Fill the brake reservoir with automotive brake fluid. Connect a bleeder hose to the bleed fitting and sink the other end in a cup full of brake fluid. Use a screwdriver to open the bleed screw fitting. Direct a helper to slide in the surge pushrod at the front of the trailer.
Full Answer
How to replace boat trailer brakes?
Installing Trailer Brakes
- Remove the Old Brake. Jack up the trailer to elevate and remove the wheel; use jack stands for extra support. ...
- Bolt on a New Caliper Bracket. If upgrading from drums to discs, you’ll need a caliper bracket, which bolts to the brake flange on the axle.
- Mount the Disc/Hub Assembly. ...
- Install the Caliper. ...
- Bleed the Brake Lines. ...
How to troubleshoot boat trailer hydraulic brakes?
surge brake troubleshooting
- THINK SAFETY!! Don’t attempt working on your brakes if you aren’t experienced with brake systems. ...
- AUTOMOTIVE HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS. The car that you drive has hydraulic brakes. ...
- TRAILER SURGE BRAKE HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS. ...
- TYPICAL SURGE BRAKE TROUBLESHOOTING PROBLEMS: First, do a test to see what’s going on. ...
How do you Bleed the brakes on a boat trailer?
- Remove the master cylinder reservoir plug and fill the reservoir with brake fluid.
- IMPORTANT: Before bleeding brake lines, bleed the actuator master cylinder.
- Start bleeding procedure on the brake furthest from the master cylinder.
How to bleed boat trailer brakes?
Tips for Bleeding Surge Brakes
- Fill Master Cylinder with Brake Fluid. To begin, eliminate the expert chamber cap. ...
- Bleed Master Cylinder. Continuously start the bleeding system at the expert chamber. ...
- Install Bleeder Hose on Valve. ...
- Bleed Brake Farthest from Master Cylinder. ...
- Repeat Bleeding Process on Remaining Brakes. ...
- Fill Reservoir with Brake Fluid. ...
How do you troubleshoot a surge brake trailer?
TYPICAL SURGE BRAKE TROUBLESHOOTING PROBLEMS:First, do a test to see what's going on. Find the breakaway chain or cable & pull it until it latches in the locked position. ... Jack up all the tires & wheels that have brakes. ... If the brakes work on even one wheel, it would indicate the master cylinder & orifice are okay.
How do you check surge brakes on a boat trailer?
Checking the brakes can be done in two ways. The easiest way is to raise one side of the trailer and spin the wheels while someone applies the surge brakes at the coupler.
How do you adjust surge brakes on a boat trailer?
2:457:13Trailer Drum Brakes: Bleeding, Adjusting & Inspecting - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUsing a brake spoon or flat blade screwdriver tighten the star adjuster until the wheel cannot.MoreUsing a brake spoon or flat blade screwdriver tighten the star adjuster until the wheel cannot. Charge. Lucinda star adjuster eight to ten clicks while turning the wheel and a forward rotation.
How do you bypass surge brakes on a boat trailer?
1:563:37How to Bypass surge brakes - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo what I did was zip ties wrap them all the way around the town of the trailer. And then just zipMoreSo what I did was zip ties wrap them all the way around the town of the trailer. And then just zip tied them pretty tight and then you can just slide the zip tie. Over top so it holds it in and then.
How do you bleed surge brakes?
How to Bleed Surge BrakesFill Master Cylinder with Brake Fluid.Bleed Master Cylinder.Install Bleeder Hose on Valve.Bleed Brake Furthest from Master Cylinder.Repeat Bleeding Process on Remaining Brakes.Fill Reservoir with Brake Fluid.
How do you adjust surge brakes?
1:162:24How to Adjust Hydraulic Trailer Brakes - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAll you have to do is just pull down on the screwdriver. And that will actually physically spin theMoreAll you have to do is just pull down on the screwdriver. And that will actually physically spin the adjuster inside there.
Can trailer surge brakes be adjusted?
Surge brakes don't really pull on the hitch because once the brakes begin to engage, they lower the compressing force on the actuator, and the brakes release a bit. So you don't feel them as you might with an electric actuator. Are they drums or disks? Drums can be adjusted at each wheel.
