My 17.5" Michelin tires are experiencing wear on the front axle that indicates skidding or brake lock-up. I have a disc brakes and am wondering how to and how difficult it would be to disconnect the brakes on the front axle. I have about 1,000 miles to home and can deal with the issue much better there.

Is this your toad or are you towing something with this vehicle?Disconnecting or disabling brakes can be EXTREMELY dangerous.

You would have to disconnect and plug or cap the lines to the front axle brakes and bleed the remaining brakes. Even then you will be operating on half your normal braking so be real careful. At least half of disc brake is not much worse than full electric brakes.

I would just turn the controller down a bit. Brake more gradually.This is the safest way to get home. JMHO.

It seems the OP has it handled as posted on another forumhttp://www.irv2.com/forums/f116/shocks-266051.html

smkettner wrote:I would just turn the controller down a bit. Brake more gradually.This is the safest way to get home. JMHO.X2, and you can still lock up all four manually if you need an emergency stop.

Disconnecting front axle disc brakes | Good Sam Community

17 Replies

TakingThe5th
Explorer
Oct 10, 2015
Charlie D. wrote:
RJsfishin wrote:
Quote:
When I jack up one wheel the other wheel now stays on the ground.
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That is normal in every tandem w/ equalizer,.....providing the equalizer is free, not froze/rusted soild.

X2

No rust - maybe I mis-spoke - some equalizers provide more travel then others - that has been my observation. Yes, the equalizers job includes (trying to) keep both wheels on the ground - hence the name "equalizer".
Charlie_D_
Explorer
Oct 10, 2015
RJsfishin wrote:
Quote:
When I jack up one wheel the other wheel now stays on the ground.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
That is normal in every tandem w/ equalizer,.....providing the equalizer is free, not froze/rusted soild.

X2
RJsfishin
Explorer
Oct 10, 2015
Quote:
When I jack up one wheel the other wheel now stays on the ground.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
That is normal in every tandem w/ equalizer,.....providing the equalizer is free, not froze/rusted soild.
TakingThe5th
Explorer
Oct 10, 2015
RJsfishin wrote:
Wow, learned something new,..... I always thought that the tandem equalizer keeps the total weight equal on both axles, even when the trailer is unlevel front to rear.

It varies by what you have. My MORRyde IS in my Cougar works significantly better then the standard stuff in my old Cougar. When I jack up one wheel the other wheel now stays on the ground.
RJsfishin
Explorer
Oct 10, 2015
Wow, learned something new,..... I always thought that the tandem equalizer keeps the total weight equal on both axles, even when the trailer is unlevel front to rear.
randallb
Explorer
Oct 10, 2015
What is the attitude of the trailer when hooked up and loaded? I am guessing it is nose high which unweights the front axle and places most of the braking responsibility on the rear axle. When you set your controller so you are comfortable with the boost the rear tires are doing most of the work and the fronts are skidding during harder stops. Even weight distribution on the axles is very important for tire wear and stopping efficiency.
Randy
Roger10378
Explorer II
Oct 10, 2015
Chris Bryant wrote:
The OP was just trying to get home, not run forever like this.
I would replace the hoses that have been clamped, but I bet you already figured that.

X2 on replacing the hoses. You have probably done damage on the inside of the hose. Replace them and bleed the brakes once you fix the original problem.
RJsfishin
Explorer
Oct 10, 2015
Fact,....
If you are paying premiums to an insurance company, they will be forced by law to pay your claim, except in a known case of insurance fraud.
A case of a mistake, poor judgment, or even negligence, can be a good enuff reason for cancellation,....after they pay off.

And if someone rear ends you, I don't think lacking brakes would have anything to do w/ the case.

Many moons ago, I watched a guy that had a rear wheel cyl leaking brake fluid all over, crawl under there, broke the steel line off at the wheel cyl, borrowed a hammer from the filling station there, and smashed the end of the line completely flat against the differential housing, crawled out, and said, "there, that one will never leak again !:)
Chris_Bryant
Explorer II
Oct 10, 2015
The OP was just trying to get home, not run forever like this.
I would replace the hoses that have been clamped, but I bet you already figured that.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Oct 09, 2015
I did not install front (S-cam) air brakes on Quicksilver due to absurd cost. Most 10-wheel tractors do not have front brakes either.

But what is being proposed in this post gives me the willies. First of all, if someone rear-ends you and their underwriter finds out you disconnected your front brakes, you is screwed. if your underwriter discovers it, they will most likely deny a claim then deny coverage. Goodbye everything you own. A lawyer would have a heart attack due to ecstasy in a courtroom litigating a case against you. I went through hell with Quicksilver over this with my underwriter. I had to PROVE that chassis was available from the manufacturer with the same type, brand and configuration of brakes I had retrofitted.

If authorities find altered or modified or disabled brakes you in a heap o trouble boy. Please keep it in mind. I exaggerate not...