Surge brake take up on pull off???

[cliffblue]

How much slack should I feel every time I take off after coming to a stop? I feel a small clunk every time and wonder if that is as it should be. It is a tandem axle with drum brakes. Also there is a pin on the left side of the hitch with a hole low on that side. Is this a safety or some kind of back up block? I haven't had any luck posting pictures. Thanks, Cliff

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Surge brake take up on pull off???

You will always have somewhat of a clunk. If its severe, you should check your brakes to see if they are actually working or adjusted properly. The larger the clunk, the more the mastercylinder is getting pushed in. When mine was really clunking, my master cylinder had actually failed.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Surge brake take up on pull off???

Hi Cliff:

small clunk, even an medium size clunk is what you will feel. The pin may be a safety pin for the coupler latch. Drum brakes are usually free backing and do not need a lock-out. If you can back up without the pin in there, then it is probably a safety pin.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Surge brake take up on pull off???

Mine have clunked slightly ever since I installed them. It's the nature of the beast as you have a sliding cylinder between the truck and the trailer.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Surge brake take up on pull off???

With my coupler, clunk = air in system. The only time I get a clunk is when it's time to bleed the brakes again.

The clunk is the piston hitting the stop tube in the master cylinder. If the brakes are bleed and the drums are adjusted properly, the fluid limits the piston travel and it will never hit the stop tube and clunk.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Surge brake take up on pull off???

Dingbat, he's talking about the clunk when he moves forward from a stop which can also mean air in the system liked you described.

 

[rbh]

Re: Surge brake take up on pull off???

If the surge break is working properly, Your "clunk" could possibly be that the locking dog that goes under your ball is not tight enough, and you are hearing the ball slam back and forth in the cup.
Tighten it up and back it off a 1/4-1/2 turn, remember to put some grease in the cup.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Surge brake take up on pull off???

Since the ball/coupler can move about an inch independently of the rest of the trailer (to activate the surge brake), you will get a noise when it hits the end of its travel.

I am more worried if I do not hear the 'clunk' when I start off, because that means I left 'something' behind . . .

 

[lncoop]

Re: Surge brake take up on pull off???

As evidenced in the responses it really depends on how much of a "clunk" we're talking about. If you can truly hear a pronounced "clunk" there might be an issue. Could be the master, could be the shock absorber, could be the coupler binding, could be other previously mentioned problems. I know I can feel my actuator reextending when I take off, and it's barely audible from the cab. This is normal as far as I'm concerned, but only you can determine whether it's consistent with what you're experiencing. So, how loud is the clunk?

 

[cliffblue]

Re: Surge brake take up on pull off???

Thanks for all the info. The brakes are bled and shoes adjusted. After reading the replies, I feel like my clunk is normal. I really just feel the clunk and not hear it. I was wondering and didn't know if there was a spring or something that would re-extend the coupler after stopping to prevent the clunk. About greasing the coupler cup, is this really necessary? I really hate rubbing against a greasy trailer ball! could there be enough wear here to be a problem? Thanks again to all for the input. I really enjoy this forum. Cliff P.S. Incoop, I see the Suntracker in your reply. The trailer is under a 21' Suntracker Party Deck. Very fun boat. I did my open water checkout at the Lake Ouachita dam. Hope to see the rest of it this summer.

 

[DBreskin]

Re: Surge brake take up on pull off???

About greasing the coupler cup, is this really necessary? I really hate rubbing against a greasy trailer ball! could there be enough wear here to be a problem?

The amount of wear on the coupler/ball is dependent on how often you use your trailer. If you're trailering daily then wear can be a problem.

You can buy a plastic cover for your ball to protect it and keep you from getting greasy if you rub against it.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Surge brake take up on pull off???

Thanks for all the info. The brakes are bled and shoes adjusted. After reading the replies, I feel like my clunk is normal. I really just feel the clunk and not hear it. I was wondering and didn't know if there was a spring or something that would re-extend the coupler after stopping to prevent the clunk. About greasing the coupler cup, is this really necessary? I really hate rubbing against a greasy trailer ball! could there be enough wear here to be a problem? Thanks again to all for the input. I really enjoy this forum. Cliff P.S. Incoop, I see the Suntracker in your reply. The trailer is under a 21' Suntracker Party Deck. Very fun boat. I did my open water checkout at the Lake Ouachita dam. Hope to see the rest of it this summer.

Sounds like you're in good shape then. Ouachita huh? Take a look at this thread. Love for you to come up from the port and join us. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=537863

 

[dingbat]

Re: Surge brake take up on pull off???

Since the ball/coupler can move about an inch independently of the rest of the trailer (to activate the surge brake), you will get a noise when it hits the end of its travel.

Dampening mechanisms , if any, vary by manufacturer. My coupler is tied directly to the master cylinder and uses the cylinder as a shock damper. I don't clunk unless I'm low on fluid or have air in the system that compresses allowing the cylinder to bottom out.

When properly bleed, I have less than a half inch of travel under braking conditions. The manual warns that when total travel approaches 1” the brakes should be adjusted and or bleed

 

[cliffblue]

Re: Surge brake take up on pull off???

Bought it used. Whats the odds of finding manufacturer's info on this surge brake?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Surge brake take up on pull off???

Post a picture of it and we can tell you who makes it.

 

[cliffblue]

Re: Surge brake take up on pull off???

thanks, as soon as I can get one, I'll try.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Surge brake take up on pull off???

My guess would be Titan.

 

[TorchedGT]

Re: Surge brake take up on pull off???

When I brought the boat to my friends shop for the first time after driving it back 10 hours from the original owner (it sat for 2 months after that) I thought I just about ripped the back half of the car apart when the light turned green.

I guess the system had bled out after the initial road trip here while it sat for 2 months? I was curious about this though.. since I figured there was just no pressure and it was moving to the full stop. Guess that's probably true. Damn, time to learn how to mess with this thing I suppose.