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ELINVESTIG8R
Select Nomad
Posts: 15882
Registered: 11-20-2007
Location: Southern California
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ALMOST A DISASTER IN THE DESERT
While at this location, 30.208962 -114.953829, (Google Earth), I destroyed my right rear brakes. The story is that I put on my parking brakes while
parked on an incline with my four wheel drive still engaged. Later, when I moved my truck I forgot to disengage the handbrake and took off. Well in
four wheel drive I was not stopped by the handbrake. I took off and drove a distance of about 50 to 100 feet when I heard a loud popping sound
followed by metal on metal noises in the back. I looked under my truck and noticed brake fluid leaking from the right rear wheel area. Thank goodness
I had my 3-1/2 ton jack with me. I think the pictures below speak for themselves. The brake backing plate was bent and all of the brake parts were
loose in the brake drum.
With help from Paco we removed all the brake guts and at the suggestion of Paco we used a cut nail to tap one end of the brake line to plug the line.
With that and a little brake fluid Sany had I at least had three working brakes and cautiously drove back to El Rosario. My brother Jimmy sent me to
San Quintin to a place called Frenos Unicos. It is located across the street from a school at the very south end of town. Manuel, the owner drove me
to the junk yard to locate a right rear brake backing plate but they wanted to sell me an entire differential just for the part I needed. I did not
buy it so Manuel had them remove the brake backing plate and tap the brake line junction box above the differential with a nail.
Manuel had to open up my differential to remove the right rear axle to get access to the brake backing plate then reinstall everything. He even put a
new set of brake pads on my left rear wheel all for 300 Pesos. I can recommend Frenos Unicos and Manuel to anyone needing break repairs while down in
that area. I went back to El Rosario then back out into the mountains where I spent another night under the stars. The repairs got me home safe and
sound with plenty of braking power.
Normal appearance of rear brake backing plate
My right rear wheel without rear backing plate (YIKES NO BRAKE)
Brake line junction box above rear differential. The screw in piece on the right had a nail inside blocking the fluid from escaping
The pieces
First Night camping before brake problem
Sany sleeping by his Cat. On the left you can see my air mattress and sleeping bag in the back of my truck
Paco's bed on the side of the cat. I did bring two cots for them but only Paco used it.
Sany sleeping on the ground at second camp site.
Paco sleeping on the ground at the second camp site.
Of course I am comfortable on my air mattress in the back of my truck
This is also near 30.208962 -114.953829, (Google Earth)
[Edited on 4-6-2009 by ELINVESTI8]
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BigWooo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 579
Registered: 1-2-2007
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Glad you made it back OK. I've done that a few times, but caught it right away. For some unknown reason I only leave the brake on in 4WD when it's
not as noticeable.
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Von
Senior Nomad
Posts: 961
Registered: 10-1-2006
Location: Poway-Rosarito
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Mood: getting ready!
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Cool!
READY SET.....................
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rpleger
Super Nomad
Posts: 1087
Registered: 3-12-2005
Location: H. Mulegé, BCS
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Mood: Was good.
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Good story....happy that you made it back...
Richard on the Hill
*ABROAD*, adj. At war with savages and idiots. To be a Frenchman abroad is to
be miserable; to be an American abroad is to make others miserable.
-- Ambrose Bierce, _The Enlarged Devil\'s Dictionary_
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Mexitron
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3397
Registered: 9-21-2003
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
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Mood: Happy!
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Glad you made it back okay--good ol' Baja ingenuity! What were the guys doing with the cat?
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ELINVESTIG8R
Select Nomad
Posts: 15882
Registered: 11-20-2007
Location: Southern California
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Mexitron
...What were the guys doing with the cat? |
Mexitron Sany was fixing/making a road to his property to bring out his Yuca plants to market.
[Edited on 4-6-2009 by ELINVESTI8]
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ligui
Senior Nomad
Posts: 835
Registered: 2-9-2008
Location: Fraser co.
Member Is Online
Mood: love Baja !
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Thanks, great story , good people ...
I always love a good breakdown story. I remenber the days looking for parts going from place to place.
