Trailer Noise

[bhammer]

All, I have a tandom trailer that has the brake kit that is used, I think, for baking up a hill.

The problem is that when I tow my boat and come to a stop then go to start, it snaps back and makes a hell of a pop. I belive this is the part of the toung that allows about half inch of movememt to operate the brake unit??? I have verified that I have a 2" ball and hitch.

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Trailer Noise

Check your brake fluid level. If full, bleed your brakes. Seals could also be gone in your cylinder. Sounds like the hydraulic brake cylinder is going partial or full stroke without compression when you stop. The dampner is preventing the "slam" when braking so you usually notice this on take-offs.

 

[bhammer]

Re: Trailer Noise

Thank you. I'll have to read up on the trailer as it's new to me and only 13 months old itself.

When I come to a stop, nothing slams hard and the pin in the slip joint moves to the back. When I start off, no matter how gently, it moves forward and slams. I'll take a look and see what I can see.

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Trailer Noise

It could be many things, but my first thought from your description, is the brake cylinder assembly in your trailer coupler. I had this happen several years ago and I was low on fluid. Took me a while to figure it out. Took me even longer to figure out where it was going. Check your back-up solenoid also to verify that it is not being energized all the time.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trailer Noise

When mine started doing that, the master cylinder was shot. It could also be one or more wheel cylinders. Have you manually tested your brakes? Jack up each wheel and test that the brakes engage when you pull on the breakaway lever.

It is normal to have some "pop" at a start...but just a little.

 

[bhammer]

Re: Trailer Noise

I will be looking it all over tonight and will see what I come up with. Thanks guys for the pointers. I'll let you know what I find.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Trailer Noise

here are some really good points. http://www.championtrailers.com/techsup.html

 

[boatradioman]

Re: Trailer Noise

maybe there your brake or wheel is bent on the inside. it happened on my BMW.

 

[bhammer]

Re: Trailer Noise

Okay, I found an issue just don't know how to get to it yet. The Master was bone dry of fluid. I put some in and started moving the hitch back and forth. Boy, what a pain!

There is a leak in there as it started dripping out. Now, my question is, how do I get it out of there? I would guess I have to pull the two large pins, disconnect the fitting running to the main trailer line and then it should pull on out?

Also, I have a brake bleed kit. Is it okay to back bleed these types of system from the brakes back up to the cylinder? I hope so, I sure don't want to have to run that back and forth to bleed all the air out.

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Trailer Noise

Since the cylinder moved with no fluid in it, if the seals were not gone before, they are now. The unit will either need to be rebuilt or replaced. I do not know which unit you have, but the following refers to mine. You remove two large cross bolts (what you call pins?) holding on the top cover. After you remove that, you will be able to see how the rest comes apart. They are not intricate at all. I removed the threaded actuator rod, brake line, return line (back-up solenoid) and four bolts that hold the master on. Bench bleed the new cylinder to get all the bubbles out before re-assembly. Yes, you can use your kit to pull from the wheels, but I much prefer to use the actuator to pressurize and then go back to bleed. Takes a little longer, but that's just me. Bleed extra fluid to clear any rust or trash that may have been sent to the lines by the empty cylinder. Hope this helps a little. Oh...if your going to pull fluid at the wheels, keep an eye on your fluid level. They don't hold much.

 

[bhammer]

Re: Trailer Noise

Fishman, Thank you for your help. Got everything apart and found a couple issues. First, the trailer is an EZ loader trailer and here is a link to the exploded view of the head. http://www.ezloadercustoms.com/images/brake_view_lrg.gif There are two pins (#4) that hold the main unit into the trailer. one pin is stationary that holds the actuator and the other has the play to allow the toung to move and actuator. The pins are held in place by two (#5) C-clips.

I think the leak was from the rubber line going from the cylinder to the selonoid. There is a brass adapter nipple that is for the return line from the cylinder back to the resivoir to return pressure when it actuate in reverse. This nipple is broken off in the master cylinder. I'll have to get an ez-out to get it out of there. Also, the input lead to the cylinder was disconnected. Guess they just didn't want to fix the problem.

I'll have to pull the master cylinder out and see if it can even be rebuilt. May be able to find orings locally at a break shop or auto shop. Thanks again.

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Trailer Noise

Glad you found the leak. If it was not dry long, there may not be much rust and you just trashed the o-rings. I would just get another cylinder, they don't cost that much. If you have one local, take the whole cylinder to NAPA. They carry a lot of these parts now.

 

[bhammer]

Re: Trailer Noise

Well, I don't know if I just got real lucky, which usually doesn't happen to me, or what, but there is no rust what so ever. I disassembeled the master cylinder and the two seals were still soft and no evidence of any wear what so ever. Zero trash inside. I also back flushed the lines into a clear container and no rust there either. I think that it may have leaked down enough so that when it actuated, there wasn't a way to create pressure and the remaining fludid stayed in the cylinder keeping things lubed.

I have a local place about 45 miles from me here in Fort Worth. I'll get the nipple and see how it goes. I can go pick up a rebuild kit or a whole new master cylinder from them. thanks again.

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Trailer Noise

Have fun and be safe.

 

[bhammer]

Re: Trailer Noise

Fishmen, thank you again for the help. NAPA had the brass nipple I was looking for. All back together, brakes bled and all works well. Managed to get in a little gel coat repair done while I was at it waiting on a helper for the bleed. Will road test in the morning. I hope the slamming is gone now.

 

[bhammer]

Re: Trailer Noise

Trailer surge breaks work great, now just need to get them hooked up to the auto. Since the trailer brakes work so well, I wonder how I can get them to work on the boat now.

Great day on the lake. It was 80, blue sky and just a little wind.

Thanks all for the help.

 

[JUSTINTIME]

Re: Trailer Noise

lube the heck out of the pins also
also check all the c-clips
we have seen them come off of trailers at the shop!

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Trailer Noise

Good deal bhammer! Glad it worked out. Keep an eye on the fluid to make sure that was the only leak (I'm sure it was). After my occurance, I make a habit to check it each time...only takes a minute. Happy boating!!!

 

[bhammer]

Re: Trailer Noise

Okay, great news. Still plenty of flud and no leaks still.

Great idea about checking it. It's now part of the normal check while hooking up chains and lights.

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Trailer Noise

Great!