binfordm715 : Yikes! What happened to my brakes?!

Yikes! What happened to my brakes?!
Post by binfordm715 on Aug 7, 2006, 12:18am

Took the M715 for a spin up our dirt road today. There are a few small hills from a housing development that is in the early stages, so while the boys were catching frogs in the marshy rainwater catch basin nearby, my neighbor and I went up and down the hills. One was pretty steep, but not all that high.

As I motored up, I realized I was in 3rd (low range), so I stopped and shifted to 1st. I heard what I thought was the back bumper and/or my tail lights dragging in the dirt behind. As I let off the brake to go in 1st, it rolled back a bit and I heard a strange noise from the rear. I pushed in the clutch again and hit the brake and WHAM!!! Right to the floor! The truck rolled all the way down the hill and I stopped with the e-brake (the rear tires were just starting up, so it wasn't far).

What had happened was the channel that supports the spare tire came off the bolt at the back. There's no spare tire on it and the bolt was loose. Well, it dropped to the ground and that was the scraping I heard. When the truck rolled back a foot or two, the end of it dug into the dirt and bent the other end up and scraped against the rear axle, snagging the brake line on the way, tearing it in two!

We drove home, slowly. Weird not having any brakes! It sure did impress upon me the danger of having a single hydraulic brake system though!

So make sure that bolt is good and tight, guys!

I guess I'll just get enough brake line to replace that whole section. I'll have to crawl under and look at it more carefully later to see.

Re: Yikes! What happened to my brakes?!
Post by jeepistdougiowa on Aug 7, 2006, 12:19am

Yikes is right!

Re: Yikes! What happened to my brakes?!
Post by tacomainoh on Aug 7, 2006, 3:00am

See!

At least upgrade to a dual circuit cylinder. On the 715, I'd plumb it crosswise: opposite corners paired.

Re: Yikes! What happened to my brakes?!
Post by alosix on Aug 7, 2006, 8:10am

Try loading a 725 on a car trailer like that .. Did that this weekend, still need to find the brake issue. Granted since it doesn't have a spare I think I'll be checking that rear line for issues.

Re: Yikes! What happened to my brakes?!
Post by binfordm715 on Aug 7, 2006, 8:40am

Probably a pretty rare scenario, but....it happened! Absolutely NO pedal though. Can you pump yours up a bit? Maybe just need to bleed the lines in your case. Let's hope!

As for me, looks like I get to buy myself a flaring tool!

Re: Yikes! What happened to my brakes?!
Post by alosix on Aug 7, 2006, 8:44am

Nope, no pumping either, just a dead pedal. Glad this things are geared so low. you can still drive them around and stop in 4low for the most part.

Jason

Re: Yikes! What happened to my brakes?!
Post by fisherman on Aug 7, 2006, 8:48am

Tim I'm not sure when you need your brakelines by. Was wondering if you were still thinking about stopping over in a week or so. I will be redoing my brake lines. Just bought a new flaring kit. I think it is a Blue Point. Any ways we could bend you up and flare one then if you wanted, and work on brushguards and bumpers. Gonna try to get all the steel this week. My family reunion is this coming weekend. I'll be free after that. Lemme know.

Re: Yikes! What happened to my brakes?!
Post by compexp on Aug 7, 2006, 8:50am

Glad you're safe - I went with the Cardone 10-1331 dual master and a dual master adapter fitting from Napa. Separated at the proportioning valve - ran the rears to one port on the master, the fronts to the other.

Re: Yikes! What happened to my brakes?!
Post by wrecker on Aug 7, 2006, 8:55am

Timmer, that dual system is inexpensive. Think what would have happened if you were further up the hill. Mine is a wagner brand for say about a 72ish FSJ. The master and all the fittings were less than 40 bucks.

Re: Yikes! What happened to my brakes?!
Post by binfordm715 on Aug 7, 2006, 8:56am


Quote: <TABLE class=bordercolor cellSpacing=1 width="90%"><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%"><TABLE class=quote cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%">Glad you're safe - I went with the Cardone 10-1331 dual master and a dual master adapter fitting from Napa. Separated at the proportioning valve - ran the rears to one port on the master, the fronts to the other.

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It was just a little hill with nothing around but flat dirt, so it wasn't a big deal at all. Would have been had it happened at some of the trails at WITC though!

In a few years when I have a shop built, I'll take the M715 apart, put in the Chebby drivetrain and redo stuff like the brakes with dual lines.