I wish we had a Navy base here so I could ask to borrow some tail hooks. I think
an anchor chain and hook would do well for an emergency brake. If mounded over
the spare tire, a quick disconnect and you would stop..might want to get a
shoulder belt and crash helmet to keep you from going out the front.
Al
> Al,
> Actually, I had thought about a tail hook with a plow head! You know, that
> would be a great idea for an event at the next Intl. Rally, or maybe the
> get together upcoming on the west coast. It would be pretty neat to
> actually documant the results on brake improvements! The cargo nets,
> helmet & tail hook may be required by the insurance folks plus the standard
> 28 page waiver and a 1 mile slow down uphill ramp at the end.
>
> Hey, I'll sponsor something like that- I'm a turnip!
>
> Jim Bounds
> ----------------------
> >With all the talk about bad emergency brakes, I wonder if I should have a
> cargo
> >net stretched at the end of the course to catch those whose brakes don't
> stop in
> >time.
> >al
> >
> >
> >> Am I to assume that helmets would be required to avoid flying canned goods,
> >> etc??? Maybe one of the Air Force Cargo nets stretched across would be
> >> useful.
> >>
> >> >At the Albuquerque Rally, I have planned two driving events. One for the
> >> >coaches to test our ability to drive around a ste course. The second one
> >> might
> >> >be of interest to you Patrick. I have a plan for a brake test track.
> >> Idea is
> >> >to go about 30MPH and go past a marker and apply the brakes. Measure how
> >> >far/long it takes. That way you can see what different coaches with disc,
> >> >brake gurards, drums, tsm, leigh etc have to offer. The only
> consession is
> >> >that I am not responsible for the fight you will have with the other half
> >> when
> >> >the household stuff goes from the back of the coach to the front dinette.
> >> >Al
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Patrick, You have my undivided attention with the comment
> >> >> > that you were "...using non-parking brake calipers on all
> >> >> > four..." I guess my question is how is that possible?
> >> >> > Is it your understanding that the "Park" feature of the
> >> >> > xmission is all you need for this purpose?
> >> >>
> >> >> Let me preface any comments by saying what I've done is an individual
> >> >> decision after much thought and may not be appropriate for you. I've
> got
> >> >> some pretty strong opinions on this subject and they're just that - my
> >> >> opinions. Next I'll admit that the one facet of the GMC that I can't
> stand
> >> >> is the rear brakes. IMO, the coach screamed "give me disc brakes"
> when I
> >> >> first looked under those big drums. The factory parking brake is a joke
> >> and
> >> >> I don't think I've ever met more than one or two people who can
> truthfully
> >> >> say that they use the thing on a regular basis. Even if they do, I'll
> >> wager
> >> >> that the "Park" pawl in the transmission is doing most of the work.
> Don't
> >> >> even kid yourself into thinking that Johnson bar is an emergency brake -
> >> IMO
> >> >> it'll only give you something to do until impact. Like I said - strong
> >> >> opinions.
> >> >>
> >> >> The calipers that TSM sells with the parking brake have 50mm pistons.
> The
> >> >> non-parking brake calipers have 60mm pistons. That's an extra 20% of
> >> >> braking pressure for a slight amount of additional pedal
> movement(probably
> >> >> imperceptible). If I were going to use the park brake calipers, I would
> >> use
> >> >> them on the rear wheels only, thus giving some bias to the center wheels
> >> and
> >> >> avoiding the strange mounting attitudes required to make the cable
> >> >> arrangement on the center wheels work. One of the endearing features of
> >> >> disc brakes is that they don't lock easily, which also makes them poor
> >> >> parking brakes.
> >> >>
> >> >> I'm planning to use a hydraulic "line lock" to hold the vehicle prior to
> >> >> chocking the wheels, if I feel the precaution is necessary. I'm sure
> that
> >> >> Paul Bartz will offer some comments about his brakes. He has the Leigh
> >> >> Harrison disc conversion, which is the ultimate in brakes for the GMC
> >> >> IMO(see the pictures on my site from the Marion NC GMCMI rally).
> However,
> >> >> Leigh's system is about twice as expensive as the TSM conversion,
> >> especially
> >> >> if you include the P30 master cylinder(which is probably necessary with
> >> that
> >> >> huge center caliper he uses). I've driven Leigh's coach and two
> GMC's with
> >> >> factory brakes. I'll be very interested to see how my coach with the
> TSM
> >> >> conversion compares.
> >> >>
> >> >> More to come,
> >> >> Patrick
> >> >
> >
> >
> >
> Jim Bounds/Co-op Motor Works Orlando
www.gmccoop.com
