DAF brakes - 4way valve & air dryer

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS OWNER AND FLEET OPERATORS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
1

The brakes jammed on on our 3 year old DAf this week, due to a problem with the 4 way valve.
Apparently when the vehicles were made ( 2006) they fitted the 4 way valve and air dryer, but didn’t include a filter, so there have been loads of problems with oil contamination.

If this fails under warranty they will replace it with the new improved model.
However even though they know it is a design fault they have never had a recall on this as far as we know - even though it can be quite dangerous if all brakes lock on!!

When you replace the 4 way valve you are advised to also change the air dryer for the new model as it is likely to contaminate again without the new oil filter. You cannot get the old model without the filter and also have to get a new bracket as well.

How do you find out if there has been a recall? Is there a central list like there is for cars?

Has anyone else experienced this? Apparently a number of companies have taken this up with DAF who have rejected all claims.

If you have a DAF - see if you can get it changed while under warranty and don’t wait for 3 weeks after it has run out !!!

2

from what i remember, it is not a 4 way valve, it is the APU Valve (fitted to the side of the air dryer on the facelift models) that fails, it shows up as a red warning light on the dashboard with EBS System Truck Warning.

I had mine go last week :angry:

as you say, it put all the brakes on, in the most inconvenient place :blush:

DAF have only had this problem since the Air Dryer and the APU valve have been sold as one unit

3

shuttlespanker:
from what i remember, it is not a 4 way valve, it is the APU Valve (fitted to the side of the air dryer on the facelift models) that fails, it shows up as a red warning light on the dashboard with EBS System Truck Warning.

I had mine go last week :angry:

as you say, it put all the brakes on, in the most inconvenient place :blush:

DAF have only had this problem since the Air Dryer and the APU valve have been sold as one unit

I have had 2 in just over 2 years :cry: Common fault methinks

4

Thanks - I have emailed DAF - I will let you know what kind of response I get from them… if I can find this posting again on page 72 in 6 months time!! :slight_smile:

In the mean time I have found this which may be of use to others

vosa.gov.uk/vosa/apps/recalls/default.asp

There have been no recalls on DAF’s made since 2004.
However in Australia there have been a number of recalls - this one is quite worrying!!

Defect Details: If the independent trailer handpiece is actuated while the vehicle is in cruise control, the cruise control will not cutout and the engine will continue driving. After the trailer brake is released the vehicle will also accelerate back to its original setting.

5

Mine went new years eve, just as i was going into Seaforth docks, £919 with the call out charge!!! The technician who came out reckons they replace quite a lot of them. It’s the same with the control stalk on the indicators, well more so the wiper control side & cruise control, Daf shift a lot of these units according to my local DAF agent, they’ll replace them under warranty with no quibble but not interested under any other circumstances!

6

haulier:
Mine went new years eve, just as i was going into Seaforth docks, £919 with the call out charge!!! The technician who came out reckons they replace quite a lot of them. It’s the same with the control stalk on the indicators, well more so the wiper control side & cruise control, Daf shift a lot of these units according to my local DAF agent, they’ll replace them under warranty with no quibble but not interested under any other circumstances!

did you ask him to wipe it when he removed it from your rear end :open_mouth: :open_mouth: :open_mouth: :open_mouth: :open_mouth:

mine cost me approx £850 for the call out, labour and parts, this included a type 24 brake chamber and a quick release valve (both for the trailer)

7

Interesting post, Owner Drivers - thanks for the heads-up.

I’m sorry you had the trouble and expense, though! :frowning:

8

'jacqueline.■■■■@daftrucks.com’

Is the contact from the DAF website - maybe you should all send in a similar email complaining!!

9

ive had three apu valves ,4 hub seals ,a whole new difff, new head on engine ,new pistons, astronic gear box been stripped twice ,new compresser head i could go on on unit only four years old still all said n dun could b a lot worse n have a scania badge on the front,least ive got a proper bed to slay down on while im waitin for recovery :laughing: :laughing:

10

monarch of the highway:
ive had three apu valves ,4 hub seals ,a whole new difff, new head on engine ,new pistons, astronic gear box been stripped twice ,new compresser head i could go on on unit only four years old still all said n dun could b a lot worse n have a scania badge on the front,least ive got a proper bed to slay down on while im waitin for recovery :laughing: :laughing:

" "
Cep’t mine’s a manual box, bodged up once and replaced once, as was the diff.
My baby’s over 7 now though with nearly 1/2 a mllon miles on her though.
Latest disaster (involving the APU valve surprsingly enough.
On my way into dealers for inspecton suspension goes up. Anyhow drop trailer, report ECAS fault and go home.
I picked her up at tea time, or try to. Couldn’t get brakes to release. Yeah I needed an APU valve. Borrowed a van, came back next morning, no fault found on suspension problem, APU valve replaced so off I go. Back at Darlington, suspension goes up again, right up, rock solid. I slid the fifth wheel right back (to stop the run up ramps fouilng on the trailer chassis) and bounced back to main dealer. Dropped my trailer and parked outside the worshop, waiting for the lads to finish their bait.
Suddenly BANG** An air bag blows (that got em out of the bait room)
Anyhow, they change the airbag fire her up, and the suspension starts to go up again, the only way they could stop it was to cut the airlnes, it now needed a new ECAS valve.
All in all a very expensive inspection :frowning:

