Braking revisited

R

ritch hwang

New member
Jul 9, 1998
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Now that the braking thread has withered a bit, I'm concerned about the
ability of our coach to stop in panic situtations. On our way to Marion
last year, we barely missed a huge pileup on I-75 (Betty, my copilot (&
love of my life) hurtled onto the front steps from the refer because she
was getting us a drink, but no broken bones thankfully). I stood on the
brakes, all six tires locked up, & the coach slid despite much modulation.
Missed an overtuned 5ver by about 30 ft. And there have been other times
when I just plain missed impending red lights in busy environments and the
same scenario repeated, as well as similar situations on redline roads. I
have a 23 fter - do I need the "sensitized" brake booster or the pricey
rear disc brake setups given the foregoing? Are they more easily
modulated? Read: "stop quicker"? Grin.

Congrats to all that are attending the MB rally. I know you'll have a
great time! Wish we could join ya!

As always, best regards.

~ Ritch & Betty Hwang ~ Clarkston, MI ~ mailto:rhwang
Visit our home page ~ http://www.concentric.net/~rhwang/
~ =^..^= Trinket ~ the shy Persian kitty ~
~ 76 GMC Birchaven ~ FMCA F249339 ~ RVClub 00930 ~ ICQ# 6408591~
(B}>
 
Rich if you can lock all 6 tires up, what is left. do you have an anchor to
throw out?

>Now that the braking thread has withered a bit, I'm concerned about the
>ability of our coach to stop in panic situtations. On our way to Marion
>last year, we barely missed a huge pileup on I-75 (Betty, my copilot (&
>love of my life) hurtled onto the front steps from the refer because she
>was getting us a drink, but no broken bones thankfully). I stood on the
>brakes, all six tires locked up, & the coach slid despite much modulation.
>Missed an overtuned 5ver by about 30 ft. And there have been other times
>when I just plain missed impending red lights in busy environments and the
>same scenario repeated, as well as similar situations on redline roads. I
>have a 23 fter - do I need the "sensitized" brake booster or the pricey
>rear disc brake setups given the foregoing? Are they more easily
>modulated? Read: "stop quicker"? Grin.
>
>Congrats to all that are attending the MB rally. I know you'll have a
>great time! Wish we could join ya!
>
>As always, best regards.
>
>~ Ritch & Betty Hwang ~ Clarkston, MI ~ mailto:rhwang
>Visit our home page ~ http://www.concentric.net/~rhwang/
>~ =^..^= Trinket ~ the shy Persian kitty ~
>~ 76 GMC Birchaven ~ FMCA F249339 ~ RVClub 00930 ~ ICQ# 6408591~
>(B}>
>
>
Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach
 
> I stood on the
> brakes, all six tires locked up, & the coach slid despite
> much modulation.
> Missed an overtuned 5ver by about 30 ft. And there have been
> other times
> when I just plain missed impending red lights in busy
> environments and the
> same scenario repeated, as well as similar situations on
> redline roads. I
> have a 23 fter - do I need the "sensitized" brake booster or
> the pricey
> rear disc brake setups given the foregoing? Are they more easily
> modulated? Read: "stop quicker"? Grin.

Ritch,

Keep in mind, the idea is to not "lock up" the wheels. Stopping
distances are actually longer with the tires sliding and it's
more difficult to control the vehicle. Other than a 6 wheel ABS
system, there's no "magic bullet" here. Disc brakes are less
likely to lock up than drums, so you can gain some advantage
there. A "sensitized" booster would likely just tend to lock
the wheels quicker and probably works best for normal braking to
reduce pedal effort when you don't have that "adrenaline boost"
helping out.

Patrick
 
It's beyond my comprehension how someone can tell how many tires lock up in
panic braking situations when you can't see them anyhow??

I can say that in over 40K miles of GMC driving, I've never locked
up/skidded any tires during braking. One has to be aware of conditions far
in front of as well as around you at all times while driving in order to
properly react. Now I realize, sometimes that's easier said than done and
there is always the possibility of someone pulling out in front of you at an
inopportune time.

Guess I've been lucky so far???

Paul Bartz

From: Patrick.Flowers
[mailto:Patrick.Flowers]
Sent: Thursday, March 11, 1999 8:58 AM
Subject: RE: GMC: Braking revisited

I stood on the brakes, all six tires locked up, & the coach slid despite
much modulation. Missed an overtuned 5ver by about 30 ft. And there have
been other times when I just plain missed impending red lights in busy
environments and the same scenario repeated, as well as similar situations
on redline roads. I have a 23 fter - do I need the "sensitized" brake
booster or the pricey rear disc brake setups given the foregoing? Are they
more easily modulated? Read: "stop quicker"? Grin.
Ritch,
Keep in mind, the idea is to not "lock up" the wheels. Stopping distances
are actually longer with the tires sliding and it's more difficult to
control the vehicle. Other than a 6 wheel ABS system, there's no "magic
bullet" here. Disc brakes are less likely to lock up than drums, so you can
gain some advantage there. A "sensitized" booster would likely just tend to
lock the wheels quicker and probably works best for normal braking to reduce
pedal effort when you don't have that "adrenaline boost" helping out.
 
I would think that the easiest way to see how many wheels lock up is to get
out of the coach and look at how manyt wheel tracks there are after you
stop, and are simultaneously cleaning your shorts!

>It's beyond my comprehension how someone can tell how many tires lock up in
>panic braking situations when you can't see them anyhow??
>
>I can say that in over 40K miles of GMC driving, I've never locked
>up/skidded any tires during braking. One has to be aware of conditions far
>in front of as well as around you at all times while driving in order to
>properly react. Now I realize, sometimes that's easier said than done and
>there is always the possibility of someone pulling out in front of you at an
>inopportune time.
>
>Guess I've been lucky so far???
>
> Paul Bartz
>
>From: Patrick.Flowers
>[mailto:Patrick.Flowers]
>Sent: Thursday, March 11, 1999 8:58 AM
>Subject: RE: GMC: Braking revisited
>

>I stood on the brakes, all six tires locked up, & the coach slid despite
>much modulation. Missed an overtuned 5ver by about 30 ft. And there have
>been other times when I just plain missed impending red lights in busy
>environments and the same scenario repeated, as well as similar situations
>on redline roads. I have a 23 fter - do I need the "sensitized" brake
>booster or the pricey rear disc brake setups given the foregoing? Are they
>more easily modulated? Read: "stop quicker"? Grin.
>Ritch,
>Keep in mind, the idea is to not "lock up" the wheels. Stopping distances
>are actually longer with the tires sliding and it's more difficult to
>control the vehicle. Other than a 6 wheel ABS system, there's no "magic
>bullet" here. Disc brakes are less likely to lock up than drums, so you can
>gain some advantage there. A "sensitized" booster would likely just tend to
>lock the wheels quicker and probably works best for normal braking to reduce
>pedal effort when you don't have that "adrenaline boost" helping out.
>
>
Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach
 
Snip........
I stood on
>the
>brakes, all six tires locked up, & the coach slid despite much
>modulation.
Snip.........
This should be a concern! The various attempts at getting more power to
the brakes ain't gonna help if the wheels lock up. I don't know what can
be done about it-I suspect Brake Guard isn't effective.

But whatever, getting too much power to the brakes can be as bad as not
enough.

FWIW!

David Lee Greenberg F22009
GMC Motorhome Registry
200 MacFarlane Drive PH4
Delray Beach, FL 33483-6829
 
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