Doc on tour, France, Spain, Morroco.

[Northernraider]

So many conflicting options I'm sure your heads melted...
I'll going back up to delete mine lol

Yep exactly.

And then you get other opinions in the middle that just think I'm being tight.


There's an old saying

"A fool and his money are easily parted"

If I'd spent my life up to now just throwing money away on vehicles and other things I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing now.

Being cautious and thinking things through has saved me a fortune over the years and allowed me to have travelled like I've done.


A few hundred quid might not make a difference to some folk but it really does to me.

 

[JockandRita]

It can also be hard if you're skint lol . Which I would be if I listened to all you folk with pensions or wages.

Still no job offers

My suggestion of getting it done regardless, has now't to do with costs, but more to do with safety, ie, yours and your furry passengers.

I have witnessed the devastation and tragic results of Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs), including decapitation. Skimping on safety, especially on brakes and tyres is simply not worth it, and is tantamount to being guilty of gross negligence, if we are being honest with each other Tam.

Sorry if that bothers you.

Jock.

 

[CaptainPaul]

Yep exactly.

And then you get other opinions in the middle that just think I'm being tight.


There's an old saying

"A fool and his money are easily parted"

If I'd spent my life up to now just throwing money away on vehicles and other things I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing now.

Being cautious and thinking things through has saved me a fortune over the years and allowed me to have travelled like I've done.


A few hundred quid might not make a difference to some folk but it really does to me.

Totally understand mate
Hope you find a happy medium somewhere that's keeps you safe on the road & still enjoying your lifestyle

 

[Northernraider]

It may be a relatively simple problem statement for diagnosis I guess. As I understood it:

• Braking is normally ok.
• When I go down a long hill my brakes fade.
• When this happens, in recent months, my brake pedal stayed in the same position.

Or, alternatively,

- When this happens my brake pedal sinks to the floor.

I've had both .

Before I had the fluid changed I had what I personally know of as brake fade ...ie going down a long hill the pedal suddenly went to the floor and I had to pump it to get brakes. Stop let it cool down and brakes returned. Caused by the brakes getting really hot and boiling the fluid.



The other day was different. Going down hill brake pedal still firm but not stopping the van . That's not what I normally think of as brake fade.

It could however be lack of pressure at the calipers which by a few folks description of the fluid in master cylinder not creating pressure. Pointing to a fault in the cylinder.

If replacing the master cylinder fixes the fault permanently I'll be happy .

If however I pay out to have that replaced and think great brakes are fine then I go over the edge of the gorge de dades I'll be coming back to haunt all those who are adamant it's that and not entertaining the fact it could be something else.

Anyway I won't be in Agadir till Sunday or Monday morning and I'll go to their parts department then and see if they have one in stock or when they can get one.

And how much it costs.

Depending how that goes I may try some other parts supplier to see if they can get one.

In truth I have not seen many iveco daily vans in morroco so I don't think it's a popular brand here.

It's all sprinters or ducatos I see as busses and work vans.

 

[PaulW2]

I've had both .

Before I had the fluid changed I had what I personally know of as brake fade ...ie going down a long hill the pedal suddenly went to the floor and I had to pump it to get brakes. Stop let it cool down and brakes returned. Caused by the brakes getting really hot and boiling the fluid.



The other day was different. Going down hill brake pedal still firm but not stopping the van . That's not what I normally think of as brake fade.

It could however be lack of pressure at the calipers which by a few folks description of the fluid in master cylinder not creating pressure. Pointing to a fault in the cylinder.

If replacing the master cylinder fixes the fault permanently I'll be happy .

If however I pay out to have that replaced and think great brakes are fine then I go over the edge of the gorge de dades I'll be coming back to haunt all those who are adamant it's that and not entertaining the fact it could be something else.

Anyway I won't be in Agadir till Sunday or Monday morning and I'll go to their parts department then and see if they have one in stock or when they can get one.

And how much it costs.

Depending how that goes I may try some other parts supplier to see if they can get one.

In truth I have not seen many iveco daily vans in morroco so I don't think it's a popular brand here.

It's all sprinters or ducatos I see as busses and work vans.

Does the pedal sink closer to the floor when the master cylinder reportedly does this thing?
And, I guess, is it initially ok and then not as the hill progresses?

