surge brake on trailer locking up when stopping

(joemommaaa) · (joemommaaa) **Join Date: Sep 2007** 09-26-2007, 2:29 PM

I have an 01 supreme, not sure who the mfg is on the trailer. But it has a surge brake and when i brake the trailer will lock up. It doesnt lock up and skid to a stop but it just locks up for a quick second, releases then locks up again real quick and will do this all the way to a stop. So it just sounds like chirp chirp chirp until i am stopped... I am familiar with brake systems on cars but have never dealt with surge brakes. Has anyone had this problem or know what it might be? thanks for any help

(rallyart) · (rallyart) **Join Date: Nov 2006** 09-26-2007, 3:35 PM

If you look at your trailer tires one of them probably has flat spots on it. That's from the Chirping. The other brake is probably not working properly and too much force is going to the one with the chirp.
Stop on wet pavement and someone watching will see what locks right away.

(misfits1981) · (misfits1981) **Join Date: Aug 2007** 09-26-2007, 4:17 PM

Check the master cylinder on the trailer. Could be air in the lines too. Bleed the system.

(joemommaaa) · (joemommaaa) **Join Date: Sep 2007** 09-26-2007, 4:19 PM

i just hooked up my old truck to take the boat to the gas station and it doesnt happen with this truck. I thought it might have been intermittent so i hooked it up to the new truck (f250) and the problem happens still. Do you think it could be the angle of the trailer on the truck that is causing this?

(derby) · (derby) **Join Date: Nov 2005** 09-26-2007, 4:23 PM

Yes the angle of the truck will effect the surge brakes. Make sure the trailer is level. If the tounge is lower then the rear the brakes will activate more frequently, sometimes whenever they want.

(derby) · (derby) **Join Date: Nov 2005** 09-26-2007, 4:28 PM

Or rather the angle of the trailer not the truck. you know what I mean.

(phatboypimp) · (phatboypimp) **Join Date: Apr 2005** 09-26-2007, 4:57 PM

There is also a small shock absorber inside your coupler. If that is shot, I have seen that cause the same problem that you are seeing. It would also make the brakes more sensitive to the angle of the trailer when towing.

(bremsen) · (bremsen) **Join Date: Aug 2005** 09-27-2007, 4:06 AM

I'm gonna agree with Art on this one. My trailer started doing this as well. I think it comes from one brake wearing down more than the other (or not functioning at all). Once it wears far enough only one side engages and its at the very end of the actuator's stroke, which is why it locks and releases. It doesn't have any more pressure to hold the shoes to the drums.

When I went to adjust the brakes I noticed that one needed a lot more adjustment than the other. Getting them adjusted helped (for a little while), but one brake is definately working harder than the other, I just need to get the wheels/drums off to figure out which one and why.