ram-lin single axle brake question

[slidin_out]

Noticed lately that my trailer, original w/ 03 sante, is acting weird, once i stop when i take off again it will give a little jerk like the tongue on the trailer is still depressed mashing on the trailer brakes, so if i don't gently roll to let it "disengage" it will give a good jerk on the truck once it does, sound like i need a new trailer tongue or something?

[jmo]

Does it clunk at all when stopping? Do you have disk or drum brakes? One simple thing to check is make sure the actuator has enough brake fluid in it, though low levels will typically induce clunking when stopping and starting. Maybe the actuator just needs to be greased.

[slidin_out]

didn't even think about that, should have checked the fluid first

[jhiestand]

If you find your actuator is low, you probably have a leak in your brake line somewhere. Definitely check where the brake line exits the trailer frame. My Ramlin rubbed through there twice, so now I have a piece of hose around that section protecting it.

[slidin_out]

revisiting this old problem, checked the brake fluid and the reservoir is full, also have a slightly new problem where it seems like the trailer brakes don't fully disengage, was going down the interstate with the boat, had to tap the brakes, trailer started bogging the truck down after i tried to speed back up, had to pull over, roll back a little in reverse and hit the brakes to get it to disengage, did it one other time on the way home that day, pulling it to the house tonight when i got home noticed the hub and wheel were pretty warm, checked bearings and they had plenty of grease so i'm thinking the brakes are always staying slightly engaged, any ideas?

[slidin_out]

i think it may a lack of lubrication where the ball coupler piece of the mechanism slides in and out of the larger piece if that makes sense, looks kind of dry to have that much metal sliding back and forth, thinking it is not sliding back out all the way, going to get some spray or grease and give it a good lubing up, if that is not it i will probably just take it in to get someone to check it out as i don't have time to take the hub off and check the brakes and such out

[prairiethunder]

what you describe sounds like the problem i had.... I think my trailer guy said the master cylinder (or something?) siezed. so the actuator (at the tongue)moves and clunks but it isn't pushing any fluid through the lines to smooth out the starts and stops and engage disengage the brakes. My brakes wouldn't stick on as you describe.... I found out mine weren't engaging. hope this makes sense and helps

[slidin_out]

seemed to pull better this morning when i lubed that thing but it is a clunk when you start off unless you lightly roll forward a little first, i can feel it engaging when i get on the brakes good, it is a noticable difference in braking, still could be the master cylinder, will probably still have it checked out because I could still feel heat around the hub when I parked it this morning and it was only a 12 mile haul

[jankedm]

I recently installed a new actuator and mine clunks a little also. So did the old one. I think it is just the moving part of the actuator extending back out after I begin to tow it after braking. When the trailer stops, the actuator is still partially pushed in, when you take off again, you extend it back out. It doesn't have to move much to make a little noise. Might not be your problem, but I think that's why mine makes that noise. By the way, I did check to make sure that both drum calipers were moving properly when I did the switch out.

[AirTool]

I have an 07 or 08 single axle ramlin with drum brakes. I bought it new and it has clunked since day one. Previous surge braked trailers I've pull have also clunked.