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[Northernraider]

My suggestion of getting it done regardless, has now't to do with costs, but more to do with safety, ie, yours and your furry passengers.

I have witnessed the devastation and tragic results of Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs), including decapitation. Skimping on safety, especially on brakes and tyres is simply not worth it, and is tantamount to being guilty of gross negligence, if we are being honest with each other Tam.

Sorry if that bothers you.

Jock.

If I didn't have brakes Jock I wouldn't be driving it. In 6 months I've had poor braking on hills a total of 3/4 times ...

If I was in Spain I'd have been in a garage yesterday. I'm not in Spain I'm in Morocco. My insurance Doesn't cover me here neither Does breakdown etc . I have 3rd party insurance in morroco that covers everyone bar me so the only person I'm putting at minimal risk is me.

I'm doing my best... since yesterday I've passed through 3 small towns that barely have normal shops etc ...certainly no vehicle parts or garages more than a small shed type thing .. and everything is cash only I can't even get diesel paying by card till I get to agadir which is still about 50 miles away. I currently have just over 1000 dirhams in cash which is about £100


There is not much I can do.

I've not seen an artic truck here hardly never mind a breakdown wagon that could transport a 6 tonne motirhome safely.

So trust me I'm not being blasia about this ....I'm on my own in a country I don't speak either of the languages with half a tank of diesel, 4 dogs , a intermittent brake problem. An intermittent power problem etc


I'm not having a party here believe me.

Last night I was on the brink of just heading back to Spain.

 

[Northernraider]

Does the pedal sink closer to the floor when the master cylinder reportedly does this thing?
And, I guess, is it initially ok and then not as the hill progresses?

The pedal is different when engine is running from when it's not. When engine off I have a firm pedal that will not go to the floor ever. When engine is running like the servo test I did yesterday the pedal will always normally go right to the floor if you kept it pressed .

When driving normally the van would have come to a complete stop long before the pedal would ever reach the floor. When I had brake fade in the UK it didn't...foot went to floor and I had to pump it to get enough brake to stop .


The other day the pedal travelled about half way down then it was firm ....but the van kept going.. I dropped the gears and popped the clutch as much as I could ....very high revs and not slowing a great deal ...a mix if pumping brakes and slowly lifting foot off clutch slowed me enough to take the bends and get down the hill . When I stopped at bottom either brakes or clutch or both were stinking.

Brake pedal back to normal when cool .

Brakes have been as normal ( for this van ) today

I've never considered the brakes on this van or my last iveco to be good

 

[PaulW2]

The pedal is different when engine is running from when it's not. When engine off I have a firm pedal that will not go to the floor ever. When engine is running like the servo test I did yesterday the pedal will always normally go right to the floor if you kept it pressed .

When driving normally the van would have come to a complete stop long before the pedal would ever reach the floor. When I had brake fade in the UK it didn't...foot went to floor and I had to pump it to get enough brake to stop .


The other day the pedal travelled about half way down then it was firm ....but the van kept going.. I dropped the gears and popped the clutch as much as I could ....very high revs and not slowing a great deal ...a mix if pumping brakes and slowly lifting foot off clutch slowed me enough to take the bends and get down the hill . When I stopped at bottom either brakes or clutch or both were stinking.

Brake pedal back to normal when cool .

Brakes have been as normal ( for this van ) today

I've never considered the brakes on this van or my last iveco to be good

Does sound grim.

I guess belt and braces one could replace the master cylinder as has been suggested and see how that goes.

But my suspicion is that you may still have Iveco brakes at the end of it, that are prone to overheating and fade. Mine never inspired confidence either but they weren't that bad. I found quite a big difference between using the van at say an unloaded 4.8t versus fully loaded-with-motorbike-on-back 5.5t. So the brakes weren't really up to the loaded vehicle's weight. Being unable to stop down a hill is however clearly next level.

It does make me wonder if there isn't also something else one can do - discs, pads, calipers - that would improve performance and heat dispersion. But probably not cheap. And maybe not in Morocco...

(And at least you're aware of the problem so can, as far as possible, brake intermittently on the long descents to avoid too much heat build up.)

 

[JockandRita]

I'm doing my best... since yesterday I've passed through 3 small towns that barely have normal shops etc ...certainly no vehicle parts or garages more than a small shed type thing .. and everything is cash only I can't even get diesel paying by card till I get to agadir which is still about 50 miles away. I currently have just over 1000 dirhams in cash which is about £100


There is not much I can do.

