No Brakes

[bobdivot]

Trailer is a '03 Trail Rite two axle with surge & discs all around. Driving to Mead last week could tell they weren't stopping good at all.

The rotors still had surface rust on them after the 300 mile trip and I could touch them after the long drive. All four were the same. Yes there is fluid in it and its never been very low.

Master totally bypassing? Doesn't seem right. Lock out solenoid or surge mechanism issue?

Thanks

 

[FYN409]

Do you have a swing away tongue on your trailer? I had a similar issue, ended up being the "quick release" coupling on the brake line. It is there to disconnect the brakes to allow the tongue to swing out of the way. Mine looked like it was locked, but it was out just enough to cause the brakes to not work. Once locked-in correctly they worked great.

-Ryan

 

[Lazy Daze]

Other ideas:

Did you try bleeding the brakes? How low is "very low"? If you've been adding fluid - even occasionally - there's a leak.

Doubtful that the solenoid locked closed (if it failed, it should fail in the open position). Juice the blue wire with 12v - you should hear the solenoid click.

 

[bobdivot]

Gents

Thanks for the good ideas

*No its not a swing away tongue

*Haven't bled. 'Not ever very low' meant I have only had to add trace amounts so no leaks. I will check the solenoid for the click, Thanks

Noticed something not familiar with, stuck my finger down in the master cylinder reservoir and felt some rubber? It wasn't floating seemed attached? Is there some kind of bladder or something supposed to be in there?

 

[unlvrebel]

When was the last time that you used the trailer? Could be the calipers are just flat out frozen... Bleed them to make sure that all the upstream parts are working and give her another run (neighborhood). If the brakes still don't engage, looks like its re-build time...

 

[ultratiger89]

have you ever changed out the pads? I just had to change mine after 3 years of minimal trailering. I could back up with out the free braking soleniod working. I'd check there first.

 

[bobdivot]

Pulled the goes-out -ya line from the solenoid and no fluid on stroke, thought it must be the solenoid. Removed the solenoid but no juice out of the master.

Decent tension when stroking which feels right but master must be totally bypassing, would have pulled it out the back but not enough room due to the jack.

Looks like I have to disassemble the coupler to pull it out the front? Dinner calls, buried rest of week

Anything I need to know about disassembling the surge mechanism? Is there a spring in there?

Thanks

 

[bobdivot]

Done- Pulled the master and dumped out the fluid. As nasty as I've ever seen. Entire bottom of reservoir had a layer of scum and crap blocking the hole to the piston.

Level was always a little low allowing condensation and just enough rust to form over the years to toast the fluid. Guess always learning-keep fluid totally topped off especially on a metal cylinder.

Replacement for the Demco DA91 was plastic, makes sense in this case. Had to drill and tap hole for solenoid return. Smallest little tapered piped threads?? ever seen. 8MM X.80 tap was close enough.

Install, bleed and go. Luckily fluid coming out of calipers looked good and most of the nasty confined to the cylinder

Thanks for the sugestions and watch your fluids

 

[Lazy Daze]

Glad you got it figured out. It's good to have brakes, huh? Thanks for the update.:smt001