broken bolt on brake actuator assembly

[wind]

I knew something was wrong and dealer found broken bolt on trailer's brake actuator assembly. There are 3 bolts that seem fine but the fourth was apparently over torqued a while ago (or the housing was damaged by previous owner, maybe backed into by the tow vehicle) and now broke. Service manager thinks it should be ok for local trips (he's trying to save me some money as it would cost a couple hundred dollars for him to disassemble the housing , insert new bolts and reassemble the housing). Anyone have a similiar experience or advice? I am thinking of 3 options: (1) do nothing and chance it, (2) have dealer take apart assembly and replace the bolts, or (3) maybe purchase an entire new assembly to play it safe since there was some obvious damage by the previous owner. I am not handy enough to do nor desire to do this job myself. Trailer is tandem axle, boat is 20ft center console with single 2 stroke outboard. Thanks.

 

[Cheetah 210es]

Re: broken bolt on brake actuator assembly

Got pics?

 

[wind]

Re: broken bolt on brake actuator assembly

unfortunately no pix- it's at the dealer/ service bay. The only damage visible is the front part of the assembly, about 1/4inch is peeled back at the top, almost like someone tried to pry it open with a screwdriver (or perhaps it was backed into and they try to bend the metal back). No other visibile damage. Thanks for any help or advice.

 

[Cheetah 210es]

Re: broken bolt on brake actuator assembly

Post pics when it comes back, sure it wont cost anything like $200 to fix.

 

[wind]

Re: broken bolt on brake actuator assembly

might be a few days till I can get there for pix. (they claim it's a lot of work to disassemble entire unit to get at the bolts and then reassemble everything). here's a generic picture of same unit and highlighted area:

 

[Cheetah 210es]

Re: broken bolt on brake actuator assembly

I missed the part about you not wanting to do it yourself, If you can hold a couple of wrenches and change your mind it's pretty straightforward and if it's the bolt I think it is you don't have to disturb the brakelines.

 

[wind]

Re: broken bolt on brake actuator assembly

I should've showed the broken bolt on the picture- have now attached a new picture, it's the first/ forward bolt of the 4. (thanks again)

 

[Cheetah 210es]

Re: broken bolt on brake actuator assembly

$200?? If it is that pattern coupler the bolt goes straight through and will take a full 2 minutes. Nothing else to dismantle.

 

[wind]

Re: broken bolt on brake actuator assembly

thanks- i'm going to pay them a visit to further investigate. (perhaps I am mistaken and it's one of the bolts under the actuator- he said it would be a lot of labor).

 

[Cheetah 210es]

Re: broken bolt on brake actuator assembly

If it is a different bolt try to get pics and make of coupler.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: broken bolt on brake actuator assembly

Assuming the head of the bolt or the nut is gone and all the inner parts, If any, are still on the bolt shaft...

Push the old bolt out with a phillips screwdrive to keep any spacers or washers from falling out.
Then use the new bolt to push the screwdrive back through and re-capture all the inner bits.

As stated, a 2 minute job, 5 if your overly cautious!

 

[wind]

Re: broken bolt on brake actuator assembly

supposedly it is the front bolt, however, the head is sheared off and the remainder of the bolt is threaded onto the housing, thus the need to remove the entire housing to access the bolt to be able to grab the piece that's left and unthread it from the housing (that's what they are saying, anyway).

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: broken bolt on brake actuator assembly

I would think this would be something that you could fix yourself very easily. Take out the broken one and slide a new one into place.

 

[Cheetah 210es]

Re: broken bolt on brake actuator assembly

Hard to say without pics or knowing manufacturer but usually its a bolt with a spacer in the middle and a nut on the other end.

The front bolt on the Atwood coupler isn't a mounting bolt (2nd pic) it is the pivot for the cylinder and needs to be replaced which is a little more involved but still simple.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: broken bolt on brake actuator assembly

Again, Just another guess....

From the pictures, it would appear that everything would be accessable just by lying on the ground, and looking up into the open bottom of the coupler.

But the "Do Nothing and Chance it!" Option would be ill advised!

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: broken bolt on brake actuator assembly

is there a nut on the other side? if so it should be a very straight forward repair. Tap out old broken bolt noteing any washers,spacers,etc. install new bolt(and any associated hdwr.) put on nut tighten and go..

 

[Al Kungel]

Re: broken bolt on brake actuator assembly

wind, If the picture of the actuator that you posted looks like that it is probably a Titan (Dico) model 60 (6000 lbs) I am guessing. Take a look at the attached pictures, these are from a Titan (Dico) model 60 actuator from my trailer. If it is the bolt that you indicated it should be a very simple and straight forward repair. A new model 60 actuator will cost you around $120-$130.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: broken bolt on brake actuator assembly

like Al mentioned, a new actuator is about $120. I just replaced my attwood actuator in less than 10 minutes. add 20 minutes to bleed the brakes, and I have a full 30 minutes in the job. even at a shop rate of $120 per hour, your ahead if you pay them to swap the parts. however if you can hold a wrench in your hand, its not that hard of a job.

 

[wind]

Re: broken bolt on brake actuator assembly

Thank you, thank you very much for all of the advice- very much appreciated (will get it back next week and try it myself, thanks to all of you).