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Trailer Brake Help

Posted By: SkeeterGuy1

Trailer Brake Help - 03/12/20 09:55 PM

I have an EZ Loader Trailer....I've attached photos. The right side was absolutely done, but the left was fine. Can anyone point me to a solution?
The brake place I went to today mentioned the master cylinder was bad and empty on fluid as well. I figured its a brake problem, just don't know where to start.

I'm just trying to figure out what caused this so it doesn't happen again. Both hub assemblies were replaced, and I kept the left one as a spare since it was still in good shape.

Attached picture IMG_5426.jpg
Attached picture IMG_5427.jpg
Posted By: lurenthewind

Re: Trailer Brake Help - 03/13/20 03:18 AM

I am guessing the piston stuck and it got REALLY, REALLY hot.

Wayne
Posted By: MATTSUEY

Re: Trailer Brake Help - 04/01/20 01:16 PM

mine did the exact same thing,2015 Skeeter, i think the trailer manufacture date was 2014
Posted By: Flippin-Out

Re: Trailer Brake Help - 04/01/20 02:42 PM

"the master cylinder was bad and empty on fluid as well"......

You want a "solution"? Start by maintaining the trailer, possibly? You should never be using a trailer with brakes if the master cylinder's reservoir is empty. Yes, a master cylinder can fail, but there's not a lot of excuse for an owner to ignore checking the reservoir fluid level. EMPTY (vs. "low") is pretty negligent. It's hard to start blaming other things when square one of trailer brake maintenance is ignored. The disc with the chatter was probably doing that as the system became contaminated with air due to lack of fluid in the system. There are reasons the chatter happens, but it's probably moot to explain that here. The brake that looks good probably never got enough pressure to engage due to the ill-maintained system. The bad master cylinder may have failed from oxidation when the fluid level dropped and it was exposed to air.

How are your trailer tires? Ever check pressure in them?
Posted By: SkeeterGuy1

Re: Trailer Brake Help - 04/01/20 09:27 PM

No one here was making an excuse, but I appreciate your input and "solution". The blame is mine. You live and learn, and move on. Hints the, "I want to know what happened so it doesn't happen again..." but you didn't want to quote that part. And now I know...and it wont happen again.
Posted By: Flippin-Out

Re: Trailer Brake Help - 04/02/20 03:54 AM

If you bought it new, they should have given you a pile of paperwork that would include owner's manuals for many of the things on the boat/trailer that need maintenance. Some who sell a boat used even pass this on to the new owner. If you don't have that, and want to learn, try using a search engine to find a downloadable owners manual for trailer, outboard, trolling motor, etc. You can learn a lot from them. If you can't find them, the boat manufacturer may be able to email you some files.
Posted By: jazz

Re: Trailer Brake Help - 04/02/20 03:31 PM

flipp out - you might want to simma down
Posted By: MATTSUEY

Re: Trailer Brake Help - 04/02/20 05:44 PM

Flippin-out is quite a fitting name
Posted By: Flippin-Out

Re: Trailer Brake Help - 04/02/20 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by jazz
flipp out - you might want to simma down

I'm not suggesting anything for him I haven't already done myself. The downloads are worth their weight in gold - for me as well. I started learning 40+ years ago and STILL download everything for my "stuff" I can find. I put a lot of it on a tablet that often goes on trips with me.
Posted By: Flippin-Out

Re: Trailer Brake Help - 04/02/20 07:28 PM

Originally Posted by jazz
flipp out - you might want to simma down

So, dude, point out exactly what was wrong with my statement. There was nothing derogatory; I pointed him toward several options that could increase his knowledge - the sames ones I myself use.. How many of your 38 posts are dedicated to increasing the knowledge of others, or resolving problems? Or, do you just chime in when you think you can look im-po-tent?
Posted By: Flippin-Out

Re: Trailer Brake Help - 04/02/20 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by MATTSUEY
Flippin-out is quite a fitting name

Please refer to the reply to Jazz.
Posted By: jazz

Re: Trailer Brake Help - 04/02/20 08:38 PM

counting this one 36
Posted By: lurenthewind

Re: Trailer Brake Help - 04/03/20 11:02 PM

I've worked on a LOT of brakes in the last 40 or 50 years and I have never seen one lock up and get hot because all the fluid leaked out. Generally, just the opposite happens, it just quits working altogether because there is no hydraulic pressure.

A sticking caliper, however, is quite common. Brake dust, road grime, leaking grease seals attracting dirt, etc and the lack of hydraulic pressure moving the piston in and out routinely and it freezes up. When it does, it overheats the rotor, the rotor warps and you can get the result in the OP's photo.

To the OP, make sure you don't have a fluid leak that is going to cause this again. If it ever had fluid in it, it went somewhere.

Wayne
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