Surge brake actuators

[toddco]

Hello All,
Now you've got me concerned on my brakes. I'm just starting into my rebuild. My ODay 20 came with a Calkin tralier that orignally had hydralic brakes. The PO must of had problems, because the trailer coupling was replaced with a standard 2" coupler without the accuator. My question is, am I money ahead changing everything over to electric, or try and save the hydralics? I am assuming I'll need new lines and a new coupler, and I haven't pulled the wheels off yet. I have no idea what shape the drums are in.

regards,

Todd

 

[CPseudonym]

I'm sitting in the driveway with my O'Day 20 thinking the same right now after reading this thread. Picked it up a week ago and think before anything else happens I'm rebuilding the trailer hitch to tail lights. As I'm a welder, may just strip the paint off the welds and check and re weld the whole darn thing before I take it down the road.

Very informative thread... Thanks guys.

~Craig

 

[SycloneDriver]

The trailer that came with my 79 San Juan 7.7m had surge/drum brakes on one axle. I pulled the boat and trailer home from KY to OK with my 3/4 ton 4x4 diesel and could hardly tell it was there under brakeing. I thought the brakes were working until I took them apart for inspection. They looked just like Walts. The drums were full of grease, the shoes were way out of adjustment, the lines were full of holes, the master cylinder was shot & wheel cylinders were rusted solid.

I was not suprised that the entire system needed replaced, but I was suprised that it stopped so easly without trailer brakes. I have a car hauler and a double jetski trailer and I can sure tell when there behind the truck.

I didn't replace the backing plates as entire units because mine are an odd size, but I did replace the wheel cylinders and cleaned the shoes. I also replaced the actuator and the lines. Besure to adjust the shoes anytime you replace the drum or anything inside it.