Surge brakes

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Ok, someone help out here. <br />I have the surge brakes on my Gambler trailer and noticed that when I take off from a stop sign/red light, I am getting a thud, as in taking up slack. <br />I take it that the surge brakes are not working and when I stop, the cylinder is coming forward and when I take off it is slopping back. <br />Now, how easy is it to change this out? <br />What do I need to do first to fix this. <br />I don't worry about it too much with 4 wheel disk brake, but would be nice if it was working. <br /><br />Thanks all.<br /><br />Oh yea:<br />I have checked for any looseness in the hitch area and all seems tight when hooked up. <br />Even when nothing is on hitch I can not move it either up and down or in and out. <br />I do not feel the brakes are working at all. You know that feeling from something your pulling when you hit the brakes and can feel it trying to push ya. <br />Plus, when unhooked from the truck, you can move it around by hand with no problem. I thought it would be hard to move backwards with no juice going to the reverse thingy in the brakes. <br /><br />Am I way out there somewhere or real close?<br />

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Surge brakes

Did you check the fluid level in the master cylinder? If its empty, you'll need to refill it and then bleed the brakes. If the system still doesn't work, or when you pop the filler cap if you the master cylinder is full of rust you have a major repair to consider which includes the master cylinder and all wheel cylinders as they will likely be full of rust and scale as well. These are hydraulic brakes. Unless there is sufficient "push" on the coupler the brakes will not actuate which is why you can push it by hand.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Surge brakes

Thanks Upinsmoke.<br />The fluid level is full and looks faily clean. Hard to tell where the MC sets.<br /><br />Why then did the dealer tell me that I needed that back up light wire, wired in so I could back it up.<br />Said I would not be able to without it.

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: Surge brakes

I thought it was only drum brakes that could free wheel in reverse? I think disk do need the wire even for surge. Do they need to be bled/adjusted?

 

[tommays]

Re: Surge brakes

Jack up a wheel and make a lever with a 2 X 4 <br /><br />Use the 2 X 4 and the saftey chains to press on the couppler when it moves if nothing happens with the brakes then the real fun starts <br /><br />It will take a bit to move the couppler the orifice in the master is SMALL to keep the brakes from applying to fast and locking up a wheel<br /><br />They may just need adjusting as there is no self adjusting like a car BUT i find its usally best to take things apart and have a look at the condition of all the parts once there not working correctly<br /><br />For whatever reason they dont do well with water <br /><br />tommays

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Surge brakes

Any hydraulic brake system whether disc or drum needs to be bled to get the air out of the system. Air compresses -- brake fluid does not. Its the fluid that does the pushing. Air in the system is a bad thing.

 

[wvstriper]

Re: Surge brakes

What brand/model actuator does it have?

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Surge brakes

Originally posted by wvstriper:<br /> What brand/model actuator does it have?

It's ameratrail trailer.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Surge brakes

The thud you get from pulling away from a stop could also be the damper shock that is worn out.<br /><br />Can you take a photo of your coupler and post it?<br /><br />Do you have disc or drum brakes? <br /><br />How old are your brakes and do you dunk your trailer in salt water?<br /><br />Most drum brakes allow you to back up without a reverse lock out valve but there are some that don't. Depends on who made the drum brakes.<br /><br />You can put a pipe on the emergency break away lever to actuate the brakes very easily.