Page 2 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast
Results 16 to 30 of 49

Thread: Trailer brakes lock-up!

  1. #16

    Re: Trailer brakes lock-up!

    It's strange that all FOUR brakes locked up at once and stayed locked?

    If the pins are gun metal then it will be obvious if they are sticking when you pull them apart.

    Initial thoughts for some reason is with the system ?????

    Regards, Kerry.

  2. #17

    Re: Trailer brakes lock-up!

    Just stumbled onto this thread and makes for interesting reading. Will go to Kerry's link in a mo.

    I have had one or other of my brakes lock up on no less than 4 occasions in the past 12 months on a trailer that's less than 18 months old. It's a sensa brake system. On one occasion it went in under warranty only to have a different wheel lock a few weeks later when it was out of warranty.

    The strange thing is/was that it always seemed to lock up when the rig was in the water ie the trailer was empty. The last time was a real bugger as we couldn't get it down to the water to trailer the boat and it needed many pairs of hands to get it there. Once the boat was on the trailer, it released, although it was smoked up when we got home.

    The discussion with the dealership went along the lines of "you'll always have problems with brakes when you're dunking" which was met with my reply that if you're buying a trailer advertised as "drive on" and it is meant to be dunked, then you'd think it should be up to the job without the brakes keep seizing

    Anyway, fair go to the dealer who eventually replaced the pistons (pitted)and calipers for free, although it was out of warranty. I shall now have to wait and see what eventuates and whether it lets me down again 'cause I have no option other than to dunk.

    I am fanatical about cleaning/rinsing the trailer and particularly the brakes and I always bleed the sensa unit, even when it's parked up at the ramp so I have no idea what was causing the problem

    I am not that good with mechanical stuff and it fair pisses me off that owing to my bad experiences, I now wonder just when the bloody trailer is going to let me down again.........rather takes the edge off what should be a pleasurable day out fishing.

    Any hints on risk minimising?

    cheers

    kev

    See my breeder fish photography here: https://kevindickinsonfineartphot.sm...opical-Fish-2/
    Quality digital copies free to Ausfishers............use as wallpaper or can be printed......size up to 20 x16. PM for details.

  3. #18

    Re: Trailer brakes lock-up!

    I fixed my problem. I just turned the brake controller off! A more permanent solution will be to cut the brake control wire!
    I suspect my pins are corroded and my pistons are pitted.
    Due for a service soon. Might see if my dealer has a big heart

  4. #19
    Ausfish Addict Chimo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Gold Coast

    Re: Trailer brakes lock-up!

    Hi Kev

    Noticed with my setup (Hydrastar HBA series on 4 hydraulic brakes operated by a a Tekonsha Voyager) that with the controller dialled up too high the trailer brakes really grab when the boats off the trailer either forward or backing but going down the ramp is worse with no weight on. It would seem that the brakes will always work "too" well without the load which I suspect will be a bigger problem with jamming etc if there is any rust or general degredation in the mechanism.

    I did / do several things to lessen the issues.

    I have reduced the controller power adjustment so it still works fine on the road when loaded but is a little less dramatic unladen

    The brakes tend to be applied as an accelerator ie as if there is an egg between the pedal and the sole of the foot. Also I have found that using the hand brake when backing down can work well too.

    I have continued to use the powerwinch with a double cable and a trailer winch pulley (gives the winch a rated 6000lbs) to haul the boat out with the brakes above the water.

    I have to say it is a good feeling to drive thru Surfers traffic knowing that if I want or need to stop in a hurry I can and if the worst ever happens my insurance will cover me.

    None of this is ideal and I agree with you that trailers sold as full drive on, will only work on the road for a short time as they are sold if we use them as we are told we can. This is wrong and its false advertising. At least the people at Aussi brakes (who recently did the whole trailer brake thing up for me, prior to getting the gen from Kerry) were straight up when they said that the first time I drown the brakes there is no more warranty.

    Not much help really Kev but thats where I've got to so far.

    Would be great if some brake or engineering people put together the ss and other bits as a kit as described by Kerry for people to buy to reduce the hassel; even a little!

