04 Ramlin trailer brake problem - surging/slamming

[taobym]

I have an 04 Ramlin tandem axle trailor. The brakes still work for the most part but as I slow down, the actuator seems to slam instead of a nice steady push. I changed the damper on it and of course checked the fluid level. Still doing same thing.

Next step is to bleed the brakes or replace master cylinder.

Anyone have any other suggestions or have you heard of this issue? I think I saw where someone else had this problem sometime ago but can't find the post.
Anyway, any advice will be helpful. Thanks.

Troy

[jhiestand]

Air in the lines/bleeding the brakes is definitely the first thing to do. You didn't mention whether it had drums or disks -- if drums, make sure they're adjusted properly. If there's too much distance for the shoes to travel the brakes won't work all that well plus the actuator will have to travel too far (hence the clunk). A decent article on bleeding/adjusting is http://www.championtrailers.com/tech...l#bleed_brakes

If you have disks I'd still try bleeding the lines first. If that doesn't resolve the problem, could be master cylinder-related as you suggested.

[taobym]

Thanks for the advice J. By the way, they are drums and I just recently had them adjusted so the actuators should be set right. I will do as you suggest.

[jmo]

Some actuators are designed to clunk when they run low on brake fluid as to alert the driver to this condition, was it full to start with, or did you have to top it off?

Only reason I ask is just this past weekend on my 01 ramlin trailer I was experiencing the same clunking on take off or stopping, and in my case the brake line that runs inside the box frame of the trailer had rusted out and was leaking! When I gently started pulling it out after disconnecting both ends it broke completely in half.

jmo