Why does my boat trailer lock up in reverse?
If you have a surge or hydraulic coupler on the trailer, such as those typically found on boat trailers, the hydraulic brakes will lock up when the vehicle reverses unless the lock-out circuit on the coupler is wired to the trailer connector on the vehicle.
Can you back a trailer with surge brakes?
A trailer with surge brakes needs a special pin to be backed up. The pin is placed in the neck so putting the trailer in reverse does not activate the surge brakes while a driver is backing up or a trailer dolly is guiding the trailer with surge brakes. The pin can be removed when the trailer is ready to travel again.
Can you lock out surge brakes?
The only way to turn a surge brake actuator "off" is to engage a lockout on the actuator. Some actuators have manual lockouts, others have electric lockouts, and some have no way to lock out the actuator. Typically, free-backing brakes are used with actuators that have no lockout.
Do you need a brake controller for surge brakes?
Types Of Trailer Brakes The surge brakes use the trailers momentum and own weight, which pushes against a hydraulic cylinder when you step on the towing vehicle's brakes. Therefore, a surge braking system does not require a brake controller to function.
Can you back a trailer with surge brakes?
A trailer with surge brakes needs a special pin to be backed up. The pin is placed in the neck so putting the trailer in reverse does not activate the surge brakes while a driver is backing up or a trailer dolly is guiding the trailer with surge brakes. The pin can be removed when the trailer is ready to travel again.
How do you test a hydraulic brake actuator?
The first test to try is to connect the white wire to the negative post of the battery. Then connect the black wire to the positive post on the battery. The unit may click but should not run. If it does run, it is a bad unit and needs to be replaced.
How does a boat trailer brake actuator work?
An electric over hydraulic system works by using electricity to activate the hydraulic motor in the actuator, which in turn activates the brakes on the trailer. The actuator receives electric signals from the tow vehicle's brake controller and applies pressure to the trailer's hydraulic brakes.
How do you maintain boat trailer brakes?
0:231:30Boat Trailer Maintenance - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipA little grease in there and your trailer bearings are going to be good to go next. It's importantMoreA little grease in there and your trailer bearings are going to be good to go next. It's important to check the brake fluid on your trailer. And that's as simple as taking off this cap here and this.
What is surge brake?
The trailer surges with force in a forward motion; hence the name, surge brakes. As a result of this forward force, the surge actuator slides. This sliding motion activates the motion cylinder, which builds pressure in the brake fluids, causing the trailer to slow down. In other words, you can say that the harder you brake your primary vehicle, ...
How do surge brakes work?
What are Surge Brakes? Surge brakes work just like hydraulic brakes installed in a car. The brakes activate automatically according to the momentum of the trailer. Compared to car brakes, instead of a brake pedal powering a pump, surge brakes use a unique sliding hitch assembly.
What brakes are used on boat trailers?
Aside from that, hydraulic surge brakes are among the most used brake types out there for boating trailers . The popularity of surge brakes isn’t only limited to Boat trailers. They are highly preferred for travel trailers too.
Why are surge brakes so popular?
You’ll find that surge brakes are mainly popular because their workings are solely restricted to the trailer itself. All you have to do is to maintain the system from time to time simply. The main areas of maintenance are usually brake lines, brake pads, and brake fluid levels.
What happens when a trailer breaks off?
Since you attach the chain to the primary vehicle, too, in cases where the trailer breaks off, the chain pulls the lever, which activates the trailer’s surge brakes. You’ll find that the brakes still activate even if the chain breaks during the process.
What happens when you apply surge brakes to a trailer?
However, when you apply your brakes, the exact opposite occurs. The truck slows down and no longer pushes the trailer. Instead, it is now the trailer that uses force on your vehicle and is trying to move it forward. Let us continue the same scenario forward with a trailer that has surge brakes installed.
What is the purpose of master cylinder?
The purpose of a master cylinder is to operate the hydraulic cylinder. In turn, the hydraulic cylinder pushes the drums or disc brakes against the wheels to slow down the moving vehicle. The master cylinder inside the sliding hitch operates automatically according to the trailer’s momentum and weight in a trailer.
