LS brakes on front of MCI?

[bevans6]

Does anyone know if there would be a clearance or fitment problem with long stroke brake cannisters on the front of an MCI?  My bus is a MC-5C and uses 20" cannisters.  I plan to change them out before this season, and I thought that long stroke would be a good upgrade.

thanks, Brian

[johns4104s]

Brian,

Neither  my 4104  or MCI 9 have 20" brake cans. Both are about 8" they only move about 3" max. If you are attempting to get better braking do what I did on both of my buses. Replace if needed the Brake can,S-cam and bushings, brake pads, springs, rollers, brake drum. See grumpy's site its #1 (not second to none).

John

[Tom Y]

John, 20sq inches about 6 inch dia.  Tom Y

[bevans6]

I'm not trying to get better braking performance, just to install the current best technology.  All my research says that long stroke brake chambers are the current state of the drum air brake art...  If they are  a compatible upgrade, then why not?

Brian

[buswarrior]

The long stroke chamber is deeper in the body, same diameter.

Check the clearance by turning the steering wheel to the stops and see if you can accommodate another inch or so of the chamber body, plus the hose, through the sweep of the turn.

I'm guessing that they'll fit, not much there that another inch of chamber body will conflict with?

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[DaveG]

I'm not sure LS would be an upgrade. If you have trouble keeping your brakes adjusted, then the additional stroke can be helpful, but if you are able to stay on top of brake adjustments, I'd leave them.

If you are looking for brake performance, do like Johns4104s suggested and go through the complete brake foundation hardware and get it back up to snuff operating clearance wise.

[bevans6]

I'm not sure why installing the latest technology and improving the margin of failure in a brake system isn't considered an upgrade, but who am I to say?  My brakes have 2500 miles on a total inside the drum rebuild, I am installing new slack adjusters, and the only reason I am thinking of replacing the cannisters is that while I don't know exactly how old they are,  I do know they are at least 15 years old and replacing them and the hoses is simple preventative maintenance.  I'll probably have the wheels off this weekend (forecast is for close to 55 degrees F!) and I'll just take a look and see what the clearance issues are, then order the cannisters.  I thought if someone had done this before, or was familiar with how MCI puts the front ends together on these old buses I could order the cannisters ahead of time and save myself a week or so of waiting on them, is all.

I'll post how it turns out.  I'm also changing all the hardware, the front QR valve, and the front air springs.  Bus isn't going to know what hit it!  All that shiny new stuff!   

Brian 

[johns4104s]

Brian,

What condition are your S-cams and S-cam bushings in?

John