2001 Fleetwood Storm Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FLEETWOOD STORM SPECIAL CLASS A WITH A WORKHORSE CHASSIS P32. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHASSIS HAD BENDIX BRAKES AND WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE SEIZED AND EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 19,000.

VEHICLE: 2001 FLEETWOOD STORM MODEL 30H MOTORHOME CHASSIS: 2000 WORKHORSE P32 INCIDENT:BRAKES OVERHEATED FOR NO REASON AND I EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY FROM THE BRAKE SYSTEM. WHILE DRIVING FROM YOSEMITE VALLEY TO FRESNO CA., ON A COLD MORNING, WITH SNOW ON THE GROUND, I STARTED TO SMELL WHAT I BELIEVED TO BE OVERHEATING BRAKES. SINCE WE WERE GOING MOSTLY DOWNHILL, I WAS ALREADY DRIVING CAUTIOUSLY IN SECOND GEAR. I THEN SHIFTED DOWN INTO FIRST GEAR AND WAS GOING SO SLOW THAT THE BRAKES WERE HARDLY NEEDED AT ALL. THAT SEEMED TO MAKE NO DIFFERENCE AT ALL, AND THE BRAKES SOON LOST ALL STOPPING POWER AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, AND COULD NOT BE PUMPED UP AT ALL. I WAS ABLE TO FIND A LEVEL TURN OUT AND STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE PARKING BRAKE.. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED INTO FRESNO CA. FOR REPAIRS. REPAIRS: BUD EBERWEIN AUTOMOTIVE (ALSO AN AUTHORIZED WORKHORSE REPAIR SHOP, SAID ALL 4 CALIPERS, BRAKE PAD SETS AND SEALS WERE BURNED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON A WORKHORSE RECALL AND THAT THE DAMAGED PARTS MET THE CRITERIA TO BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE BY WORKHORSE.THE REPAIR SHOP FURTHER STATED THAT PISTON IN THE BOSCH BRAKE CALIPER ABSORBED MOISTURE, WOULD SWELL, AND WOULD NOT LET THE BRAKES RELEASE. WHEN CONTACTED, WORKHORSE STATED TO THE REPAIR SHOP THAT WHILE THE PARTS ARE KNOWN TO BE DEFECTIVE, AND BEING RECALLED ON OTHER CHASSIS' , OURS IS NOT COVERED ON THE RECALL. COST OF REPAIRS TO US: $3,107.26 EXPERIENCE: I AM EXPERIENCED IN MOUNTAIN DRIVING AND HAVE DRIVEN THIS COACH FOR 9 YEARS, MUCH OF THAT IN THE MOUNTAINS WITH NO PROBLEMS AT ALL. MAINTENANCE: THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED WITH 32,604 MILES ON THE COACH. THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS COMPLETELY SERVICED BY A AUTHORIZED WORKHORSE SERVICE SHOP LESS THAT 1 YEAR AND 2,213 MILES PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. ON MAY 15TH, 2009, PAUL EVERT'S RV COUNTRY REPLACED ALL 4 WHEEL BRAKE PADS, RESURFACED ALL 4 ROTORS, AND PERFORMED A BRAKE FLUID EXCHANGE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH THE PARK BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGED. WE AVERTED AN ACCIDENT, BUT CAME TO A GRINDING HALT AT A VERY DANGEROUS SPOT. THIS SYSTEM CLAMPS ONTO THE DRIVESHAFT AND ACTS AS A PARKING BRAKE WHEN PARK IS SELECTED ON THE SHIFT INDICATOR. A PUMP HOLDS THE BRAKE OFF OF THE DRIVESHAFT BUT IF THE PUMP FAILS, A SWITCH OR RELAY FAILS, OR INSUFFICIENT FLUID IT ENGAGES THE BRAKE. SYSTEM HAD TO BE DEFEATED TO DRIVE AFTER BEING TOWED WITH DRIVESHAFT REMOVED. THIS IS A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.EHICLE IS A 2001 FLEETWOOD STORM 30H ON A WORKHORSE CHASSIS WITH 9300 MILES.*AK