Hi all away on Cobark trip only second time Pajero has climbed mountains towing van. Going up mountain not a problem,coming down brakes overheated (a driver behind us thought the car was on fire there was so much smoke) and start to fade. Came down in 2H second gear using tekonsha p3 brake controller with voltage set on 9.7. When on flat road I can feel van brakes pull and normally have it set on 9.3..... Maybe I should be increasing he voltage output to the van brakes and selecting 4H.? Our friends towed same model van with auto prado and a HR brake controller with no issues. Pajero has just had new brake pads fitted and rotors machined. Any advice appreciated especially from Pajero owners. Our camp has no signal but will check later. Thanks
Overheating brakes
- Thread starter Burnsy
- Start date
May be as simple as the glaze being burnt off of the new pads. Should always use the same gear or lower to go down a hill as you would going up.
Hi Burnsy,
I'm still a novice at towing, and no mechanic, so can only provide a comparison for you. Have come down the Toowoomba Range and Cunninghams Gap a few times now, both pretty steep long declines. I also drop the Prado out of Auto and lock in second. Interestingly my P3 is on 6.5, and take it up a few points (7.0) when going down those steep roads. I wouldn't select 4H though.
HM
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HM... I have always had to set my P3 on around the 9 mark as well for both the Jayco we have now and also the Lifestyle Camper trailer we had before. Interesting how yours is so low - wonder what the difference might be?
We also drive down the Toowoomba range, but more so Cunninghams Gap.
BJ
Hi, I have a P3 to, I set mine on the 6.5 to 7 range towing a 16 ft' outback Ive had no problems with the caravan brakes, I did the Lakes Way to Seal Rocks not long ago, I found I used the car more to brake than the van, I go back to 2nd gear, the same as Holden Man, and touch wood dont have any.
Greg
Greg
Yeh not sure what the difference is @Bmhdg76, maybe just diferent brake adjustment/wear on each of our rigs. Maybe differing levels of resistance with wiring and plugs may play a small part also.
Interesting though as same controller now in two different vehicles. I had this in our Hilux and now moved it to the Challenger. Only commonality is the P3 itself.
oh well, it works, the brakes work and am comfortable with them that's all that matters...
BJ
I am definitely no expert with electric brake settings, I have the same brake module and I run it on about 5.2 on average sometimes a bit higher. Maybe I am not using it right but I can feel it pull up but to be honest I have never been sure what it should be on.
Hi Burnsy,
Can't comment on brakes
But with the PJ you should be towing in 4H not 2 H its on the sun visor, my control isn't set that high, but my van isn't as heavy as yours.
I find 2nd is to high and 1st to low and revs to high
(clyde mtn) to Batemans Bay.
2nd needs alot of braking as it runs away (auto)
Using 1st and pulling speed right back with light braking to keep the revs down seens to work.
Can't comment on brakes
But with the PJ you should be towing in 4H not 2 H its on the sun visor, my control isn't set that high, but my van isn't as heavy as yours.
I find 2nd is to high and 1st to low and revs to high
(clyde mtn) to Batemans Bay.
2nd needs alot of braking as it runs away (auto)
Using 1st and pulling speed right back with light braking to keep the revs down seens to work.
talking about Braking have any of you seen this....
Truck v Caravan at Iluka Late last year...couldn't pull up for the intersection. Bloody frightening....gives my a whole new respect for the weight on the back, though the driver of the van believes it was Oil on the road.
Truck v Caravan at Iluka Late last year...couldn't pull up for the intersection. Bloody frightening....gives my a whole new respect for the weight on the back, though the driver of the van believes it was Oil on the road.
Hi all, thanks for your input. We got home safe, used 4H 2nd gear on the descend and also cracked up the voltage to around 10.5v, heaps better but still not completely happy with car brakes! I spoke to @cruza driver on Saturday when we were in town for supplies and he seemed to think maybe the pads may not be suitable.....I will ask mechanic what he fitted....thanks for your thoughts CD.
Something else that's strange, now that the van brakes have had a good work out, the normal setting of 9.3v (for me) is now too high and my brakes were locking up......had to back off to about 8v! :noidea:
Apart from the brake issue we had an awesome free camp weekend but more about that in another thread!
Cheers.
Something else that's strange, now that the van brakes have had a good work out, the normal setting of 9.3v (for me) is now too high and my brakes were locking up......had to back off to about 8v! :noidea:
Apart from the brake issue we had an awesome free camp weekend but more about that in another thread!
Cheers.
Hi Burnsy
You didn't happen to hit the "boost" button on the P3 if you did that my cause the van brakes to lock if you increased the voltage
You didn't happen to hit the "boost" button on the P3 if you did that my cause the van brakes to lock if you increased the voltage
Thanks mate,
I spoke to mechanic and he was going to quiz the supplier about pads....haven't heard anything yet. I've spoken to a few mechanics now and I'm leaning towards another set of pads and brake fluid change!
Cheers mate!
Off topic a bit, but I always get genuine pads fitted. Except this one time... I had a Holden Adventra (great car) and it needed pads and they were expensive, so went to the local guy, did them at half the price. They were just not the same and noisier, next time at the Holden dealer I asked them to look at the brakes. Long story short. Had to replace the pads again with genuine and the problem was solved. Wasted a few hundred dollars to learn.
Have always used Bendix brake pads and DBA rotors, installed thousands and never had any issues. Always found a lot of research went into their designs.