How hot should surge disc brakes get?

[youmansjason]

I recently had the master cylinder replaced on my 2007 tandem axle trailer. The brakes had not been working for several weeks due to a bad seal in the master cylinder.

Now that I got the trailer back, the brakes work great!! However, I noticed that with just a moderate amount of stop-and-go driving (like coming through the neighborhood with stop signs), the hubs got super hot! I was able to touch them without burning myself, but I could only touch for a few seconds.

I was concerned the brakes might have been dragging, so I went out and drove on a empty road (50 MPH for several miles), and just made one stop and checked the hubs. For this, they were nice and cool, so that rules out dragging.

Any ideas?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How hot should surge disc brakes get?

Sounds normal. Do the same with your vehicle and see how hot they get. Bet its pretty similar.

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: How hot should surge disc brakes get?

My SS Kodiaks get pretty freakin hot. The stainless does not dissipate heat well.

Feel your tow vehicle hubs. Are they hot? If so the trailer brakes are just doing their job.

After a new brake job (or repair of an old one) they will drag a bit before they surface to each other. This will cause additional heat but after 20 miles I'd think that would be over.

 

[jeffnick]

Re: How hot should surge disc brakes get?

You can use a handheld non-contact thermometer. I've seen my temps approaching 300? after hard braking in very hot weather - with no long term ill effects by using the right grease. I use the WalMart brand cartridge that says 'Marine' on it; with a drop point of 500?.

Cheap non-contact thermometer:
http://www.harborfreight.com/non-contact-pocket-thermometer-93983.html

 

[youmansjason]

Re: How hot should surge disc brakes get?

Thanks for the replies. I feel better now that mine are normal. They are about equivalent or maybe even a little cooler than the brakes on my truck after towing.

Mine are Kodiak brakes, but not the Stainless Steel.

I like that little handheld thermometer. I'll have to pickup one of those!

 

[642mx]

Re: How hot should surge disc brakes get?

Mine get really hot! So hot that you don't want to touch them... no problems yet, but I do let the trailer sit for a few minutes before dunking it the river. Its never good to put 300 degree metal parts in water.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How hot should surge disc brakes get?

Its never good to put 300 degree metal parts in water.

300 degrees is pretty much nothing. No problem dunking them. Unless you stopped fast from 70 MPH and immediately dunked them in the water, I wouldn't really worry about it

 

[642mx]

Re: How hot should surge disc brakes get?

300 degrees is pretty much nothing. No problem dunking them. Unless you stopped fast from 70 MPH and immediately dunked them in the water, I wouldn't really worry about it

Thats kind of the problem.... I know they are hot, but unsure really what temp they are. So I just let it sit while we uncover the boat, load all the crap, BS with our buddies at the dock, and then launch it. It makes me feel better.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How hot should surge disc brakes get?

Supposedly, you can warp the rotors on your car if you come down an offramp at high speed, slow down fast and then hit a puddle at the bottom of the ramp. The amount of time that it takes anyone to just get their boat ready to launch is more than sufficient for any heating the trailer brakes would get.

 

[The Hammer]

Re: How hot should surge disc brakes get?

You just don't want that smell of burning brakes. 300 degrees I would call normal, my get 500 or more going down a mountain.