TESTING SURGE BRAKES

[TAF]

I AM CONSIDERING BUYING A USED SINGLE AXLE TRAILER W SURGE BRAKES. THE CURRENT OWNER IS "REPLACING" THE BRAKES DUE TO RUST. EVEN THOUGH I COULD LOOK AND SEE THAT PARTS HAVE BEEN PEPLACED, HOW DO I KNOW THEY ACTUALLY WORK? IS THERE A SIMPLE TEST TO MAKE SURE THEY WORK?

[mattttt25]

hitch up and back the trailer up a hill. you should be able to feel the brakes kicking in.

[ThomWV]

Well, if they are drum brakes they shouldn't drag backing up. If they are disks if you disconnect the solinoid and try to back up they should lock up on you. Other than that just tow it around the block and hit the brakes. There will be increased difficulty stopping but it should be obvious to you if the brakes are working or not. Personally I wouldn't even consider thinking about it. If the guy is putting on new brakes go ahead and assume that its all working all right. Its not like its the sort of thing that you can mess up. If he buys complete units, backing plates and all, and then is able to bleed them (indicating that the master cylinder is OK) then there's really nothing to be wrong with them .... until about the third time you use it.By the way, let me suggest this to you. If they guy is selling the trailer and hasn't put on the new brakes yet why don't you just tell him to deduct the price of the brakes plus fifty bucks from the purchase cost and then go buy yourself a set of disks for it and install them yourself? Its an incredibly simply job to do and they really don't cost too much.ThomThom