Part 17 of our road trip across Northern Quebec and Eastern Canada. The 600 kilometers of rough gravel road through the wilderness of Labrador finally took its toll. Right before reaching the Newfoundland ferry, our van broke-down on the side of the road overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
VIDEO: GGC – 20 – Our minor break-down right before the Newfoundland ferry
Part 17 of our road trip across Northern Quebec and Eastern Canada. The 600 kilometers of rough gravel road through the wilderness of Labrador finally took its toll. Right before reaching the Newfoundland ferry, our van broke-down on the side of the road overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
Prayers out your way hurry up with another video wan to see what happened LOL
Hello
Derrick and Paula, you both make pretty good Bush Mechanics. You did very good!!!
I had to do such stuff as bypass clutch safety interlock so I could start the car and once wired the linkage between the shifting lever and the transmission so I could shift.
Prayers for your safety……. and sanity.
You could find a small piece of metal the approximate same dimensions as the missing clip, drill a hole in it, and bolt it on the same way until you get a new one. Canadian tire might stock them. Your fix worked well though. While you're at it, you might want to check all the other wheels and brakes.
Welcome you Newfoundland guys. Enjoy our beautiful province!
happy if it had to break it did where it did; now go to sea and relax. still have your empty wine box to mail your post cards home while you are at sea! have a good journey.
You two are taking us on such a journey. It's been a heck of a ride. Literally & figuratively. You are genius to manufacture that fix the way you did. That was awesome! Continued safe travels 🙂
I admire the way you deal with adversity and embrace the hardships as part of the journey.
I have seen an done a lot of crazy fixes but using wire to hold your brakes on, that's a new one.
Yikes! Harrowing!
It looks like you did everything you could to fix it with stock parts but needed to be inventive. Good luck finding that brake bracket. Maybe a salvage yard will have one?
PS – I fixed my distributor with a piece of aluminium foil once on a trip to St Louis.
What you could have possibly done was take the one clip you got and put it in the spot of the missing one. If the clip is the same as the one you lost that should have got you going till you got closer to civilization. Then put that wire on the back half. Just saying. You got it done all the same so it really doesn't matter. Fun times, eh?
Oh, such bad luck.. Been watching episode 1-15 in a stretch. Now holding fingers crossed watching episode by episode. Love and cheers /Mikael, Sweden
thank god you 2 are ok be safe
I love ridding ferries. Better luck in Newfoundland.
That sucks. Glad you were able to make it work. Is the swear jar full yet? Lol. Safe travels.
Is there no bolt that actually holds the caliper on. My Chevy has the same clips but there is a bolt that holds the caliper on. WOW. Good on you guys for making it to the ferry.
I know the outcome of the trip since I saw you guys in the parking lot back home…… So I know you make it in one piece. LOL
nice MacGyver job on the breaks
safe traveling you 2
I think you have done a great job for the moment… I know you will be "babying" you brakes.
Are the back ones disc as well?
If so, maybe stopping the front one locking up might keep you going for a bit.
I only know Toyota and I know the calipers are bolted in.
I hate it when that kind of thing happens, most often with a lack of tools etc.
Stay safe,
Doug. (Love your updates – Even though you mightn't!)
I had heard the clunking in previous videos, I thought it might be a shock bracket loose. Hope you have better luck finding the part on the island. Might be able to find the part at an auto junkyard.
I award you the invisible trophy for the most likable van couple on youtube. Its invisible but if you could see it, it is shaped like a brake bracket. Thank you for sharing this adventure with us. I hope Vanessa can change your brides mind to keep it going. I'd like to watch for many more years… Please dont take that as creepy as it sounds. lol
Need………..More……………..Videos…………..Please……………..Now…………….
I just did a caliper replacement on my 1985 dodge because the passenger side was not releasing. It only has 40000km on it, but, age did not do the rubber any good. I do have the old clips and will be keeping them in a thing box just in case I ever run into the same issue you had. A really easy DIY job. I am sure its fixed by now but Parts Source has a great selection. Take Care
Terrific "MacGyver" move fixing that brake cylinder!!!
Great job with the bailing wire. Gonna add that to my supplies to keep in the van.
Funny thing is, we had 2 caliper bolts break off just before we got to PEI bridge (also coming from Ontario). We were driving a GMC 2500 truck. My wheel never locked up but the caliper scrubbed on the inside of the rim when I applied the brakes. We got it fixed at Canadian Tire on PEI island. Hope homesteading is working out for you.
Great repair job (so far)!
i was afraid you use duck tape steel wire can get to quite far
I got motion sickness on that Boat.