Axle leak and brake cleaning

[LandShark]

Recently had a right rear axle seal leak that was repaired by dealer under warranty. The disc and emergency brakes were soaked in gear oil and I got a bit of a run around about them:

First I was told that I should pay to have a complete brake job done at my cost because it was in the shop and it would need to be done at some point anyway. I declined the service. Later that day I was told the truck was ready to pick up. I said I would pick it up the next morning.
Then I get a call that after warranty review that Chrysler would pay to replace the right side pad, but I would need to pay for the left side. I said OK.

Next morning I get a call that after further review, there is a Chrysler procedure for cleaning the brakes and that's all they would do. Anyone have access to that procedure?
Later that day I picked up the truck.

Next day I tested the brakes on a gravel road and found that neither the emergency or service brake on the right rear works. I suspect that the dealer sprayed some brake cleaner on the brakes and called it good.

Any suggestions on how to proceed from here?

 

[RVTRKN]

If FCA's part failed causing the issue, it should be their problem. Try the customer service hot line to see what they have to say. Unfortunatly brakes are concidered a wearing part. Bite the bullet and have the brakes serviced, but take it to another dealer if your looking for OE service. When you explain why you didn't have the first dealer repair it, they may warranty it for you.

 

[jhenderson]

Many years ago, a shop I worked for tested different methods for de- greasing contaminated brake shoes. Everything from burying them in speedy dry to brake clean to straight trichloroethylene. No dice. It soaks in beyond what can be cleaned then re-emerges with heat.

 

[TFucili]

I am not endorsing it, but I can remember old timers who would heat the shoes/pads with a torch, then solvent wash.

 

[CAROLINA CUMMINS]

If our class 8 stuff gets soaked we toss em. You can wash them all day and they'll look good, but first time they get hot the oil comes back out. Not worth the risk.

 

[Ozymandias]

Just torch them, that's the way to get rid of anything that's soaked into.
An oven is even better, backing at the highest temperature that a common oven can reach for a couple our then they are like new.

 

[Tmartin000]

You learn something new everyday.

 

[LandShark]

Took the truck back to the dealer today and went straight to the Service Manager. After telling him what was going on, he spent about 10 minutes looking at his computer and then said we will give you a rental car if you can leave the truck for a day or two.
Will update the forum when I hear anything.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

If FCA's part failed causing the issue, it should be their problem.

I agree with this.

Unfortunatly brakes are concidered a wearing part.

Yes they are, when they wear out normally. They should not be when a different part fails and takes them out prematurely. Those pads would have had a longer life if the axle seal wouldn’t have leaked and saturated the pads.

 

[jhenderson]

Just torch them, that's the way to get rid of anything that's soaked into.
An oven is even better, backing at the highest temperature that a common oven can reach for a couple our then they are like new.

I’m pretty sure the oven routine is a non starter in my house.

 

[Wiredawg]

I’m pretty sure the oven routine is a non starter in my house.

I imagine there might smoke and a smell that might give your house that shop ode de burnt oil smell.

Cheers, Ron

 

[Ozymandias]

Yeah, the ladies are not amused about it.
Same with Diesel soaked working clothes in the washer.

 

[brucejohnson]

I imagine there might smoke and a smell that might give your house that shop ode de burnt oil smell.

Cheers, Ron

I remember "way-back-when" (late 60's, early-early 70's) I read an article in either Hot Rod(?) or Car Craft(?) (some "dependable" magazine anyway) that said to use a certain carb cleaner and toss the disassembled carb into a pan with this new sooper dooper special carb cleaner and bake in the oven for several hours (overnight) at 180 or so degrees. Yes, the house attracted the smell as well as the oven...for weeks! I scrubbed the oven with a variety of wholesome cleaners and baked and baked and baked the oven air daily for hours and hours in attempt to boil and bake the stench out to no avail... I also scrounged my hidden beer, cigarette and car accessories fund cans from around the house and purchased a new oven after the wifey's delicious rolls took on a special hot, greasy garage taste. I would have preferred a simple lashing or beating to the long term looks and verbiage presented by my wonderful, understanding wifey...oops...

 

[brucejohnson]

I am not endorsing it, but I can remember old timers who would heat the shoes/pads with a torch, then solvent wash.

Yes...back in the days when brakes were made of asbestos and rivetted together, a lot of the olden timers would do that...Our shop (gas station) felt it was better and cheap enough to go ahead and offer a swap out the contaminated shoes, either free or at a very reduced rate, depending on work accomplished, to the customer if the returning issue was directly caused by the work we did. Still, money was tight for many folks and they would save every penny they could and accept the cleaned up shoes.

 

[dieselshadow]

Today's day and age, there's no way I'd accept that as a customer or let that go out the door due to liability as a dealer/mechanic. I wouldn't even try to clean them up. You'd get new shoes and an apology.

 

[jhenderson]

If our class 8 stuff gets soaked we toss em. You can wash them all day and they'll look good, but first time they get hot the oil comes back out. Not worth the risk.

Partly because they cost about 1/2 of what our pickup brakes cost. Either parking shoes or pads. Hard to believe when you look at how substantial a pair of Q shoes are but true non the less.

 

[brucejohnson]

Today's day and age, there's no way I'd accept that as a customer or let that go out the door due to liability as a dealer/mechanic. I wouldn't even try to clean them up. You'd get new shoes and an apology.

I agree 110%. Today is totally different than the 50's or 60's. As for the OP's issue, I would press for FCA to pay, as a covered failed part caused the issue. I have had great luck at my dealer in similar situations; they fix to please, not fix again please...

 

[Bob4x4]

FCA will cover brake pads that have been contaminated but they would not cover truing the rotors

 

[BigPapa]

Next day I tested the brakes on a gravel road and found that neither the emergency or service brake on the right rear works.

When I had an axle seal leak it caused the brakes on that side to grab and lock up.

 

[LandShark]

Got the truck back after 4 full week at the dealer. They say the brakes were cleaned several times and the brakes tested several times including the service manager trying to turn the wheel with brakes applied, while up on the lift. (I had to laugh at this test). They covered everything under warranty, including the 4 full days of a rental car.

I tested the truck brakes on a gravel road this weekend and found that the service brakes will now lock up, but the e-brake will not. I'll check it again in the future to see if oil starts seeping out of the pads.

Makes no sense that FCA will pay for all that labor and rental car ($140) when doing it the correct way would be an hour of labor and maybe $30 (their cost) for new pads.

Will likely replace the pads myself in the near future and not worry much about the e-brake.