Improving braking

[Aussie Ed]

Hi Everyone,

 

New forum user (although I'm on other motoring forums). If I've missed something off my sign up bend my ear and I'll fix it. Helpful guidance welcome.

 

I have a new EuroMobil motorhome and (some times) tow a small car (Citigo). The additional weight of tow car does have an effect on the braking capability of the motorhome. I leave plenty of 'distance' but other road users use it to 'nip into'.! A couple of times I've really been anxious at stopping in time.

 

I'm considering fitting better more responsive brake pads ie EBC 'yellow' have been recommended.

It may be that my existing pads still need to 'bed-in' (currently 1100 miles).

 

Any opinions on fitting different composition pads would be welcome.

 

Ed

 

 

 

[colin]

Are the brakes on the toad working correctly?

[Keithl]

colin - 2019-05-06 5:58 PM

 

Are the brakes on the toad working correctly?

 

Ditto?

 

What system are you using for the brakes on your toad?

 

And are they overrun/mechanical or electronic/inertia?

 

Keith.

[Aussie Ed]

Thanks for response Keith. Towing method is A frame by Tow Bars 2 Tow Cars of Grimsby. Electronic.

I have no reason to believe they are not functioning as designed. I'll put the question to them also for clarification.

 

I didnt notice this concern when towing with my AutoTrail.

 

 

 

[tonyishuk]

I could be way of beam here but might be worth a mention.

 

Does the braking system have a balancing valve for the braking system that could either be faulty, or not working as it should with the different loading front to rear ?

 

Rgds

 

Edit, I Would not recommend this action but someone riding in the toad could probably tell if the brakes were applying. : 8-)

[Derek Uzzell]

Aussie Ed - 2019-05-06 5:50 PM

 

...I'm considering fitting better more responsive brake pads ie EBC 'yellow' have been recommended.

It may be that my existing pads still need to 'bed-in' (currently 1100 miles).

 

Any opinions on fitting different composition pads would be welcome.

 

Ed

 

 

EBC specialises in offering brake parts for ‘competition’ vehicles and, historically, their friction materials (eg. brake pads) have used ‘colour’ to indicate their performance capability (“Greenstuff”, “Yellowstuff”, “Orangestuff”, “Bluestuff”)

 

I don’t think EBC ‘colour’ brake-pads are available for a current Ducato (I assume your Eura Mobil motorhome is Ducato-based) as this link

 

https://www.ebcbrakeshop.co.uk/info-brake-parts?make=FIAT+COMMERCIAL&year=2018&model=Ducato&engineSelect=2.3+TD&engine=2.3+TD&bhp=

 

just shows “Ultimax” pads. Besides which, there’s no commercial incentive to provide ‘higher performance’ brake pads for X250/X290 Ducatos as the performance of the original pads is (in my experience) adequate.

 

The “Ultimax” pad is described here

 

https://ebcbrakes.com/product/ultimax-brake-pads/

 

When I owned VW Golfs (and drove a lot faster than I do now!) I used to fiddle about with their not-very-good brakes, changing discs and pads to try to improve performance - though not always successfully.

 

My previous Hobby motorhome was Ford Transit-based and I would have liked a ‘lighter’ brake-pedal. I discussed this with EBC who, at the time, offered two suitable pads - a normal pad like the “Ultimax” and a last-forever pad that they advised against. EBC were unable to say if fitting the normal pad would lighten the brake-pedal effort (I never really expected them to) and I chose to use standard Ferodo pads instead. These did not noticeably lighten/improve the Hobby’s braking, but it was certainly no worse than before.

 

I recall an enquiry in MMM Magazine some years ago about improving an elderly Hymer motorhome’s braking and it was suggested that ‘racing’ caliipers, discs and pads be fitted - but that would be an extreme and expensive approach even if were technically practicable.

 

At an 1100 mileage your motorhome’s pads SHOULD be bedded in and, once that has happened, the braking performance should not be expected to get any better. If you fitted EBC “Ulitimax” pads front-and-rear to your motorhome you MIGHT notice a braking performance improvement (though, frankly, I doubt it) but I don’t think EBC would be prepared to guarantee this would happen. (Suggest you ask them...)

 

Personally, when the time comes to replace the front-axle brake pads on my 2015 Ducato-based Rapido, I’ll probably opt for Ferodo pads, not because I think they will be ‘better’ than the original-equipment pads, but because I’ve used Ferodo pads before and been satisfied with them.