Testing my trailer actuator

[jeffhornberger]

I want to see if anyone can help me with the issue were having with our trailer as to what went wrong. Recently we had our breaks overheat and basically ruin our calipers and rotors. This trailer was used in saltwater previously and is taking on some rusting. It started with our master cylinder on the actuator being empty of brake fluid, my buddy saw this and ended up filling the resevoir with brake fluid not knowing if there was any brake fluid in the lines what so ever. We took a trip to the lake and got back to the house and grease was poring out of the hubs. Calipers were burnt and rotors scratched pretty good. My guess as to what happened was there was air in the brake lines. But we have also been having issues with our actuator in that it tends to slam back when the truck takes off and slams forward when we brake. So I think the shock or spring might be bad. I want to know if anyone can put there two cents in and let me know how to test these things. shock, spring, and possibly how to know if the the reverse lock out solenoid is bad. This job is getting costly just with the calipers and rotors so I want to see if I can keep my actuator. We are replacing the master cylinder for sure because the resevoir looks rusted out. Any help would be awesome. Thanks

 

[burp]

Re: Testing my trailer actuator

Air in the brake lines should not cause the brake calipers to drag and generate excessive rotor heat. Air in the brake lines will cause the slamming when the brakes are applied but some clunk is to be expected when taking off from a stop. I suspect the root culprit of the problem is brake caliper corrosion due to saltwater. If the caliper pucks are corroded, then they will generally move out when the brakes are actuated, when the brakes are released, the corrosion prevents the pucks from retracting in the caliper. Thus the brakes drag and generate the excessive heat. Once you have the brakes working properly, the reverse lockout solenoid is easy to test. Unhook the trailer electrical connector from the tow vehicle and try to back up hill. The trailer brakes should activate as you try to back uphill, pull forward to release the brakes, reconnect the trailer connector and reattempt to back up hill. If you can then back up hill, you know the reverse lockout solenoid is functioning.

 

[jeffhornberger]

Re: Testing my trailer actuator

Ok thanks and what do you think about the actuator slamming against the truck when we take off and brake. I know thats how they operate but I just dont think it should slam too hard. Would that be the shock or what?