11

monarch of the highway:
ive had three apu valves ,4 hub seals ,a whole new difff, new head on engine ,new pistons, astronic gear box been stripped twice ,new compresser head i could go on on unit only four years old still all said n dun could b a lot worse n have a scania badge on the front,least ive got a proper bed to slay down on while im waitin for recovery :laughing: :laughing:

thats why you need a big wide bed with all them BRAKE DOWNS YOU DAF LADS HAVE, and i guess thats why scanias have crappy beds as they dont brake down like them down hill trollie racers, buy ya self a proper bit of kit, never mind lying in bed you wanna be sat in the seat earning not dreaming of the repair bill :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

12

as steve cogan used to say in his early days BAG OF ■■■

13

I have received an e mail from DAF Trucks UK , In reference to some concerns you have in regards to a APU Valve / Air Dryer.

I can advise you of the DAF Maintenance Schedules for the Air System, these are carried out on a yearly basis and are a major contributing factor to the Prevention of the failure of the APU / Air Dryer.

Firstly a larger Air Dryer canister is now fitted, there is a slight modification required to the Air Dryer retaining bracket,this would of been advised to you on the purchase of this particular Air Dryer Canister from your DAF Parts Supplier, this is to allow the filter to clean the air more effectively, these air dryer canisters must be changed every year.

There is also a compressor line check which is also carried out on a yearly service, which ensures that there is no carbon build up in the compressor lines, and allows the air to flow freely through the APU.

On the Yearly service also carried out is Oil Carry over check, this is to ensure the compressor is not passing oil excessively , which would build up carbon in the compressor pipes, Air Dryer and APU.

If all these checks are carried out on a yearly service this will dramatically reduce the chance of failure of this part.

The reasons why it is recommended to change the Air Dryer and APU a cost issue as to buy the combined unit cost less that to purchase the two valves separately.

There was never a recall associated with the APU , there was a service action bulletin which I have detailed above, which was to be carried out on yearly services.

The issue with the brakes locking on, If there is a APU Failure , when the hand brake is applied the air is discharged from the hand brake system which results in the hand brake being brought on, this allows the hand brake to be in the on position , when you release the hand brake the Air can not get down port 23 from the APU to release the Hand brake, so therefore the vehicle would always be in a stationary position if this fault occurred.

You are more than welcome to book the vehicle in for any of the above checks to be carried out, these will be at a cost to yourselves , If you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me

Comments please…

14

They seem to be washing there hand’s of any wrong doing/blame. Personally,i don’t mind fixing a truck allbeit thru no fault of my own but-i don’t want the dealer to fob me off as the cheque is handed over.

Bad service.

15

Owner Drivers:
Comments please…

Tossers, although I can’t see the rest of the manufacturers attitude being any different as these type of components are usually bought in (Bosch, Knorr Bremse, Wabco etc)
wheres DafMad when the ■■■■ is starting to stick :grimacing:

16

Big Joe:
wheres DafMad when the [zb] is starting to stick

:open_mouth: :laughing: :unamused: Listen, I don’t make em or own the company.

Its up to you lot to stick up for yourselves and demand the work is done on warranty. Write to Truck & Driver Comical Motor or summat and make your stories known. Its just the sort of thing the others would do too, especially Volvo and Mercedes, not to mention Scania, the worst of the lot. I don’t suppose you remember the brake troubles they had particularly on the early crappy 4 series ?

17

All truck’s have there problem’s but a dealer should stand by a reoccuring problem.
Mercedes had no issues with early mp2 Actros’s when replacing broken wire’s in the armrest!!!

18

When servicing the later DAFs fitted the combined APU /air dryer unit it really does pay to redrill the mounting holes to lower the unit, which allows the fitting of a larger filter cartridge. But these larger filters cost nearly £60 with the vat! It’ easy enough to get at the bracket with the step removed and just redrill the holes about an inch or so lower than the originals.

The earlier filters that I fit on our 51 plate 1.2 million km XF give no problems at all, but the later Cf’s we run have had their APU’s and the ECAS valves changed too after the suspension went up and pulled the end of one the shock absorbers off which then went through the side of one of the tyres on one of them… :astonished:
I change our air dryer cartridges twice a year and even then there is still quite a bit of muck in the top of the unit when the filter is spun off. I think DAF saying once a year is way off.

19

ours have been changed every year - so i will be taking this one back to them… I will keep you posted with further updates

20

they saying change the filter once a year, the daf garage i get my parts from say the filter for the airdryer should be changed every service