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Thu Aug 05, 2010 4:37 pm

whc03grady wrote: GeorgeL wrote: Folks, he was just making a reference to a place where vehicles typically aren't as new or well-maintained as, say, Germany.

He could just as easily have said "Montana." :)
Wait a second....
<<I resemble that remark.

:lol:

Drive somebody's "ranch truck" and you'll know why I singled out The Treasure State. "Parking brake? This thing's got no brakes at all!"

Thu Aug 05, 2010 5:37 pm

Thu Aug 05, 2010 5:39 pm

Wow that's close to me. Wonder when it was taken.

But they're not parked so maybe their parking brakes don't work either?

EZ Gruv wrote:

Thu Aug 05, 2010 5:42 pm

chabanais wrote: Wow that's close to me. Wonder when it was taken.

But they're not parked so maybe their parking brakes don't work either?

EZ Gruv wrote:

Pop-tops are up, people are standing outside, some have no drivers. I'm sure they are parked.

Thu Aug 05, 2010 5:48 pm

This was posted it says Dec. 30 2009:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/spierisf/4228671664/

I saw one had the pop top up... don't know if they're parked or not. Would be crazy to drive like that!

Thu Aug 05, 2010 6:04 pm

chabanais wrote: This was posted it says Dec. 30 2009:

The photo I posted was taken today, and unless you think the guy next to the red splitty is 'ghost riding the whip' and the red bay is on autopilot, they are parked.

Thu Aug 05, 2010 6:54 pm

You are in SF now? How did you find out about this?

EZ Gruv wrote: chabanais wrote: This was posted it says Dec. 30 2009:

The photo I posted was taken today, and unless you think the guy next to the red splitty is 'ghost riding the whip' and the red bay is on autopilot, they are parked.

Thu Aug 05, 2010 8:16 pm

I use 4x4 chunks of wood right now until I get the cables lubed and adjusted.

Sometimes a statement has a lot of truth to it, and the truth hurts sometimes, but only if you let it.

Fri Aug 06, 2010 12:45 am

patayres wrote: Quote: He should have said Montana and we might have answered his poll. As it stands we see it as political spin.
Speak for yourself please... I read no derogatory or racist sentiment in the use of 'African Parking Brake'. As has been said, the OP just returned from several months and miles trekking across the African continent. It's a funny nickname because it's true... I personally saw plenty of African Parking Brakes during the 2 months I spent in Angola. I have several African and African-American friends & am quite certain none of them would take offense to this. Sheesh.

That is about what I was going to say. As my brother already pointed out, the term African parking brake is not something we came up with, it is a term they actually use in Africa. Sorry if I offended anyone by that, but I'm appalled that it does.

Anyway, thanks for the comments. In the course of the last year I have adjusted my parking brakes about 3 times (per bentley instructions) never really making it much better than only working on slopes near level. I guess my cables just have too much slack and need replacement. So, they're on the to-do list now.

Fri Aug 06, 2010 9:31 am

Why is "works correctly" not on the poll?

My truck and passenger bus regulary take boat rides and the park brake is a must.

Fri Aug 06, 2010 1:22 pm

MadMax78 wrote: In the course of the last year I have adjusted my parking brakes about 3 times (per bentley instructions) never really making it much better than only working on slopes near level. I guess my cables just have too much slack and need replacement. So, they're on the to-do list now.

Well, if the brakes are adjusting per Bentley (4-5 clicks to make the wheels unturnable by hand) then the cables aren't slack. It's either a problem with the bowden tubes being rusty/gunked or the rear brake shoes being adjusted too loose. Depending upon the year you might also have a parking brake balance issue as the two sides are adjusted independently on earlier Bays.

Fri Aug 06, 2010 1:41 pm

djdh68dlux wrote: How about instead of African or hippy references we say "or do you use the I'm too lazy/dumb/broke/cheap to fix it the proper way parking brake" so nobody gets offended! :P :wink:

Hey now I'm cheap so back off! :wink:

Fri Aug 06, 2010 4:17 pm

TimGud wrote: djdh68dlux wrote: How about instead of African or hippy references we say "or do you use the I'm too lazy/dumb/broke/cheap to fix it the proper way parking brake" so nobody gets offended! :P :wink:

Hey now I'm cheap so back off! :wink:

That's why there's multiple choice! Just cross off the one that offends you! :lol:

Thu Jun 19, 2014 8:45 am

Bleyseng wrote: I replaced all the rear brake parts and still had a crappy parking brake. Finally I bought nice german cables and problem solved as the old cables were stretched and continued to stretch..
I still want to switch to the 86-87 Vanagon rear brakes so I can have self adjusting rear brakes, now that would be sweet.

Swedish specification, VW Type 2s, had self-adjusting rear brakes, from at least 1975 onward.

Thu Jun 19, 2014 9:14 am

It's more than a parking brake to me. It's an emergency brake as well. I test it from time to time going down a hill using just the cable brake (parking/emergency brake) just for assurances that it works.

I would not drive a bus that did not have a working emergency brake.

And while a block o' wood or a brick may suffice to keep the car from rolling while parked, it will not do much good when you need the cable brake in an emergency.

Thu Jun 19, 2014 5:22 pm

I have had an ongoing issue with my parking brake as the hardware in the drum is too slack. The park brake lever in the drum actually hits the inner hub preventing it from engaging fully. I've fixed it before, but on a steep hill it wouldn't hold this year. Time to take er apart again this weekend. Anyone else experience that?

Thu Jun 19, 2014 5:32 pm

Works great after a 13 year hiatus.

Thu Jun 19, 2014 5:51 pm

daniel5560 wrote: I have had an ongoing issue with my parking brake as the hardware in the drum is too slack. The park brake lever in the drum actually hits the inner hub preventing it from engaging fully. I've fixed it before, but on a steep hill it wouldn't hold this year. Time to take er apart again this weekend. Anyone else experience that?
Sounds like you've been adjusting the brakes before slacking off the cable, time to start from the beginning....
Back off both brake cables until there's only a couple threads left then back both adjusters on each wheel off until they won't turn anymore (one goes up, other down). Then turn each adjuster equal amounts (count the clicks) until you can't turn them anymore (way past where the wheel won't turn), then back them off equal clicks till the wheel just turns with a tiny bit of drag. Then start adjusting the brake cables, your Bentley tells you how many clicks of the brake handle it should start making the rear wheels drag.

Of course this assumes your cables are free and fully retract when backed off.

Thu Jun 19, 2014 7:24 pm

daniel5560 wrote: I have had an ongoing issue with my parking brake as the hardware in the drum is too slack. The park brake lever in the drum actually hits the inner hub preventing it from engaging fully. I've fixed it before, but on a steep hill it wouldn't hold this year. Time to take er apart again this weekend. Anyone else experience that?

I had the same problem and had to get relined brake shoes even though the shoes were not at the wear limit, though they were close to it! :D

Fri Jun 20, 2014 2:02 am

Since this topic came up again, I noticed I never gave a follow up on the solution. So, without further ado:

Replacing the cables fixed the problem. :)