NHTSA Complaint #10243293 — 2004 WINNEBAGO BRAVE

I HAD RECENTLY COMPLETED A 2 WEEK TRIP DRIVING APPROX 1800 MILES. WAS TAKING MY MOTORHOME TO A DEALER TO HAVE A ROCK GUARD INSTALLED WHEN IT STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND SHIFTING FUNNY. THIS WAS IN TOWN WITH EASY DRIVING. I QUICKLY NOTICED THE SMELL OF OVERHEATED BRAKES AND IMMEDIATELY, AS SOON AS IT WAS SAFE, PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO CHECK. I CARRY AN INFRARED THERMOMETER AND TOOK THE TEMPS OF ALL 4 WHEEL'S DISC BRAKES. THE FRONT RIGHT (PASSENGER) BRAKE WAS READING OVER 400 DEGREES AND THE 3 OTHERS WERE READING IN APPROXIMATELY THE 125 DEGREE RANGE. I SAT FOR A WHILE AND LET IT COOL AND AS I WAS ONLY ABOUT 2 MILES OR SO FROM THE DEALER, I THEN PROCEEDED, AFTER DETERMINING THE BRAKE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE LOCKED ON THAT WHEEL ANY LONGER, TO THE DEALERS LOT. THEY DO NOT HANDLE BRAKE FAILURES AND SINCE IT WAS LATE ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON, I LEFT IT THERE OVER THE WEEKEND. THERE IS A VERY GOOD HEAVY TRUCK CENTER LESS THAN A HALF MILE FROM THE RV DEALER SO I TOOK IT TO THEM THE FOLLOWING MONDAY. AFTER INSPECTING, TESTING, ETC, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE CALIPER ON THAT WHEEL HAD LOCKED UP BUT AFTER COOLING HAD RELEASED. I HAD CAUGHT IT IN TIME TO AVOID CRACKING THE ROTOR AND CAUSING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE, FORTUNATELY. WE REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE CALIPER AND ABS SENSOR ON THAT WHEEL. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TAKE A LONG TRIP YET BUT AM VERY APPREHENSIVE ABOUT A RECURRENCE OF THE PROBLEM. I CAN ONLY BE THANKFUL IT HAPPENED AFTER RETURNING FROM A TWO WEEK TRIP AND DIDN'T LEAVE MY FAMILY STRANDED SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES FROM HOME!!! IT APPEARS FROM MY READING AND RESEARCH THAT THE WORKHORSE W22 (2003 CHASSIS) HAS A RECORD OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE ON A REGULAR BASIS. I HOPE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO HELP US WITH A RESOLUTION AND EASE OUR MINDS ABOUT THE RELIABILITY OF AN OTHERWISE FINE PRODUCT. THE SHOP MIGHT HAVE THE OLD CALIPER BUT I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE. I COULD CHECK IF IT WOULD HELP. *TR