On Mon, 08 Nov 2004 23:41:01 GMT, "Gordon" wrote:

Many, perhaps most, of us have surge brakes and use the back-up light
circuit to keep from backing with the brakes on.... many of the above
stated use equipment (a tractor, for example) not suited to release
the brakes and consequently back your trailer and boat with the brakes
full-on....

I think my last pads, calipers, and backing plates were damaged by
just such careless behavior.

Run that by me again?

On trailers with surge brakes, the pressure is put on the rotors by
backing up the trailer. The pressure of backing up the trailer pushes
the plunger thus locking up the brakes. Normally, the backup light is
connected to a release solenoid releasing pressure on the brake
system. When moving a boat without that release solenoid, as in
hooking up to a tractor with a three point hitch, for instance, you
need to use a mechanical lockout to keep the pads from locking up the
braking system.

What our friend described is probably what happened - the mechanical
release wasn't put in place causing the brakes to lock up when the
trailer was moved. Without that release, there can be a big build up
of mechanical pressure, although I don't know why the pressure relief
didn't kick off.

I have seen inexperienced yard workers do this occasionally.

All the best,

Tom
--------------

"What the hell's the deal with this newsgroup...
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Bilgeman - circa 2004