Trailer brakes are inop

[flavtfan]

i have a magic tilt dual axle trailer with 4 disk surge brakes. i noticed last night that the rotors weren't looking like the brake pads had contacted them in a while so i disconnected the trailer from the wire harness on my truck and backed the trailer up and the brakes do not work. the tounge of the trailer is sliding in and out of the master cylinder just fine though(it is an inline hydraulic actuator). seems pressure is not getting to my brake calipers. i find it odd that all 4 calipers do not work. it makes me think it is a pressure problem. any suggestions?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Trailer brakes are inop

any suggestions?

Ayuh,... Did you check to see if there's any Brake Fluid in it,..??

 

[flavtfan]

Re: Trailer brakes are inop

haha....yeah i reckon i'll check that. i thought of it after i posted. the safety lanyard doesnt' feel like it's still connected inside the actuator though. don't know if that has anything to do with it.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trailer brakes are inop

The safety lanyard doesn't come into play during normal operation. It works only when yanked (as in the trailer is disconnected). Don't be surprised if you check the master cylinder and find nothing but a rust encrusted resevoir. Don't even think about rebuilding it -- replace the master cylinder if it is indeed full of rust. The next issue would be the brake lines and wheel cylinders as they may be full of rust as well if air got into the system.