Brakes Heat-up

[RDLibby]

I have a 20 W/A cuddy on a single axle shorelander trailer w/ a surge bake system. When I bought the boat, the trailer brakes did not work. I put in a new master cyl. in and a new wheel cyl. in each wheel. I bled them throughly and have adj. the shoes properly, I think. When I stop on a incline and jack the trailer up wheels are locked and when I push Truck forward the wheels are free. Seems alright to me, The PROBLEM is, after driving for 1/2 hr or so I usally end up with 1 wheel heating up, it got so bad one time that it started smoking! When I feel them heating up and I go underneith and loosen the bleeder screw fluid comes out and then they are fine till the next time. ANY HELP on this would be appreciated. THANKS

 

[SlowlySinking]

Re: Brakes Heat-up

angusboating, was the brake fluid heavy duty DOT approved? Non-DOT fluid may expand excessively from heat and apply the brakes, this causes the brakes to drag, more heat, more expansion, more drag, etc. The fact that bleeding the excess fluid solves the problem for a while seems to lead me in this direction. Just a thought,,,one other thought, is the surge brake master cylinder completely full and giving the expanding fluid no place to go and thus applying the brakes?

 

[RDLibby]

Re: Brakes Heat-up

SlowlySinking, I am using DOT approved,.... But good point, I wonder if the fluid that may not have all come out with bleeding might not have been good. Also I may have had cyl. too full being afraid of sucking air.<br />THANKS, I am going to flush system to eliminate this posability.

 

[Yepblaze]

Re: Brakes Heat-up

As the coupler is moved fully forward (like in the pulling position) the piston in the master cyl should open the internal valving that would release any pressure from the line. <br /><br />Perhaps the coupler is not going full extend forward.,<br /><br />Or..... the pushrod is too long for the master cyl. perhaps because the piston in the new master cyl doesn't have as deep of an indent for the rod.<br /><br />Either way I've seen more than one trailer with warm brakes after a fresh adjustment. I guess that's one more reason why disc brakes are becoming more popular.