2005 EZ loader Trailer brakes - NO fluid! Help?
Guys,

My trailer is a 2005 EZ loader with the "compression" style brakes. Boat and Trailer were brand new when I bought it in 05. I hate to say this, but I've never done a thing to the brakes ( never added fluid, or bleeding, etc.. ). The boat pulls fine, etc.. I have a brand new F150 and started messing with the Brake control system on the Ford which got me to trying to figure out how to make the brakes sync with the truck etc.. After some research, I popped open the master cylinder on the trailer only to discover it is bone dry. Again, I can tow with it to the lake as it is right now ( I assume I'm using ONLY my trucks brakes and have been all this time ).

My question? Do I add fluid and perform a bleed of the brakes and see if they work? Am I opening up a can of worms since I'm able to use the boat as is ? If I add fluid and go through this excersize will it cause me a BIGGER pain in the event that the calipers stick due to my novice work? ( concern here is I don't really know what I'm doing, but I'm too cheap to pay $250 -$1000 for a project that I can do in my garage for <$20. I've read several threads that speak of leaks since it's bone dry, but I have a feeling that It's been this way since day 1, I was just too stupid to have ever checked it before now. Again, trailer is now 7.5 years old and never had any maintenance.

Thanks for any and all advice!

Jeff

To fix the brakes your looking at quite a bit of money because the master cylinder, brake lines and calipers will all rust internally. I go with only one lever, lever alone.
You will want to disable the movement on the tongue.

I would pull my wheels off and inspect the pads and see how worn they are.Open up your bleeder valves and start pouring in the fluid till it comes out.You may have to push and pull on your tongue while you do this.If it came with brakes you should use them.I stop faster pulling my boat than without it.if you have a leak it will be easy to find and fix.

Thanks for the comments.

I just went and checked it again, this time using a flash light to see and it turns out that I do have fluid in there it's just low. It's about the level of the "push arm" and the fluid is Rusty brown color. I guess the good news after 7 years is that it still has fluid. The bad news is I need to replace the fluid. What's the best way to get that old fluid out and replace it with new? do auto parts stores ( autozone,walmart etc.. ) sell some kind of pump to suck it out?

Once I get it all out, do I just apply new fluid and use a screw driver to push the new fluid through with the bleeder valve open?

Sorry for all the questions, but I'm trying to do the right thing without costing myself a fortune.

Thanks again!
Jeff

I had these problems with my trail star trailer I ended up removing my brake system and my truck pulls and stops it good