New boat and trailer what to do to trailer brakes?

[paczowski123]

Well i just got a new boat a 98 bayliner Capri 1850 and it is one a trailer with trailer brakes. I opened up the trailer brake reservoir to find no fluid and what looked like rust. I went and looked at the brake drums and on one side I saw grease slug everywhere coming out from inside the brake dry
. To me it seems like the wheel bearing may be leaking first off, but second off do y'all think the brakes can be fixed without costing a ton. Could I just ad fluid bleedthem really well and they'd work? I don't notice the trailer causing a strain on my truck but I'd like them to be functional if possible. Does it sound like they are too far gone to mess with? I definitely don't want to ad fluid and have them lock up or something? Is there anywhere I can look that would tell me step by step how to bleed them? I am familiar with automotive brakes but this is a sifferent animal? I will try and post some pictures of the tounge and the system because I would have no idea where to start with the process.

 

[rickryder]

Re: New boat and trailer what to do to trailer brakes?

If there is rust in the master cyld it will be in the brake lines also.... Hate to be the bearer of bad news but.... I see a complete overhaul in your future... In my resto thread below you will find what I needed to do to make my trailer safe... Let me know if you need a link to where I got my parts.... What trailer is it btw?

 

[paczowski123]

Re: New boat and trailer what to do to trailer brakes?

If there is rust in the master cyld it will be in the brake lines also.... Hate to be the bearer of bad news but.... I see a complete overhaul in your future... In my resto thread below you will find what I needed to do to make my trailer safe... Let me know if you need a link to where I got my parts.... What trailer is it btw?

Well looks like I'll be continuing to run no trailer brakes lol idk about the make of the trailer. I'd have to look when I get home.

 

[1216bandit]

Re: New boat and trailer what to do to trailer brakes?

I went through the same thing...brake drums and shoes caked with grease and empty rusty master. I bought a new master and new backing plate with shoes along with new grease seals. If I could do it over I would have gone with electric.
Yes you can fix what you have without spending a ton...If I remember correctly the new master was around $100, brake shoes can be had pretty cheap and grease seals are only a couple of bucks. You can do a search for how to bleed surge brakes, it really is very simple and I'm sure there are videos on line

 

[rickryder]

Re: New boat and trailer what to do to trailer brakes?

Well if you want to risk harm to yourself and others by towing a 2500# boat plus the engine and gear weight:facepalm: Hope ya got a great lawer.........

 

[bruceb58]

Re: New boat and trailer what to do to trailer brakes?

A new master cylinder and 2 new brake assemblies(might get by with new slave cylinders) are needed.

Previous owner was overzealous with his grease gun more than likely which caused all the grease inside the drum. Not sure why people think they automatically need to put more grease in the bearing buddys every trip.

 

[04fxdwgi]

Re: New boat and trailer what to do to trailer brakes?

I went through the same thing...brake drums and shoes caked with grease and empty rusty master. I bought a new master and new backing plate with shoes along with new grease seals. If I could do it over I would have gone with electric.
Yes you can fix what you have without spending a ton...If I remember correctly the new master was around $100, brake shoes can be had pretty cheap and grease seals are only a couple of bucks. You can do a search for how to bleed surge brakes, it really is very simple and I'm sure there are videos on line

I just went thru the whole rebuild thing myself on a Titan 10 surge drum brake on rear axle only rig. The 20 year old brakes / backing plate / MC were all shot / rotted out. I converted over to Kodiak e-coated discs (used almost exclusively in fresh water), since I needed a full rebuild and the Disc setup actually wasn't that much more than drums. The MC was only like $55 (same price for drum as disc). I did add discs to the front axle, also. Made a HUGE difference in stopping ability on the 6000 lb rig.

The only real added expense for the discs over drums was the reverse lockout solenoid so I could back up. And, in typical fashion for me, the S/S 3AN flex lines for 4 calipers, MC and axles. The flex lines cost almost as much as the coversion kit for one axle. Could have used the much cheaper std rubber lines, but I always install S/S lines when I replace the OEM ones.

 

[paczowski123]

Re: New boat and trailer what to do to trailer brakes?

Where can i go to even find trailer parts? I looked on my trailer yesterday and could not find a manufacturer?

 

[paczowski123]

Re: New boat and trailer what to do to trailer brakes?

Where can i go to even find trailer parts? I looked on my trailer yesterday and could not find a manufacturer?

Note: I believe the trailer is an "escort" trailer that's what it says above the warning label. It also say DICO on the back of the braking unit on the tongue any ideas from this information what type of parts I need and where I cod find them?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: New boat and trailer what to do to trailer brakes?

there you go, you have Dico/Titan brake system. most likely a model 60 actuator (boats under 6000#)

post a few pics and we can help identify them, or look at sites like etrailer for Dico/Titan parts:

http://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Trailer_Coupler-sf-Brake_Actuator_Coupler.aspx

 

[roscoe]

Re: New boat and trailer what to do to trailer brakes?

championtrailer

easternmarine

 

[rickryder]

Re: New boat and trailer what to do to trailer brakes?

Found these guys to be very affordable
http://www.easternmarine.com/

And new brake line can be bought in a roll at the auto store...all you need then is some flare nuts and a double flare tool to make all new lines up.....very simple to do.

 

[paczowski123]

Re: New boat and trailer what to do to trailer brakes?

Thanks guy! I will look into it if I conjure up some spare cash