Should I Disconnect My Trailer Brakes?

izoomie

izoomie

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I just picked up a 2007 18' Legend with a 90 Merc 4 stroke. The boat is 1,700# and the motor is 400#. I'm towing with a Jeep Liberty with a 5000# capacity.

I was thrilled to see the trailer came with surge brakes but when I drove it home it was banging every time I started and stopped. Of course the brake fluid was low so I filled that and primed it abit in the driveway and I can see it leaking under the master cylinder. Not at the brake line connection. It's a Tie Down 66 actuator and the new MC is almost as much as a new actuator. The whole actuator is $200 here in Ontario.

This thing is only five years old. Will I be replacing it every five years if I get a new one now?

What do you guys think of just putting a plane coupler on the trailer and plugging the brake line that went to the MC?

My heart says I should make the thing work properly, if I do, what other manufacturer of surge coupler do you recommend for this kinda light rig?

Thanks for the feedback
 
G

gtochris

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Re: Should I Disconnect My Trailer Brakes?

izoomie said:
My heart says I should make the thing work properly, if I do, what other manufacturer of surge coupler do you recommend for this kinda light rig?

Thanks for the feedback
Click to expand...
Fix it. I'm guessing it was under-used before or poorly maintained.
 
Silvertip

Silvertip

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Re: Should I Disconnect My Trailer Brakes?

If you are the even the least bit handy, buy a wheel cylinder hone, some brake fluid, and a rebuild kit for the master cylinder. Disassemble it, hone the cylinder using a drill & the hone, clean it thoroughly, reassemble and then fill and bleed the system. Done. Or, just replace the master cylinder. Check right here on IBoats for a replacement master cylinder or your local auto parts store. There should be some numbers on the cylinder. Take it along when you shop. To not use the brakes is a poor decision. When trailering, you need all the help available regardless what the tow vehicle is.
 
izoomie

izoomie

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Re: Should I Disconnect My Trailer Brakes?

Silvertip said:
some brake fluid, and a rebuild kit for the master cylinder.
Click to expand...

I'd love to find a rebuild kit. I have only found a master cylinder so far and that's not much cheaper than the entire unit. Have you seen this rebuild kit somewhere, or are you saying I can bring this master cylinder to my auto parts place and they may be able to match it?

I'm good with car brakes and I'm confident I can fix this if I can get the parts, that seems to be the issue.
 
bruceb58

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Re: Should I Disconnect My Trailer Brakes?

Rebuild kits are worthless and a highly doubt you would even find one. They don't last long at all. Buy a new master cylinder and new wheel cylinders. Have you taken off the drum to see what it looks like back there? You may just replace the whole backing plate assembly. They are actually pretty inexpensive.

Post a picture of your surge brake unit or post the model number.
 
Last edited:
roscoe

roscoe

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Re: Should I Disconnect My Trailer Brakes?

Your Liberty needs all the help it can get.

Fully loaded with boat, motor, trailer, gear, fuel, spare tire, you are heavier than you think.

Fix or replace.
 
izoomie

izoomie

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Re: Should I Disconnect My Trailer Brakes?

Ok, I'm all in for fixing it. No I have not looked under the drums yet but I agree that getting the master cylinder and wheel cylinders is the right thing to do at least.

The surge brake unit is a Tie Down Model 66.
 
izoomie

izoomie

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Lou C

Lou C

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Re: Should I Disconnect My Trailer Brakes?

Yep I'd fix it too, I towed my '88 Four Winns (at least 3700 on the trailer) maybe 2 times without brakes the first year I had it. After feeling like I could not stop it, I got a new axle from Champion Trailers with brake flanges, and a set of drum surge brakes. I have the same Tie Down Model 66 coupler, 9 years later and it's still fine. I have replaced the wheel cylinders once but the last time I changed em I modified them to keep water out. Just the addition of properly functioning trailer brakes will do more to make your boat towing experience safer, than anything else. The Liberty has better brakes than my old ZJ series Grand Cherokee but still you should have brakes.
 
izoomie

izoomie

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Re: Should I Disconnect My Trailer Brakes?

When I bought this rid the fluid was so low the actuator just banged against the stops every time I started and stopped. Last night I filled the reservoir and took it across town for some tires and the brakes worked great. Much better feeling of control. I'm really sold on fixing these the right way.

The trailer manufacturer is looking into parts for me but they may be as expensive as the last quote. In any case I'll either get parts or put an entire new actuator on it.

Thanks for letting me know you have one and it works well Lou, I'll stick with the same one and maintain it properly.

Great site, thanks for all the help so far.
 
dingbat

dingbat

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Re: Should I Disconnect My Trailer Brakes?

I have the same actuator on my trailer.... You can buy them from eastern trailer for $99 usd. A new aluminum actuator for the coupler is $69 USS
 
smokeonthewater

smokeonthewater

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Re: Should I Disconnect My Trailer Brakes?

I had the same problem with my 12,000 lb 30 tandem... I fixed it and will NEVER have any surge brake problems with it

I took the actuator and all 4 totally trashed backing plates off and tossed em in the scrap pile... then I replaced em with 4 new dexter never adjust electric assemblies for mush less than the parts to fix the hydro's and I welded my coupler up solid.... I LOVE my new brakes.... they work so much better than surge brakes... no hot brakes when engine braking down long grades... no backing issues and maybe the best is I can apply them manually when backing down a steep ramp if I want.

just a thought
 
izoomie

izoomie

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Re: Should I Disconnect My Trailer Brakes?

That's the thing. It's $200 here in Canada. I see them for $99 for the entire actuator and $60 for the Master Cylinder repair kit but the shipping and duty push the price up close to $200.

I have the trailer manufacturer sending me the gasket for the top of the M/C and if that doesn't work, I'll be buying one of these.
 
E

Elkhornsun

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Re: Should I Disconnect My Trailer Brakes?

Your Liberty may be able to pull 5,000 lbs. but the real question is how far it will go before you can bring it to a complete stop from 55 MPH. My guess is that without the trailer brakes working the stopping distance for the Liberty will be doubled.
 
skyking897

skyking897

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Re: Should I Disconnect My Trailer Brakes?

I see you are from Hamilton so you won't be needing your boat and trailer for some time so be patient. Those actuators are almost always on sale at Princess Auto. I think the last time I saw them on sale there, it was in the $100-150 range, might even have been $99. One nice thing about Princess Auto, if you missed a sale, you can almost always talk the manager into giving you the last sale price.
 
izoomie

izoomie

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Re: Should I Disconnect My Trailer Brakes?

Oh, very cool. I didn't know that. I'll watch for the next sale. Thanks
 
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