One brake locking up..What to do

[bdor]

I recently bought a slightly used EZ loader with surge brakes and left brake sometimes locks up.When it did it before I backed up and pulled up a couple of times and it broke loose but yesterday when my friend went to the parking lot to get the trailer it was locked up and he pulled it to the ramp anyway and wore a big hole in the tire. Is it rust or hydraulic? Any tips would be appreciated. BD

 

[DJ]

Re: One brake locking up..What to do

Grim Reaper,<br /><br />It could be a couple of things. Either of which, you will have to pull it apart.<br /><br />1. Check for contaminants on the shoes, grease, oil, rust, etc. Make sure the adjusters are lubed. Use neverseize.<br /><br />2. Are the shoes installed correctly? On many, there is a primary and secondary shoe. Look at the other side as a reference.

 

[vonfranken]

Re: One brake locking up..What to do

You had beter pull off that wheel and check the whl cyl and or the bearing grease seal. You should have checked the brakes and bearings before using trlr. If replacing or rebuilding cyl, do both sides, replace bearings ad seals both side. very inexpensive and could save you a boat . h oller if I can guide you thru it.<br />vonfranken@aol.com

 

[jlshields]

Re: One brake locking up..What to do

Broken return spring? Bad wheel cylinder(rust)?

 

[bdor]

Re: One brake locking up..What to do

Thanks for the replies. I checked both sides and everything looks great. Could it be the lever on the tongue for backing or normal. It locks up after backing and I don't fully understand how that thing works since I don't have an owners manual. BD

 

[jlshields]

Re: One brake locking up..What to do

Did you check for rust inside the rubber boot on the wheel cylinder. Also there could be two levers on the tongue. One for breakaway and one to disable brakes for backing. If there was trouble with the breakaway it should lock up both wheels and they would stay locked. Lever should be in rear position. The other shouldn't effect.<br />john

 

[bdor]

Re: One brake locking up..What to do

Should I put the lever on the tongue in the back up position each time I back up? Thanks BD

 

[jlshields]

Re: One brake locking up..What to do

The lever with the chain that connects to the tow vehicle is the breakaway. It sets the brakes in the event the trailer comes loose from the tow vehicle and has to be reset manually. If the other lever is the back up lever it will be more difficult to back up unless it is set. Usually when you pull forward it will cancel.<br />john