    Cheers

    Chimo
    Last edited by Chimo; 26-03-2007 at 05:21 PM.
    What could go wrong.......................

  5. #20

    Re: Trailer brakes lock-up!

    Quote Originally Posted by Chimo View Post
    Hi Kev


    Would be great if some brake or engineering people put together the ss and other bits as a kit as described by Kerry for people to buy to reduce the hassel; even a little!

    Cheers

    Chimo
    Thanks for that info Chimo. I printed this thread and took it into them for their trailer specialist to read on his smoko

    With regards to the kit. My boat yard tells me (off the top of his head) that there is now a full kit which requires change of rotor etc. (Haven't the faintest idea what he's talking about) It's a complete replacement (I'm told) and he will investigate with regards to purchase, fitting etc. He said that it's a long time since they did a similar job and he thinks the kit comes from the States.

    Again, 0ff the top of his head, he said he thinks the cost is 3 grand as it's pretty time consuming if he remembers rightly, but he could be wrong. He's going to get back to me when he gets a clearer picture but he did say that the cost is prohibitive to do it properly which is why they aren't standard........they'd never sell a trailer due to cost.

    kev

    See my breeder fish photography here: https://kevindickinsonfineartphot.sm...opical-Fish-2/
    Quality digital copies free to Ausfishers............use as wallpaper or can be printed......size up to 20 x16. PM for details.

  6. #21
    Ausfish Addict Chimo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Gold Coast

    Re: Trailer brakes lock-up!

    Kev

    I dont think Kerry's solution required one to change the rotor (the steel wheels) the brake pads grab to slow the trailer down, or stop it completely when they lock on!

    Cheers

    Chimo
    What could go wrong.......................

  7. #22

    Re: Trailer brakes lock-up!

    I don't believe the rotor is the real issue and for sure a SS rotors might reduce pad life etc but isn't really going to stop brakes from locking on (as such). Conventional steel rotors will/do rust and hence will wear pads quicker but it is really the piston that must activate to apply pressure to the pads/rotor and the slide pins must be free as well so things work both ways.

    The piston and the slide pins as far as I'm concerned are the major issues with disc brakes working as well as they can considering the environment, both need to work together. The slide pins as far as I'm concerned are the weak link in the system IF the piston functions ok. The slide pins must be free at all times and if one can't grab the calipers and rattle them (anytime) then things are tight and sticky.

    Regards, Kerry.

  8. #23

    Re: Trailer brakes lock-up!

    Thanks for that Kerry and I agree that I don't think the rotors are the issue here.

    I was told that the pistons were very badly pitted and considering that one brake locked up on my first trip out, it seems that it didn't take long for that to happen. My (discounted) rig had been used a few times for demos so whether it wasn't cleaned properly after those demos, I don't know. I'm guessing that if they were that badly pitted then they must've been holding water that couldn't be washed out via my normal thorough cleaning, but I wouldn't know as I am quite ignorant in mechanical and electrical matters. There isn't a spot of rust or decay anywhere on the trailer and yet the brakes were riddled with it.

    The consensus from everyone that I talked to when considering a bigger rig was to steer clear of tandems as the brakes gave nothing but trouble. Mackays sales blurb and likewise, the dealers, allayed my fears, but it seems that the advice that I should stick to ally and avoid the need for tandem braking, has a lot of basis in the reality of how inefficient standard braking systems are, once they've been unavoidably dunked.

    kev
    Last edited by kingtin; 27-03-2007 at 09:30 AM.

    See my breeder fish photography here: https://kevindickinsonfineartphot.sm...opical-Fish-2/
    Quality digital copies free to Ausfishers............use as wallpaper or can be printed......size up to 20 x16. PM for details.

  9. #24

    Re: Trailer brakes lock-up!

    Well, I finally stripped the brakes down.
    The slipper bolts were fine. In fact, they should stay that way for some time (stainless sleeves in galvanized, cast calipers).
    The all-stainless pistons weren't seized, but were very tight, due to a build-up of muck at the very edge of the cylinder.
    The pads were a little shabby and one actually had rust build-up between it and the piston, causing pad pressure.
    The steel rotors were fine.
    It was quite a job getting the pistons to recede enough to remove the calipers. I cleaned out the cylinders and re-assembled with silicon grease around the edge of the pistons.
    Everything is moving easily now. I assume the brakes will work fine.
    All this on a trailer that is one year old and doesn't get drowned!
    I'd hate to think what they'd be like if I was a dunker!