I've not seen an artic truck here hardly never mind a breakdown wagon that could transport a 6 tonne motirhome safely.

So trust me I'm not being blasia about this ....I'm on my own in a country I don't speak either of the languages with half a tank of diesel, 4 dogs , a intermittent brake problem. An intermittent power problem etc


I'm not having a party here believe me.

Last night I was on the brink of just heading back to Spain.

I'm sorry things are getting to you Tam, and it certainly wasn't my intention to make things appear worse for you, seriously.
I know you've not asked for my opinion, but I am going to give it anyway, ie, if I was in your current situation and feeling as low about things the way you appear to be, I'd be heading back to Spain myself. I kid you not. If that's where your head and your heart feel they need to be, then you go for it.

Good luck whatever you decide to do.

Jock.

 

[Barclaybasher]

Sorry for chipping in again but would it be worth checking the condition of the pads at the front?

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[JockandRita]

Does sound grim.

I guess belt and braces one could replace the master cylinder as has been suggested and see how that goes.

But my suspicion is that you may still have Iveco brakes at the end of it, that are prone to overheating and fade. Mine never inspired confidence either but they weren't that bad. I found quite a big difference between using the van at say an unloaded 4.8t versus fully loaded-with-motorbike-on-back 5.5t. So the brakes weren't really up to the loaded vehicle's weight. Being unable to stop down a hill is however clearly next level.

It does make me wonder if there isn't also something else one can do - discs, pads, calipers - that would improve performance and heat dispersion. But probably not cheap. And maybe not in Morocco...

(And at least you're aware of the problem so can, as far as possible, brake intermittently on the long descents to avoid too much heat build up.)

Paul, even before taking official ownership of our 2006 Iveco Flair, I was quite happy with the brakes on the test drive, and again when I collected her from up north and drove her home. The only brake problems I've had in the five years of ownership, were with the faulty brake master cylinder, and with squealing front brakes a few weeks after the pads were changed. A different brand of pad soon sorted that out. I am very pleased with her overall breaking performance, especially plated at 6850Kgs, though I do my very best avoid emergency braking.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Northernraider]

I'm sorry things are getting to you Tam, and it certainly wasn't my intention to make things appear worse for you, seriously.
I know you've not asked for my opinion, but I am going to give it anyway, ie, if I was in your current situation and feeling as low about things the way you appear to be, I'd be heading back to Spain myself. I kid you not. If that's where your head and your heart feel they need to be, then you go for it.

Good luck whatever you decide to do.

Jock.

I have my heart set on having the paintwork etc sorted Jock so I want to do that if I can.

Then I'll probably head back to Spain. I've 4 weeks left of shengen time. And need to be back in UK mid to end of march at the latest if I want a job this summer.

Sorry for chipping in again but would it be worth checking the condition of the pads at the front?

I checked pads when I had wheel off the other week to spray the waste gate.

Pads look the same as when I fitted them in September. Discs are now a lot cleaner though as I've put 3000 mile on it.

Paul, even before taking official ownership of our 2006 Iveco Flair, I was quite happy with the brakes on the test drive, and again when I collected her from up north and drove her home. The only brake problems I've had in the five years of ownership, were with the faulty brake master cylinder, and with squealing front brakes a few weeks after the pads were changed. A different brand of pad soon sorted that out. I am very pleased with her overall breaking performance, especially plated at 6850Kgs, though I do my very best avoid emergency braking.

Cheers,

Jock.

You have to bare in mind though Jock that yours is the newer model than mine so who knows if the brakes have been improved on that model , mobys brakes were never great , I had 2 previous mk3 iveco vans but a lot lighter than this and I don't recall any bad brakes on them. But I've never felt the brakes on this to be fantastic. I just put it down to it being a big heavy van ....but it could be because it's sat unused and there's worn parts .

I do wonder though if it's the same discs, calipers etc on this van as it is on say a 4.5 tonne van ....in which case I'd expect them to not be as good on a heavier van and of course I'm sat at nearly the max weight of 6 tonne.

I'd not like to be towing or have any increased weight on this as the power still is not great and of course the braking issues.