How to catch a brake line leak?
Covering the brake-line fitting with a small plastic bag— bound with a zip tie— will help catch any leakage. On some systems, you might need to remove the actuator first to access the fitting and remove the brake line. Next, cut the blue wire leading to the disc-brake lockout solenoid at the back of the actuator.
What is surge brake?
A hydraulic surge-brake actuator is one of those items you rarely think about until it malfunctions and wreaks havoc with your boat-trailer brakes. Sometimes the hydraulics in the actuator develop a leak, leaving the system with no brake fluid and the trailer with no braking ability. You usually feel more pronounced thunks as ...
Why does my brake actuator jam?
An actuator can also jam due to corrosion or mechanical damage. If it jams while compressing, the brakes can lock up and subsequently suffer severe damage, and grow so hot while towing that they burst into flames. That’s when a malfunctioning actuator really gets your attention.
How to check brakes on a trailer?
The easiest way is to raise one side of the trailer and spin the wheels while someone applies the surge brakes at the coupler. The better way would be to remove each of the wheels and brake drums and activate the brakes while making sure the wheel cylinders and brake assemblies are functioning properly.
What happens if you bleed brakes?
If you bleed the brakes in this fashion you will know that the master cylinder is performing and that there is no air in the system causing the situation. You would then need to check the wheel cylinders and brake assemblies for problems.
How to replace master cylinder brakes?
Step 1: Fill Master Cylinder with Brake Fluid. To start, remove the master cylinder cap. Fill the master cylinder 3/4 full with DOT3 or DOT4 brake fluid. Make sure to leave the cap off during this process—if you put the cap back on while bleeding the brakes, you can damage the seal inside the cap. Remove cap from master cylinder.
How to bleed brake fluid without a bleeder?
Method 1: One person will grab the screwdriver again and this time start making long strokes under the master cylinder. This will push brake fluid all the way to the furthest brake. At the same time, the other person will crack open the bleeder valve (only about a ¼ turn, not a full turn) and close it before the other person releases the push rod. t's very important to close the valve before releasing the rod because this will prevent air from getting back into the system. Otherwise, you'll have to start this process all over again and waste a whole lot of time and fluid— not to mention, your neighbor probably won't do any more favors for you. Repeat this process on that same brake until no more bubbles are visible in the container and the fluid runs clear.
How many people are needed to bleed brakes?
Manually bleeding your brakes typically requires one person at the actuator and one person at the bleeder valve on the brake. But sometimes you don’t have anyone else to help you, or maybe you’re like me and are too stubborn to ask for help. In that case, there are special tools you can buy to help you do it alone.
How to bleed brakes?
How to Bleed Surge Brakes 1 Do not look directly into the reservoir while pumping the push rod as fluid can squirt up and get in your face. Just don't do it. 2 Do not allow brake fluid to contact any painted surface as it will damage the finish. To protect your backing plate assemblies from corroding should you get brake fluid on them, we recommend first spraying them down with a rust-resistant spray before you start this process. 3 Do not reuse brake fluid—it may contain contaminants. Trust me, reusing brake fluid won't save you any money. 4 Never let the reservoir fall below 1/2 full during the bleeding process—air can get sucked in and you will have to start all over.
How to stop air bubbles on brakes?
When you see no more air bubbles with the first brake, close and tighten the valve. Repeat step 4 for all the remaining brakes, making sure to go from the brake farthest from the actuator to the brake closest. To verify this process was done properly, you can activate the actuator again and have someone try to spin one of the wheels. The wheel should not spin freely when activating the actuator is engaged because this activates the brakes, locking up the wheels.
How long should a safety chain be for an actuator?
The safety chain loop will help give you the leverage you need to collapse the actuator. It’s best to have a board at least 4’ long so that it extends well above the actuator. Position the board against the front end of the actuator’s coupler and use it to force the coupler case into the actuator’s outer housing.
Can you use brake bleed tools with a friend?
However, bleeding the brakes with a friend or neighbor is ultimately the method we recommend. These brake bleeding tools are not always easy to use, so having another person there will speed up the process and help ensure that you don't miss any steps.