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Woooosh
Banned
Posts: 5240
Registered: 1-28-2007
Location: Rosarito Beach
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Mood: Luminescent Waves at Rosarito Beach
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I'd still be there- with vultures circling above.
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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hey El-
how do you like the truckbedz you are sleeping on? does it go soft every night like my coleman does? where did you get it and how much. i see one to
fit my tundra bed online for $200 or the cheaper version for $100. which do you have? seems kinda steep, but a good night sleep on the beach is worth
it, maybe.....
[Edited on 4-6-2009 by woody in ob]
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Sharksbaja
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5814
Registered: 9-7-2004
Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
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"does it go soft every night like my coleman does?"
Yep, mine does, always has.
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads\' Sunsets
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Sharksbaja
"does it go soft every night like my coleman does?"
Yep, mine does, always has. |
I'm not laughing at you...just with you.
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Sharksbaja
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5814
Registered: 9-7-2004
Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
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David nice of you to share your experience. I really like that nail in the brakeline fitting technique. I probably could have done that 30 years ago
when a big branch completely ripped out one rear line one time way back in the White Montains. I used a small pair of vicegrips to seal it.
I am so glad my current truckhas big rear disc brakes. No comparison to the old drum brakes. I was always repairing those bastards.
Good for you getting it handled so quickly!
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads\' Sunsets
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ELINVESTIG8R
Select Nomad
Posts: 15882
Registered: 11-20-2007
Location: Southern California
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Hi Woody I got mine at:
http://www.truckcandy.com/TC/TruckBedz/TruckBedz.htm?source=...
I bought the cheaper of the two models to see if I liked it and did not have any problems with deflation the two nights I used it. That’s not to say
it will not happen. But for now I love it! It comes with a 12 volt blower with different nozzles to accommodate various openings. I highly recommend
it!
P.S. Sharks I am carrying some nails that fit the brake line from now on. I was going to pinch the line shut with a small sledge hammer until Paco
suggested the nail.
[Edited on 4-6-2009 by ELINVESTI8]
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Sharksbaja
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5814
Registered: 9-7-2004
Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
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David nice of you to share your experience. I really like that nail in the brakeline fitting technique. I probably could have done that 30 years ago
when a big branch completely ripped out one rear line one time way back in the White Montains. I used a small pair of vicegrips to seal it.
I am so glad my current truckhas big rear disc brakes. No comparison to the old drum brakes. I was always repairing those bastards.
Good for you getting it handled so quickly!
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads\' Sunsets
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Sharksbaja
"does it go soft every night like my coleman does?"
Yep, mine does, always has. |
so THAT'S what you call it?
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
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Mood: Peacefull
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David,
That CAT looks like a great camping vehicle
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Sharksbaja
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5814
Registered: 9-7-2004
Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
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| Quote: | Originally posted by woody in ob
| Quote: | Originally posted by Sharksbaja
"does it go soft every night like my coleman does?"
Yep, mine does, always has. |
so THAT'S what you call it? |
Wha?? Oh, I have a Truckbedz mattress. Very comfortable till around 4am.
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads\' Sunsets
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ELINVESTIG8R
Select Nomad
Posts: 15882
Registered: 11-20-2007
Location: Southern California
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Ron that Cat is as old as Sany, 62 years old. It has been modified from its original cable operated blade to its current hydraulic configuration. I
cannot believe that Sany has kept it going for the 15 or so years he has had it. Sany's wife Lili says she is jealous of the Cat and calls it Sany's
"Other woman" because he spends more time with it than her. What a road maker it is. I was amazed. It can go anywhere!
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fandango
Senior Nomad
Posts: 549
Registered: 1-30-2006
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woody:
i use an air mattress in the back of my truck. i got the walmart brand, double size, in their camping section. it fits between the wheel wells. also
purchased a blower that plugs in to the cig lighter through the back window of the truck. its great! longest trip with it was 5 nights and it didn't
lose air. dirt cheap, like $35.00!!!
sbwontoo
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64829
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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On Google Earth, you can see all the new road work done by Sony (Sonny, Sany) Espinoza in the area of San Juan de Dios... and now El Metate is not at
the end of a road... it goes on past the ranch and meets up with roads north of El Aguila/ San Agustin.
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