I still love this van to bits and over time I aim to have it looking and driving the best I can ..... but poco a poco as the Spanish would say.

 

[Northernraider]

So anyway ...enough about the brakes for now as I can't do anything till Monday now.


So here's some pics I've taken yesterday and today that I couldn't post till I got Internet.


Yesterday

I liked that park up , had I not lost my Internet I'd have stayed another night or two. Lots of friendly strays and I absolutely loved the donkeys...they were good fun . Although one did bite me several times. The first few was just like it gripping my arm playing but then it really nipped me twice with just the front teeth which was bloody sore.

I'm happy to say that 90% of the dogs I've encountered this time have been in good shape. Only a few have been really thin and a few battle scars from pack fallouts but no serious injuries thankfully. And all the donkeys looked in good shape too.

 

[mackeellan]

Hiya pal. You are once again sat in the middle of a problem that is getting to you.
How many times have you been here before? Each time you sort it and life gets back to your no.ormal
If I left your thread and came back in a few weeks you'd be sorted.
Keep smiling at life cos it'll kick you if you don't. You will get sorted cos you're you. Good luck

 

[Northernraider]

This mornings walkies ....this mamma dog was such a gentle sweetheart with me but understandably very barky towards my dogs guarding her young puppies ... they are about 5/6 weeks old at a guess ...there were originally 9 but I could only see 7 today so I'm hoping no one has removed them from mum already as too young or that anything has happened to them ...they do tend to all wander about and poor mum has a job to try and round them all up . One pup has piercing blue eyes ...all very cute



Blu and milo found a goat or baby donkey leg on the beach and came running with it all excited .... bad boring daddy took it off them of course .

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[PaulW2]

That was a lucky escape. This donkey has murder in his heart.

 

[corconx]

Tam, if you need cash soon, cannot CaptainPaul bring some with him when he comes? You can pay him back when you see him. Just a thought

 

[Northernraider]

And after finding a mobile shop today right next to a mosque with everyone outside on their knees as I strut past all hair and tattoos in shorts and a vest top feeling very conspicuous I managed to get another maroc telecom sim for my phone and an inwi one for my spare phone as back up so I hopefully avoid that situation again which I must say was quite daunting . I rely on my phone for everything. Finding water , parkups etc etc and for contact with the English speaking outside world so I was having a mini panic attack this morning imagining all sorts.


Anyway I continued south towards tagazhoute.... I'm parked up on a cliff top with a lovely view and there's a whole village of cliff houses and shanty style cabins below me.. it looks almost deserted but as you walk through people pop faces out of windows and doorways ... its like being on the set of a star wars film or something.

A very chilled stray here just enjoying the sunset till 3 others came charging over and scared him away..

I find the strays are very territorial and pack rivalry is strong among them

Overall my experience of morroco so far this trip has been better, but I've been deliberately avoiding busier places and touristy places ....the locals I've encountered haven't been too pushy either and I've been free parkups all the way bar the first night in assilah.

I get strange looks all the time whether I have dogs with me or not so I guess it's my size and the tattoos etc ....I think I scare the women and the men don't know what to think of me. It does make you a little self conscious at times. But the ones I've spoke to have been friendly etc.


I do plan to have a look around the medina in Agadir when I'm there as I've not really been in any so far.

I've been quite content travelling by myself , I've met and chatted to a few folk here and there when I feel like it. By coincidence I've ended up parked with nige the fella from yorkshire again tonight as he was on this parkup when I arrived ... Great minds think alike as they say.

 

[Northernraider]

Tam, if you need cash soon, cannot CaptainPaul bring some with him when he comes? You can pay him back when you see him. Just a thought

I'll hopefully find a cash exchange place in Agadir. I've plenty of euros with me just not dirhams and because I use my Halifax clarity normally if I withdraw cash on it I get charges which I'm trying to avoid.

Once I change more euros I'll be fine.

I made a point of bringing plenty euros with me but got talked out of exchanging cash at port lol and I've not found another cash exchange since assilah.

 

[MichaelT]

And after finding a mobile shop today right next to a mosque with everyone outside on their knees as I strut past all hair and tattoos in shorts and a vest top feeling very conspicuous I managed to get another maroc telecom sim for my phone and an inwi one for my spare phone as back up so I hopefully avoid that situation again which I must say was quite daunting . I rely on my phone for everything. Finding water , parkups etc etc and for contact with the English speaking outside world so I was having a mini panic attack this morning imagining all sorts.


