3 days on brakes,PLEASE HELP

[kellydee]

I just put new Tie-Down disc brakes on my trailer.They just do not free wheel when pressure is released .Finally,after dealing with master cyl, I thought,maybe lines.I pumped the master to bind them,let off,removed the lines at the caliper,and they still take considerable pressure to turn.Only 1 caliper loosens enough to wiggle a little.To freewheel,I have to squeez the caliper by hand to release enough pressure to freewheel.How much drag should they have?Barely any,right?Shouldn't they freewheel as soon as I release the pressure on the master cyl?Is tie-down a s@#$* system?Had Kodiacs before but they were shot.Steel calipers were rusted and all pads were shot due to previous owner who converted from drum not removing residual valve from master.I posted on the trailer forum but,seems pretty dead there. Thanks Jerry

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 3 days on brakes,PLEASE HELP

I don't have anything for you on brakes....
And this doesn't help...I'm putting THESE electric brakes on my trailer when I swap them out.

Hows the new engine running?

 

[Coors]

Re: 3 days on brakes,PLEASE HELP

How much pressure are you talking about?

 

[180shabah]

Re: 3 days on brakes,PLEASE HELP

Is tie-down a s@#$* system?

I will say this, Tie Down is developing quite a reputation, and it isn't good. I would definately recomend the Kodiacs over tie down.

You are right about the dragging, it should be minimal, no different than your truck. This seams to be the number one problem with these brakes, consider yourself lucky that you discovered it in the driveway and not 100 miles from home with your wheels destroyed from the heat.

 

[kellydee]

Re: 3 days on brakes,PLEASE HELP

I don't have anything for you on brakes....
And this doesn't help...I'm putting THESE electric brakes on my trailer when I swap them out.

Hows the new engine running?

Hi Rick,I haven't started it yet.I thought i'de take care of the trailer brakes befor I pulled it out of the shop doorway to start it but,I'm having problems.The tieiDowns must be crappy.I've never seen brakes that dont freewheel.2 weeks working on the brakes.Not every day but,every free day.Not very happy right now.I spent $800 on the new brakes and as I said,pumped them up and removed the lines AT THE CALIPER.They just do not release properly.They take considerable force to turn by hand unless I squeez the caliper.

 

[kellydee]

Re: 3 days on brakes,PLEASE HELP

How much pressure are you talking about?

If I grab two lugs,one with index finger and 1 on thumb,I can barely turn it.

 

[kellydee]

Re: 3 days on brakes,PLEASE HELP

I will say this, Tie Down is developing quite a reputation, and it isn't good. I would definately recomend the Kodiacs over tie down.

You are right about the dragging, it should be minimal, no different than your truck. This seams to be the number one problem with these brakes, consider yourself lucky that you discovered it in the driveway and not 100 miles from home with your wheels destroyed from the heat.

I was just on the Kodiac site and they don't have a listing for a distributor in WA state.

 

[kellydee]

Re: 3 days on brakes,PLEASE HELP

I will say this, Tie Down is developing quite a reputation, and it isn't good. I would definately recomend the Kodiacs over tie down.

You are right about the dragging, it should be minimal, no different than your truck. This seams to be the number one problem with these brakes, consider yourself lucky that you discovered it in the driveway and not 100 miles from home with your wheels destroyed from the heat.

In my experiance,when the brake is released,you should be able to grab ONE lug and spin the rotor.Not happening here.! of the calipers releases enough to freewheel.In other words,I can grab the rotor and spin it and it will still spin when I let go.the other 3,I can not turn by grabbing just one lug.

 

[Coors]

Re: 3 days on brakes,PLEASE HELP

If I grab two lugs,one with index finger and 1 on thumb,I can barely turn it.

I think that will wear in quickly. With the tire on, if you can spin the tire with one hand, you are good.

 

[kellydee]

Re: 3 days on brakes,PLEASE HELP

I think that will wear in quickly. With the tire on, if you can spin the tire with one hand, you are good.

I'm sure with the tire on I could turn it with one hand,maybe spin.I don't know and now I have completely removed all brake lines from the trailer for inspection.All seem fine to me but ,now I can't pump them up and put a tire on to try it until lines are re-installed and bled.Just seems to me if I remove the line at the caliper,it should turn easily.If I grip the rotor with one hand,I can TURN it,Not spin it

 

[Coors]

Re: 3 days on brakes,PLEASE HELP

I'm an ex-Chevy mechanic; you're ok.

 

[Coors]

Re: 3 days on brakes,PLEASE HELP

The pad always drags on the rotor, that is how they self-adjust.
No disc will free-wheel like drums.

 

[kellydee]

Re: 3 days on brakes,PLEASE HELP

I know the pads drag slightly but I'm talking HARD to turn.I got ahold of the trailer place where I got the brakes and low and behold,they've got a guys boat trailer back that THEY put the same brakes on a couple weeks ago.MANUFACTURING DEFECTS !! They have 8 sets right now that are bad.Oops make that 11 counting mine.The calipers bind up on the slide pins.Either brackets are bent or the pins are not perfectly square with one another.After removing them from the trailer,I put the calipers on the brackets and I could hold the bracket with the pins faceing up and the calipers would not fall down the pins against the bracket.3 outa 4 were bad.I assembled the new calipers on the new brackets before I took them out of the store.Couple of hours in the AM and I SHOULD be looking good. Thanks Guys. Jerry

 

[180shabah]

Re: 3 days on brakes,PLEASE HELP

I wouldn't trust them, but hope they work out for ya'

 

[Coors]

Re: 3 days on brakes,PLEASE HELP

Yeah, I put Kodiac ceramics on mine.

 

[kellydee]

Re: 3 days on brakes,PLEASE HELP

Confirmed,All installed and operating PERFECTLY ! 1 finger free spinning.Beautiful.I did notice that the brake flanges were not perfectly flat.Had kinda "humps" or "high spots"between each hole.This could easily throw the angle of the mounting brackets off so,I added washers between the brake flanges and the mounting brackets to compensate for this rather than grinding the flanges.Brackets are square with rotors, everything clears and plenty of room for caliper travel.PERFECT ! Very smooth,lock up tight and release perfectly upon release.Free-spin with only SLIGHT drag on pads.Just like brand new,go figure.

 

[180shabah]

Re: 3 days on brakes,PLEASE HELP

Congrats Kellydee!!

You may have discovered something here. Could the uneven flanges have out the caliper brackets in a bind when it was all torqued down? Makes you wonder how many of the problems with the tie down brakes may have been caused by poor mountng surfaces?