Quote:
Originally Posted by Cannabus
I tried to move my bus after about 3 months of parking and I couldn't release the parking brakes. I was a newbie then and did not know about caging the rear brakes. I called a mechanic that I thought was familiar with air brakes but he wasn't. He had to call someone that knew. In short, I was able to drive it and I thought this guy was going to follow me. He didn't. after about eight miles, I started to lose power and pulled over to find one of my rear brakes was smoking and sizzling. I then looked at a YouTube vid on how to properly cage brakes and was able to get it to NationWide Truck Repair (avoid these guys). Told the person at the desk to see if there was permanent damage but you never know how precise the mechanics are at this place and if he was given the correct questions. Anyway, the desk clerk told me it was fine after charging me several hundred dollars.
When I got it back, I took a look and noticed that one side brake did have a lot more wear so I'll have to replace it the brakes sooner than normal.
My question is what other areas should I check or do maintenance to just incase. There was that sizzling which I believe was the bearing grease and hopefully not the rear end oil. What do you suggest. Repack the bearings, drain and replace the rearend oil, etc?
Any costs related, I will be taking the first mechanic to court to compensate me for those expenses.
Oh I remembered the first mechanic disconnected a wire I believe it was connected to a solenoid that was behind the battery compartment. Not sure what it does.

|
This is really sad, not wishing to attack a new (or any) member but talking about suing, right out of the gate, when you yourself haven't done you basic homework with regards to "Skoolie" life, the journey involved.
Let's take a look at this...
You called a mechanic you "thought" had knowledge of air brakes.
Did you ask him straight out, "hey, do you know about air brake systems"?
Did you ask hime if he had any training certifications lake maybe and ASE ?
Did he provide you with a service invoice for "professional" mechanical services or advice...or was it a cash deal?
Did he tell you, specifically say" that it was ok to drive on caged brakes?
Please take all these comments with a grain of salt, if you sue him, hire and pay for an attorney, he might just also hire an attorney who will ask you these questions too, and many more, much more offensive questions that might not make you look good at all...and then there is the "spending 5 grand to defend $500.
If you win, best you will get is a judgment and let me tell you, judgements are not much better than toilet paper! If he has no assets, what are you gonna get? You still gotta pay your lawyer!
He can turn around and pay you $10 a week, for a long time!
Then there is the after thought, who here would want to help you? If their answer is wrong, not complete or you do it wrong....are you gonna sue?
I mean all of this in a friendly way, skoolie life is a journey of learning, sharing and hopefully making new friends.
It doesn't sound like your first mechanic did something wrong, from what I read on your post. He just gave you his best un-educated thoughts.
In the skoolie journey, you too are gonna make some mistakes, some small some expensive!
So I ask you to let it go as a good learning experience.
As to the questions you ask about the seals/grease and oil.
As a new and RESPONSIBLE skooolie builder, I would go ahead and replace the diff oil, but only from a maintenance perspective. I would also build/create a maintenance log an start documenting the maintenance items you perform and or inspect.
Take the wheels of, yes I know if a big job, but who better to inspect what is going on inside the wheels/drums.
Axle seals are real easy to replace and it is surely a great feeling driving down the road knowing these to simple to do items have been checked off the list.
Don't be scared, brake lining are also real easy to do on a bus. I replaced my brake pads, wheel/axle seals and brake drums too on my bus, not hard, just a dirty job!
I easily saved 2-3 grand by doing it myself.
Sure you could pay hundreds to a mechanic, whom you may or may not trust, but believe me when I say this, doing it yourself, you WILL get it done right, you WILL know what you got in terms of good vs worn parts and you WILL not only learn how to fix/repair/maintain you bus but you will also get it done very economically as compared to a diesel shop hourly rate of $150-200 bucks and hour!
Again, I am not attacking you or your thoughts, just sharing mine!
BTW,

DISCLAIMER:
I am not a professional, student, amateur, backyard, shade tree, wannabe mechanic, Electrician, lawyer, financial adviser, engineer, designer, or palm reader.
I am just a regular guy who has graduated from the school of hard knocks who is currently working on his triple masters degree over at YouTube university majoring in mastery of disastery!
Any advice I give is not to be believed, but instead, seriously questioned and ultimately classified as a pure guess, not to be relied on in life or in court!
Ok, now you can sue me too!
ROFLMAO.....