Anyway I continued south towards tagazhoute.... I'm parked up on a cliff top with a lovely view and there's a whole village of cliff houses and shanty style cabins below me.. it looks almost deserted but as you walk through people pop faces out of windows and doorways ... its like being on the set of a star wars film or something.

A very chilled stray here just enjoying the sunset till 3 others came charging over and scared him away..

I find the strays are very territorial and pack rivalry is strong among them

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Overall my experience of morroco so far this trip has been better, but I've been deliberately avoiding busier places and touristy places ....the locals I've encountered haven't been too pushy either and I've been free parkups all the way bar the first night in assilah.

I get strange looks all the time whether I have dogs with me or not so I guess it's my size and the tattoos etc ....I think I scare the women and the men don't know what to think of me. It does make you a little self conscious at times. But the ones I've spoke to have been friendly etc.


I do plan to have a look around the medina in Agadir when I'm there as I've not really been in any so far.

I've been quite content travelling by myself , I've met and chatted to a few folk here and there when I feel like it. By coincidence I've ended up parked with nige the fella from yorkshire again tonight as he was on this parkup when I arrived ... Great minds think alike as they say.

Is Nige stalking you

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[Northernraider]

Is Nige stalking you

Nah he was here first lol

I'm worried he thinks I'm stalking him lol

 

[scousebird]

I've been quite content travelling by myself

That's good to hear

 

[alex n]

Nah he was here first lol

I'm worried he thinks I'm stalking him lol

are you

 

[Dutch 68]

Not with 4 dogs

I had 3 horses, two dogs, 5 cats, 3 sheep and a rabbit at the same time, just got someone else to look after them every now and then, life moves in mysterious ways, I love animals but have many other interest, as Maroc is filling up with funsters, maybe you could have someone looking after them for a day, it might do you good to sometimes have a dog free day, they would still love you just as much, maybe even more, just as with kids, sometimes you need some me time

 

[Northernraider]

are you

Nah it was pure coincidence. But I think like me he prefers the quiet places away from the crowds

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[Northernraider]

I had 3 horses, two dogs, 5 cats, 3 sheep and a rabbit at the same time, just got someone else to look after them every now and then, life moves in mysterious ways, I love animals but have many other interest, as Maroc is filling up with funsters, maybe you could have someone looking after them for a day, it might do you good to sometimes have a dog free day, they would still love you just as much, maybe even more, just as with kids, sometimes you need some me time

We are all miles apart.

Besides my dogs are a handful , I choose to have then other folk don't.

They're number 1 in my life

 

[Dutch 68]

Does sound grim.

I guess belt and braces one could replace the master cylinder as has been suggested and see how that goes.

But my suspicion is that you may still have Iveco brakes at the end of it, that are prone to overheating and fade. Mine never inspired confidence either but they weren't that bad. I found quite a big difference between using the van at say an unloaded 4.8t versus fully loaded-with-motorbike-on-back 5.5t. So the brakes weren't really up to the loaded vehicle's weight. Being unable to stop down a hill is however clearly next level.

It does make me wonder if there isn't also something else one can do - discs, pads, calipers - that would improve performance and heat dispersion. But probably not cheap. And maybe not in Morocco...

(And at least you're aware of the problem so can, as far as possible, brake intermittently on the long descents to avoid too much heat build up.)

There might be upgraded callipers , bigger disc’s and softer compound brake pads on the market, when vehicles have a rep for poor performance brakes, suspension etc most of the time high performance parts are developed by third parties

 

[Dutch 68]

We are all miles apart.

Besides my dogs are a handful , I choose to have then other folk don't.

They're number 1 in my life

That’s fine , I merely point out that there are different ways, in most people’s life their children are the number 1 in their life’s that doesn’t mean that they cannot enjoy some me time

 

[Onemanandhisdog]

There might be upgraded callipers , bigger disc’s and softer compound brake pads on the market, when vehicles have a rep for poor performance brakes, suspension etc most of the time high performance parts are developed by third parties

I'm not sure Morelo, Concorde, Niesmann etc would have used 5 -7.5t Iveco chassis for so long if the brakes were pants, there is something wrong that needs getting to the bottom of.