  10. #25

    Re: Trailer brakes lock-up!

    Interesting discussion that I have seen repeated on every boating forum I have ever belonged to. I can appreciate the solution is expensive but some of us who have continually had problems with brakes after dunking trailers would pay.

    Another small story:
    I have a Haines 680 SF which I bought new in 1993 and still have the boat and trailer (original) -- have replaced the motor recently. The trailer has always been dunked fully for drive on.

    The trailer came originally fitted with ALKO fully mechanical galvanised over ride disc brakes on only one pair of the tandems. This brakiing system was fantasic. No hydraulics so no water in fluid ---> no pitting of pistions --> no seizing. The wire mechanical system activated a lever cam system that forced the pad onto the dics. This situation meant it was a piece of cake to clean and dismantle if necessary. This system worked really well and was reliable.

    BUT -- the rules changed and I had to switch to braking on all wheels with break away and activated from the cab. At the time the only alternative was electric and therefore drum brakes. This system has been a complete disaster even though I bought the best available.

    So legislation forced me to go from brakes that worked to brakes that work sometimes all because these guys who make up the rules have probably never launced a boat in their lives and have no idea of the requirements of boat trailers - all they think about are caravans and horse floats.

    I have fitted external flush points to the brakes but the only way I have managed to keep the brakes going is by completely dismantling every 6 months and replacing any and everything that looks sus -- including drums, magnets, shoes, springs etc -- a constant nightmare -- and the brakes still do not work as well in all conditions as my original over ride mechanical.

    There has to be something out there that works.

    Regards
    paul

  11. #26

    Re: Trailer brakes lock-up!

    Shando's got to agree, the idiots run the asylum, knee jerk reactions, half ar%ed assumptions, power/revenue/funding/contracts, personal vendettas all lead to disenfranchising legislation and a mountain of it, many more unsafe heavy towed boats today on the road than there was 10y ago in relative terms.

    I will not own a trailer boat that needs breakaway as a result, but would have liked to again.

    But who are you going to call?? ghostbusters!..


    cheers fnq



  12. #27

    Re: Trailer brakes lock-up!

    Has anyone used the Australian made Bronze disc brakes?

    Do they work as well as advertised?

    An alterative might be http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...MID=osclrp8033

    Regards
    seabug

  13. #28

    Re: Trailer brakes lock-up!

    Just wondering if the answer to boat trailer disc brakes locking on is on this site.

    http://www.easternmarine.com/em_stor...rakes_hyd.html

    Near the end of the first main paragraph (About 70mm down) they speak of having a small punture in a check valve to stop pressure building up during use.

    Is it possible this could be the fix?

    Regards
    seabug

  14. #29

    Re: Trailer brakes lock-up!

    Shandos, ????? What are you doing with "electric" brakes on a boat trailer ?????? Since when was
    ....the only alternative was electric and therefore drum brakes
    ???????? on a boat trailer ?????????? who told you this ????????? ah perish the thought !!!!!

    I'm a bit lost with all this brake failure stuff comments as there has to be something more going on than simply dunking things in salt water, lets face it my trailer brakes have been drowned for 17 years and they still work with general normal routine maintenance.

    Regards, Kerry.

  15. #30

    Re: Trailer brakes lock-up!

    Quote Originally Posted by seabug View Post
    Just wondering if the answer to boat trailer disc brakes locking on is on this site.

    http://www.easternmarine.com/em_stor...rakes_hyd.html

    Near the end of the first main paragraph (About 70mm down) they speak of having a small punture in a check valve to stop pressure building up during use.

    Is it possible this could be the fix?

    Regards
    seabug
    Seabug, Wonder what "lightly puntured" is supposed to mean? Doesn't sound like it's very reassuring at all?

    With all the problems with these electric over hydraulic systems maybe the good old (and expensive) PBR vacumm is waht they call "tried and proven" ????

    Regards, Kerry.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Join us