Poor Braking Performance

[Thomv]

Last year I purchased a new aluminum float on trailer with duel disc brakes. Hauling a 6500 pound boat definitely needs good brakes. Most of last year the trailer brakes worked perfectly. This year it seems I have lost all my braking. Is there a way to adjust the disc brakes to bring them back up to what they were last year? I know, on drum brakes, there is a way to adjust them but I am new to the disc brake world and am wondering how do you adjust them?

 

[bruceb58]

You can't adjust them.

Have you tried jacking each wheel one at a time and applying the surge brake to make sure they all stop the wheel from spinning?

What brand are the disk brakes and the surge actuator?

 

[Thalasso]

Salt water boater?
There most likely froze up for the lack of rinsing after dunking. Like Bruce said. Pull the emergency cable to set the brakes. Jack it up and see if you can turn the wheels. You will see real quick.

 

[thumpar]

What kind of setup is it?

 

[tpenfield]

Yes, I would think that one/some of the disc pads are getting hung up in the caliper or something like that. Another way you can check a trailer disc brake system is to back up a hill (or ramp) with the electrical wiring disconnected. It should apply the brakes and give you an idea of which wheels are stopping and which are not so much.

 

[Thomv]

Interesting what I found concerning poor brake performance. The reverse solenoid mounted to the rear of the master cylinder male nipple had snapped and was laying inside the metal cover protecting it from the elements. I did not see this because the cover protecting it covered up the fitting going into the back of the master cylinder. I know will have to purchase an easy out to remove the brass fitting still threaded into the master cylinder. I have no idea why this fitting failed. The master cylinder was completely void of any brake fluid because of this failure. Amazing that I would have a failure like this on a trailer that is less than a year old. Maybe when the solenoid was installed the tech applied too much torgue on the fitting causing it to fail over time. My surge coupling is a Titan and the brakes are Kodiak on both axles

 

[bruceb58]

Hopefully, no moisture has entered the master cylinder and it is till good.

I wonder if vibration caused the nipple to fail.