a light smear of copper-slip on the back of the pad can also help. Removing the paint from the edges of new pads can also ensure they clear the disk when the brakes come off. It is also possible, but rare, that a very small stone has found its way between the pad and disk.

I think from memory that the Ducato uses single side brakes where the brake pad mounting slides to created two sided braking of the disk, These can get crapped up to the point where they move but refuse to release properly dragging the pad on the disk = squeal. Stripping, cleaning and lubricating is the answer here. It is worth remembering that many of the Chassis/Cabs stand idle, sometimes for months often in less than ideal conditions waiting to be assembled.

In the O/P`s case I suspect the PDI was skimped on?. The level of complaint over the years about Brownhills is legend.
 
Firstly is it the front or rear brakes squealing?
I had a problem with my 2017 tag axle MH. Squealed on right hand bends and tight manouvering. Fiat Professional has it twice , told me they had re adjusted the cables . On the second visit there was too much travel on the hand brake when returned, yes it had stopped the noise . Had it MOT d in August,
They had wound it off so much that there was NO EFFORT on the front axle. Luckily I know the Garage and the re adjusted for a pass.
When I had a few days away following the MOT it was back. You know the saying , if you want it done do it yourself. So with the aid of a grandson we set to it. Checked the cables and let it off 1 turn on the cable adjusted then re adjusted the shoes , this is critical because if there is not sufficient clearance on the shoes they will bind when turning with the stresses on the axle.It took a couple of attempts to get it right.
Now I have a good handbrake and no squealing. To adjust the rear shoes you need to raise the wheel off the ground remove one wheel nut revolve the wheel until you see a hole through which you can adjust the shoes with a screwdriver. Suggest you use a bottleor a trolley jack if you have one.
 
What grade Warranty did you take out with Brownhills may i ask, does your warranty not cover these sort of issues?, I'm intrigued as i have purchased a van from Brownhills and trying to push the warranty towards us, not collecting our van till end of October.
 
Last edited:
Copper slip will disappear after first or second heavy application of brakes, you need to apply specialist high temperature brake grease, normally comes in a little sachet with your replacement pads, a decent motor factor is likely to have a pot of it on the shelf if you feel like dismantling and re-assembly and smear it on yourself. The issue is normally the pistons in the brake callipers not returning sufficiently to their “at rest” position, the runout on the brake disc normally pushes the pads sufficiently far away from the disc that they don’t touch when the brakes are inactive, if the pistons haven’t been greased and are even slightly sticky they won’t return to the “at rest” position and the pads will JUST kiss the disc, hence the squealing noise. If you make the brakes work really hard then a very slight distortion will appear in the discs, sufficient to push the pads, and hence pistons back to an non squealy at rest position. Anyway that’s been my experience with my Autotrail Apache, 2 MX5’s, a Morris Minor (with VERY sticky piston calliper arrangement inherited from a Morris Marina), A 2017 plate fiesta, Several Peugeots, a couple of Citroens, and a 2019 Aygo......

Cheers!


Russ
 
Its not on an Alko chassis is it? There was a problem with Alko caravan chassis where they changed the brake linings and that caused squealing. The copper grease trick did not work and Alko ended up changing the pads for those that complained.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Thanks guys but I’m disabled and not able to strip down and clean the brakes and really don’t think I should have to be doing it anyway on a new Motorhome with 2000 miles on clock , I would have thought it would be covered by manufacturers warranty , as clearly something is clearly wrong
Obey my lifetime I have had at least 6 new cars and never had a problem
 
Baden87 said:
got a auto trail apache bought new in 2019 , breaks squealing like a banshee 2000 miles covered told not covered by warranty , what's that all about
Click to expand...
If you have not done so and assuming its has a Fiat Base take it to a Fiat Professional dealer, Gus-Lopez is right it is covered by warranty
 
I could never condone parking broadside across the dealers entrance and then going to the pub but after a fob off like that I'd feel very tempted 😠
 
I gave you the outline of the things that can give the issues you describe. In your situation I would be straight on to the dealer. Who IS responsible under trading laws. "Of merchantable quality" And insist he corrects it. Toot sweet and FOC. Be prepared to take it up with trading standards if they refuse
 
As a side issue. I was warned some years back, when you have used the brakes intensively, say a long incline in Mountain Country, and then perhaps have to or want to stop. Be wary of putting the hand brake on straight away if it works on a disk brake. The concentration of heat at one point from the cooling mass of the caliper has been blamed for distorting the disk.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Join us

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Back
Top