Acme EZE Tow Brake Problems
I bought the dolly new last year and I ordered it with surge brakes as I have had them before and never had an issue with them other than backing up.
If fact I paid more for the surge brakes if I remember correctly over the electric brakes.
When the unit was delivered it had been shipped vertically and the rubber cap on the brake fluid resevoir had leaked all the fluid out. Not a big deal, I refilled the resevoir and cleaned the area the fluid had removed the paint and repainted it.
I have since made two trips, one at 500 miles and one at 260 miles and on the last trip I noted that the brakes were smoking as I came to a stop on an exit ramp that was downhill. They were really smoking. I then noted as I arrived home that one of the wheels was apparently seizing as it slowed to a stop with my van in tow. Not good.
I have had surge systems before and never had a problem but when I checked the brake fluid I found that it was almost empty so I refilled it again. I must have a leak somewhere and I will look for that today.
The only thing that I can think of is that the fluid level got low and it heated the brakes up????
But honestly I am thinking of just pulling the surge system and installing electric brakes. I have a less than two year old controller that is top of the line that I had bought for my 4 wheel trailer before so it's good to go. I could not use the 4 wheel trailer as my new Pacifica is so low and wide that I could not open the doors on it once loaded. :(
Absent finding evidence of a leak today on the surge system I am wondering what all the costs would be to change to electric. I would need the two hubs and a control cable of course and I would not think it would take much time to change over.
I will look into costs if I can determine what I need to do the job.
If fact I paid more for the surge brakes if I remember correctly over the electric brakes.
When the unit was delivered it had been shipped vertically and the rubber cap on the brake fluid resevoir had leaked all the fluid out. Not a big deal, I refilled the resevoir and cleaned the area the fluid had removed the paint and repainted it.
I have since made two trips, one at 500 miles and one at 260 miles and on the last trip I noted that the brakes were smoking as I came to a stop on an exit ramp that was downhill. They were really smoking. I then noted as I arrived home that one of the wheels was apparently seizing as it slowed to a stop with my van in tow. Not good.
I have had surge systems before and never had a problem but when I checked the brake fluid I found that it was almost empty so I refilled it again. I must have a leak somewhere and I will look for that today.
The only thing that I can think of is that the fluid level got low and it heated the brakes up????
But honestly I am thinking of just pulling the surge system and installing electric brakes. I have a less than two year old controller that is top of the line that I had bought for my 4 wheel trailer before so it's good to go. I could not use the 4 wheel trailer as my new Pacifica is so low and wide that I could not open the doors on it once loaded. :(
Absent finding evidence of a leak today on the surge system I am wondering what all the costs would be to change to electric. I would need the two hubs and a control cable of course and I would not think it would take much time to change over.
I will look into costs if I can determine what I need to do the job.
