Used boat, brake reservoir was dry, what now?

[USA_boater]

Bought a 15yr old boat w/ disc trailer brakes end of last summer. towed it a few times until season ended and didn't have time to address all needs until now. When it was towed, and I came to an abrupt stop, I could hear the clunk of the tongue moving forward and engaging the brakes. And it did feel like the brakes worked.

But now I have seem dry rusty reservoir and went ahead and filled it w/ brake fluid. I havene't tried to tow it again yet since adding fluid. But I want to know if the brakes need bleeding and all that stuff like on a car if the master cylinder was empty?

AND, how did the brakes seem to work even with no fluid? is there some emergency engagement feature that would cause them to work even with no hydraulic fluid present?

Fill me in guys on what to check & test.

 

[GA_Boater]

If the master cylinder was dry and rusty - You had no brakes no matter what the seat of you pants told you. No emergency brake feature either. Are the rotors rusty and no marks of pads scouring the rust off? Working brakes have nice shiny rotors.

Yes, it needs bled after you replace the master cylinder and flush the lines and calipers. You may find out the calipers are shot, too.

 

[USA_boater]

well if I tried to backup a hill and gassed it too much there were brakes so something is "working". I need to get some pics posted here because I have many questions about what's what and how to fix regarding the trailer brakes. Thanks!

 

[tpenfield]

Dry and rusty reservoir would not be the sign of working brakes. Maybe they drained out over the winter. Sounds like you get to do a brake job on the trailer. Hopefully, the calipers are still OK, but sounds like a new master cylinder is in your future.

 

[Scott06]

I had the exact same symptoms when I bought my boat. Ended up getting a complete kit with coupler, hoses, calipers, and rotors. Likely you will find all of the existing us siezed up. Dry master cylinder and clunk is symptoms of this. When you fix it you won't hear a clunk when braking

 

[USA_boater]

Thanks, I definitely got a clunk when I stop...where can I get the proper kit? I can prob turn the rotors if they are not too bad. Boat was bought from a family member that although he took care of it in certain ways (hull doesn't have a scratch), he neglected it in others...he probably had no idea the master cylinder was dry and it was probably like that for 10yrs knowing him. It definitely wasn't drained for the winter but I wish.

 

[Leardriver]

This is not the worst thing price wise to fix. A new master cylinder and two calipers and some pads is $350-ish, more if it is a tandem trailer.
If you can find a place to plop the boat off the trailer while you are working on it, this isn't even very time consuming. Another set of hands to pump the master with a big screw driver while you bleed the calipers is very handy.

 

[gm280]

Unless there are stainless steel brake lines running from the master cylinder to each disc brake caliber, those too will be shot! Remember, brake fluid draws moisture, and empty steel brake lines will rust in a nanosecond. JMHO