Question on driving with missing Brake Can

[kyle4501]

Big difference between what one CAN do vs. what one SHOULD do.

[bevans6]

In the interests of trying to help, if not this time then next time this happens to someone, I have this page bookmarked:  http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MCI-Coach-Brake-Chamber-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem112f75482QQitemZ4613166210QQptZOtherQ5fVehicleQ5fParts

I haven't bought one yet, but I may do so just so I can carry a spare.  seems a not bad price for a new DD3

Brian

[bcaddel]

Thanks Brian, I almost ordered one for $1,050 from MCI, until we found the rebuild shop in Sacramento for $450. If I had of known about the new one you found on eBay for $525, I think I would have bought it then tried to rebuild mine for a spare when I had some time.

We are headed over Donner Pass on I-80 in about a week so we wanted to make sure the brakes were in tip top shape so that's why we had it in the shop. Luckily we took it in, because I probably wouldn't have found the leaking can on my own and that could have been a bad experience if it had gone out coming down the mountain.
Bob

[John316]

Bob,

I am sure you know this already, but I will mention it anyways.

Make sure that when you are heading down from any pass (Donner in this case), you go SLOW. Especially if you just have your service brakes. If you have just your service brakes, that you are rolling on, you should probably take it in second gear (maybe even first, depends on how you are geared). If you have engine brakes that makes it a lot easier. Otherwise, if you have just your service brakes, and run down the hill quickly, you will discover what one of the runaway truck ramps looks like. Take it slow....(less then 20 if you have too).

FWIW

God bless,

John

[Ed Hackenbruch]

I think that all of us agree that we should try to be as safe as possible. Things happen, Bob could have thought his brakes were fine after inspecting them himself and done his trip with no problem. As it is he had them checked in a shop and found a problem...good for him.  Does that mean we all need to have an inspection by a shop every time before we drive our buses? Of course not.....it would be impossible to do that.  How many people do a full check of their cars everytime before they fire up?  I can tell you right now that nobody does. I doubt if very many people check even once a month.  Things break, things wear out, many times you don't know there is a problem until something happens. I think that bus owners as a group are more aware of this,.....that is why we do walk arounds and spend the time on the bus boards. I know i have learned a lot about things that can go wrong/what to look out for/ things to check, from others that have had these things happen to them. Hopefully that makes me a safer person on the road.