I just got a trailer with non-working surge brakes (drum)

[perna00]

I just bought an 07' boat that has surge drum brakes. When I drove it home, the tailer slides and contacts both sides of the slide without resistance or slowing down. I read that the drum systems stick quite often. What should I check out first? Do they stick like car drum brakes with the star adjuster or is there another part that sticks? The boat will be going into brakish/salt water so is there anything I should do to help with their maintainance? Thanks.

 

[Bondo]

Re: I just got a trailer with non-working surge brakes (drum)

I just bought an 07' boat that has surge drum brakes. When I drove it home, the tailer slides and contacts both sides of the slide without resistance or slowing down. I read that the drum systems stick quite often. What should I check out first? Do they stick like car drum brakes with the star adjuster or is there another part that sticks? The boat will be going into brakish/salt water so is there anything I should do to help with their maintainance? Thanks.

Ayuh,.... The Fluid in the actuator....

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: I just got a trailer with non-working surge brakes (drum)

After you verify the fluid, check the slave cylinders and brake mechanisms. The brakes might just need adjustment, many don't adjust automatically. Great time to check the bearings and seals too.

If you find lots of problems, price out entire new backing plate assemblies with all parts (shoes, springs, slave cylinders etc.) already attached. They are generally really inexpensive. Might even be able to get ones with automatic adjusters too.

If you do opt to replace the backing plates, consider electric brakes, they are a nice upgrade over surge, IMO. I love mine.

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: I just got a trailer with non-working surge brakes (drum)

I just bought an 07' boat that has surge drum brakes. ?When I drove it home, the tailer slides and contacts both sides of the slide without resistance or slowing down.? I read that the drum systems stick quite often. What should I check out first? Do they stick like car drum brakes with the star adjuster or is there another part that sticks? The boat will be going into brakish/salt water so is there anything I should do to help with their maintainance? Thanks.

When checking the fluid, look for clarity. If rusty plan on replacing the fluid and possibly the master cylinder. Then pull the wheels and drums, check the condition of the parts. Don't try to reuse suspects parts, including the brake lines.

Don't be surprised if you find the drums and other parts useless. If that is the case give a lot of thought to changing to disc brakes, It is easy, and although a little more money, you will get years more use out of them, easy to verify they are working and easier to repair, and cheaper in the long run.

If you go with discs, do not use Tiedown. They are cheaper and their quality reflects it.

 

[Struc]

Re: I just got a trailer with non-working surge brakes (drum)

I'll just add my +1 to what was said above. I tried doing it the piece by piece method of fixing my trailer brakes, and ended up spending more that I had to in the end.

The backing plates with all parts assembled are really cheap. I got mine for $45 per side from Wholesale Marine online (yes, I looked here at iBoats first). http://www.wholesalemarine.com/p/DIC-4071500/

I also had a seized up master cylinder. Bought a whole new used coupler assembly, and it had a seized up master cylinder too. So, I ended up buying a new master cylinder. The whole drum brake head unit new can be bought for around $200. http://www.amazon.com/Atwood-Hydraulic-Surge-Brake-Actuator/dp/B0000AX4ZI/

 

[perna00]

Re: I just got a trailer with non-working surge brakes (drum)

Thanks for all the info guys. I just had a chance to check all the messages about it. I just pulled it out and checked the fluid. It was completely dry. I just filled it and I can't push the piece in like it did before. I'm thinking maybe there is a leak in the line. It takes quite a bit to leak all of the fluid out. I'll try it out next time I take it out. I'll let you know the update.

 

[perna00]

Re: I just got a trailer with non-working surge brakes (drum)

Well, the boat doesn't "clunk" upon braking so it is holding pressure. It does clunk upon acceleration though, so I'm thinking I need to bleed the air out of the brakes. I've bled car drum brakes, but how do I do the trailer? Just loosen bleeders and try to push piston back?

 

[Struc]

Re: I just got a trailer with non-working surge brakes (drum)

Is it holding pressure, or seized? If the master cylinder is seized, or the wheel cylinders are seized, it will hold pressure, or appear to, but the brakes aren't working.

Best way to find out is to jack up the trailer, use a pry bar to try and activate the master cylinder, and see if you can spin the wheels.

Sorry to say, if the master was dry, I'd bet it's seized.

 

[perna00]

Re: I just got a trailer with non-working surge brakes (drum)

Thanks for the advice. I'll take it apart this weekend. Looks like I'll need some new parts...

 

[Struc]

Re: I just got a trailer with non-working surge brakes (drum)

If you need just the master cylinder, this is the best price I found, providing you have the same setup as me with an Atwood actuator:

http://www.amazon.com/Atwood-Actuator-Master-Cylinder-Replacement/dp/B002BF8WMK/

But, as I mentioned above, it's also not a bad idea to just consider the whole head actuator unit, if yours looks in poor condition.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: I just got a trailer with non-working surge brakes (drum)

If the coupler was moving full throw when it was empty, it is obviously not seized. It tightened up after the fluid was added. Clunk going forward after a stop is pretty normal. You bleed the brakes the same way you do on a car. The difference is you need to figure a way to actuate the master cylinder.

 

[Mule Laker]

Re: I just got a trailer with non-working surge brakes (drum)

use a pry bar to try and activate the master cylinder

Now how would a guy do this? This is the only way to pump the surge brakes (I have a 2007 Glastron trailer)?

 

[04fxdwgi]

Re: I just got a trailer with non-working surge brakes (drum)

Now how would a guy do this? This is the only way to pump the surge brakes (I have a 2007 Glastron trailer)?

Easy to do on a Titan / Dico 10 coupler. I remove the breakaway lever (4 bolts) and stick the prybar in the hole and wife pushes on the lever as I bleed the calipers.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: I just got a trailer with non-working surge brakes (drum)

Use a stick to leverage against the safety chains.