Servicing Trailer brakes

[AZBoatDreamer]

Do I have to go to a speciality Trailer place to have my brakes serviced?

I have Brake Masters and Just Brakes Franchise chains that has done work on my vehicles in the past. Do you think the will service my trailer brakes?

Whatta you think?

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Servicing Trailer breaks

Re: Servicing Trailer breaks

Come to think of it maybe not since the Boat is on the Trailer. How would the get the trailer on the Lift with the boat.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Servicing Trailer brakes

Only they can say for sure, but what needs done? I was going to drop my trailer off for service but my fellow iboaters convinced me I could take on the chore, and they were right. Ended up replacing wheel cylinders and master cylinder and flushing and bleeding the lines on my own. The cost was around $150 versus at least twice that from a shop, and it was fun and only took four to five hours total including chasing down parts and servicing the wheel bearings.

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Servicing Trailer brakes

Yes I could call them. Nothing is really wrong. I bought the boat 1 1/2 year ago and I just want Preventative maintenance done. EG Brake Pads, Bleed and Adjust Brakes and wheel brearings service.
I'm not up to taking on the task myself. Just don't have the tools, desire or Know how.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Servicing Trailer brakes

Yes I could call them. Nothing is really wrong. I bought the boat 1 1/2 year ago and I just want Preventative maintenance done. EG Brake Pads, Bleed and Adjust Brakes and wheel brearings service.
I'm not up to taking on the task myself. Just don't have the tools, desire or Know how.

Wheel bearing service can be done by a monkey - either find a monkey or a neighbor to help. Alternately pretty much any general mechanical place would do it (local garage) Just make sure they have marine bearing grease and use it.

Brake pad check is easy since you have to remove the drum/hub to service the wheel bearings - you just look at them. Takes a really long time to wear out a set of trailer brakes.

Bleed brakes? No need to do that if they are functioning

Adjust brakes - they adjust themselves

Servicing these types of things are a valuable thing to know how to do and simple. They require only simple tools that you should already own. Might be a good thing to work on at 5AM

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Servicing Trailer brakes

I Guess I need to find a Monkey. I wonder if he works at 5am LOL.

At this time I do not know the condition of the brakes but they are working just fine. If I go to Just brakes they automatically do a Brake pad service including Adjust bleed and bearings. The pads are lifetime warrently when they replace them. I feel better having someone do my brakes even if Im paying the price.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Servicing Trailer brakes

I'm not up to taking on the task myself. Just don't have the tools, desire or Know how.

Sounds familiar.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=479863&highlight=surge+brake+problems

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Servicing Trailer brakes

I feel better having someone do my brakes even if Im paying the price.

Thanks for the reply.

I'm just the opposite, I prefer to do all my own brake work on trailers and cars rather than trust the high school kid at the local brake place.

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Servicing Trailer brakes

OK I'm not as smart as a High Schooler or a Monkey. LOL.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Servicing Trailer brakes

OK I'm not as smart as a High Schooler or a Monkey. LOL.

Thanks for the replies.

Don't beat yourself up Dreamer. Some of them monkeys is purty smart.

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Servicing Trailer brakes

Don't beat yourself up Dreamer. Some of them monkeys is purty smart.

They Fly space ships. LOL

 

[ufm82]

Re: Servicing Trailer brakes

If it makes you feel better to pay someone then send me $50 and feel great! LOL

If you have discs, there is nothing to do other than check pad wear. They adjust as they wear. Maybe pop the caliper off and clean the slides/pins. That's about all there is to discs.
Drums on trailers may or may not adjust themselves- many do not. They also accumulate dirt/dust more. Give 'em a good cleaning with some Simple Green and the hose. Then slap the drums back on and you're done.
When you take the trailer to someone else you are paying for their time. Learn how to do it yourself and save the labor cost. Plus you KNOW how it was done since you did it. If you can't, then pay someone else. It sounds silly but if you can take off a tire you can check your brakes.

UFM82

 

[lncoop]

Re: Servicing Trailer brakes

They Fly space ships. LOL

And, they say if you put one in a room with a typewriter and give him enough time he'll eventually type Macbeth.

 

[nrf414]

Re: Servicing Trailer brakes

They Fly space ships. LOL

This is too funny! Who wants to go work on brakes in the 105* heat we had yesterday? Even a monkey would hang out in the AC.

I just now noticed you got the 5am boater thing in your sig.. Freaking hilarious!

I hope to not have to do anything with the trailer all summer but pull the boat. I might play with it this winter.