Dangerous Express van, Help!
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,570
Likes: 20
Dangerous Express van, Help!
This is my work issued van. It likes to skip and hop across the pavement when braking, especially bad on wet pavement, and turns. It did this today on dry pavement, wheels straight forward at under 25 mph. I went thru a stop sign. This is what our mechanic said when he "cured" it. "The linkage might be slightly loose and he put a thicker grease in." The van is a 2000 or a 2001, they say it only has 36,000 miles on it. The brake pedal pad was replaced last December, after it fell apart. The Drivers seat is worn out, and the door seals leak. So I doubt it has that low of milage on it.
Before this Van kills me, can you tell me what is wrong so I can file a complaint with Safety. BTW, they had another van that did the same thing. That Van hit a concrete loading dock wall, at under 20 mph, (air bags weren't deployed) supposedly it is fixed, and was given to another department.
Before this Van kills me, can you tell me what is wrong so I can file a complaint with Safety. BTW, they had another van that did the same thing. That Van hit a concrete loading dock wall, at under 20 mph, (air bags weren't deployed) supposedly it is fixed, and was given to another department.
Super Moderator
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,472
Likes: 2,799
Make
Model
Year
Miles
Equipment
Tire size and type--such as "Forklift compound retread" like ours.
Any lights on the dash. Do they light up when you first start the vehicle?
Other vehicles of this type in the fleet?
Model
Year
Miles
Equipment
Tire size and type--such as "Forklift compound retread" like ours.
Any lights on the dash. Do they light up when you first start the vehicle?
Other vehicles of this type in the fleet?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,920
Likes: 2
From: Carson City, NV
By any chance does it have drum brakes in the rear? I know if you have out of round drum brakes in the rear, it can cause hoping. Had a 79 f150 that used to like to dance when coming to a stop!
pedant
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,576
Likes: 38
From: EXTREME southwest CT
I sometimes drive an '01 Savana 3500.
Rolling on E rated Cooper Discoverer ATR's in the stock size.
The van does have some weight in it most of the time.
The brakes and steering are always an issue with that vehicle.
Tires chunk, it shudders coming to a stop and the steering effort sometimes drops to nothing as you're negotiating a turn.
I don't have an answer for you but can say that it's been to multiple dealers and numerous alignment shops with no long term solution.
New rotors, pads and calipers seem to help for a short while but personally I think the whole front end isn't up to the task.
Rolling on E rated Cooper Discoverer ATR's in the stock size.
The van does have some weight in it most of the time.
The brakes and steering are always an issue with that vehicle.
Tires chunk, it shudders coming to a stop and the steering effort sometimes drops to nothing as you're negotiating a turn.
I don't have an answer for you but can say that it's been to multiple dealers and numerous alignment shops with no long term solution.
New rotors, pads and calipers seem to help for a short while but personally I think the whole front end isn't up to the task.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 188
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh PA (Northside)
Does the van have drum brakes on the rear? If so, in a safe area with lots of room, try stopping the van with parking brake only. See if she shakes. We put rear brakes on a chevy pickup, shook when I stopped, replaced shoes with a different type and had the drums cut (they were new, got a quick shave). That fixed it.
I would refuse to drive that van. That is unsafe.
Your employer should find a new mechanic.
I would refuse to drive that van. That is unsafe.
Your employer should find a new mechanic.
