Big Bummer at the Boat Ramp
Glassguy54
Member Posts: 588 ✭✭✭
Went up to the Mississippi with our 246 yesterday and while driving through the parking lot towards the ramp, a fellow who was standing there mentioned there was a lot of noise coming from my trailer. I got out to inspect and discovered, much to my dismay, that the brake caliper on the right rear wheel had divorced itself from the axle and was captured between the wheel rim and rotor. The brake line was severed. I launched the boat to lighten the load on the trailer and jacked up the trailer, removed the wheel and was able to extract the caliper. One bolt was missing, the other had twisted off and part of the cast iron casting was broken! Any way, what my question is, and I have tried to search for an answer elsewhere to no avail, on a tandem axle trailer with 4 wheel disc brakes, if one axle should fail, is there a check valve or any other mechanism that maintains function on the other axle's brakes? I'll be trying to get parts come monday morning, but we did have plans for labor day weekend and I don't know if I can get replacement parts before then.
Comments
PC BYC, Holland, MI
OK, upon further investigation, crawling around under the trailer, and jacking up one of the front wheels, spinning it, then pushing in the surge actuator, I've concluded there is no brake function. There is no "X" pattern or metering/proportioning or check valves, just a "T" for the front axle, a "T" to split the line to the rear, and a "T" for the rear. Not too safe if you should have an issue with one or another axle. My wife asked if I needed to have been checking the mounting bolts. I told her that was not something that you would typically need to be concerned about. I too thought it rare. I'm 60 and I used to work as an auto mechanic at one time and I've owned dozens of cars and talk with car guys and I've never heard of a caliper falling off under ordinary circumstances. Extreme 4 wheeling maybe, but a trailer that is only 6 years old & only used on weekends 4 months out of the year? I was able to get in touch with the manufacturer and forwarded to a parts warehouse and have the caliper ordered. Hopefully it will arrive in a couple of days and I can get it mounted, bleed the system and still be able to haul the boat to Missouri this coming weekend as planned.
PC BYC, Holland, MI
Thanks Drew,
That was my alternate plan if the caliper does not arrive in time.
L-)
I use a $29 IR heat gun to check my tires, hubs and brakes on the road or if I'm worried and it's a real breeze. Also beats putting my finger on a 200* hub or for getting into tight spots like those disc calipers.
For all you guys about to strap 'em out for the season, here's a BIG boat STRAP bummer. Authentic?? maybe/maybe not, but still a crazy image that makes you think that it could be worse :
All I've wanted was to just have fun.
PC BYC, Holland, MI