Brake chambers

[BusNit]

I have been dinkering around the bottom side of my bus. I have all oil leaks sealed up for good for now. (They will spring up somewhere else, right?) In my degreaseification, I began painting the rear chassis with Por 15 chassis paint. I am happy with the results. I will eventually work my way to the diff and tag axle. I have type 30 brake chambers which appear to be original and around 30 years old. Is it worth my time and money to replace them as a preventative measure? They do not seem like an expensive affair. What is the consensus? Pic is of progress

[DoubleEagle]

Dinkering around? That is absolutely beautiful, and so is the pit. This puts us all to shame. Of course, how much time did you spend taping and covering everything up below? Yep, replace the chambers, they are relatively inexpensive.

[BusNit]

During the cleaning process the pit became a grease pit. It'll clean up when I am done. I did wash it down with simple green which got it decent. For painting, I only put down thick construction paper on the floor with pieces on the upper level to help keep the concrete clean. concrete above is clear sealed, pit is epoxied but the gallons of brake cleaner have taken the luster out a bit. I built it to use it. Made replacing the modulator a 5 min job. Really glad I spent the money on this. There are areas that you can't even reach up if I were to lay on my back. I have a 2' step ladder to help me reach up and over the diff and transmission.

[dtcerrato]

What Walter said except for the brake chambers cause I don't repair if it ain't broke or corroded. Great looking work and nice pit. Ours is similar in size but not painted purty like yours

[buswarrior]

Yes, good preventive maintenance practice to know the age of your compnents.

Spring brake chambers are inexpensive, and the common busnut has no way to know whether the old spring is squeezing up to spec, or just flopping the linkage around.

Broken parking springs are quite capable of extending the pushrod, but don't hold much on that side.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[chessie4905]

Replace them now. Like pretty near everything else, will cost two to three times as much in a few years. I remember when Monroe heavy duty coach shocks were 30 bucks a piece.

[dtcerrato]

We pinch nickels but do go in the cans to inspect and replace rubber diaphragms if needed.
Being a dinosaur and taking full advantage of a totally serviceable vintage bus. 

[luvrbus]

We pinch nickels but do go in the cans to inspect and replace rubber diaphragms if needed.
Being a dinosaur and taking full advantage of a totally serviceable vintage bus.

Spring brakes are not serviceable they are sealed for safety the spring inside will eat you lunch for you,the spring brakes you can buy anywhere along the road and not high priced like the old DD3 systems that usually are rusted out ,FWIW the DD3 system is only used on buses Eagle stopped using the DD3 system back in 80's and went to the spring brakes.I was happy to see the DD3's go away lol but it took Bendix to stop production and support for MCI to see the light     

[BusNit]

I can't tell what type this one is on the tag axle. I believe the service brakes on the drive axle are MGM type 30

[tr206]

Hope this helps.

https://www.smartdrivetest.com/cdl-air-brakes/chart-of-adjustment-limits

[luvrbus]

I can't tell what type this one is on the tag axle. I believe the service brakes on the drive axle are MGM type 30

Most Newells of your vintage used 16 on the tags so the tag would not lock up with  heavy braking and 24 on the front axle if you have the cage bolts for the older MGM spring brakes I would keep those, just don't try and remove the band from around one.they will bite you,Enjoy your Newell they are easy to work on for the most part but some areas are almost impossible to get too,built like a tank from the ground up and heavy     

[BusNit]

Thank you Cliff! I will take a peek under there this week. This pesky thing called work has been getting in the way again! I do know not to mess with the bands. Worst case, I just get the parts for Leo to install at All Aboard America.