"Tom" wrote in message
...
On 11 Nov 2005 18:20:52 -0800, wrote:
When I released the brake in the towing vehicle and started towing, I
often heard noise coming from behind me (likely coming from the
connection between the towing vehicle and the trailer). Is it a
standard behavior of a surge brake?
I am wondering the surge brake might have engaged when I stopped the
car, and it remained engaged. When I released the brake in the towing
vehicle and stepped on the gas panel, the surge brake could not respond
fast enough to release its brake. That caused the hitch ball of the
towing vehicle to impact on the coupler of the trailer, and this made
noise. Is my understanding correct? If this was the case, I should go
easy on the gas panel when I go from stop to start the vehicle.
Any idea?
Thanks.
Jay Chan
Is it a slamming noise - metal to metal? If so, do you have a class 3
hitch (2" square tube inside a larger tube with a steel pin stuck
through a hole with a keeper pin?). If so, it's not uncommon for the
holes to have a little slop in them causing the tube to slide forward
and backward making noise when stopping and starting. It could also be
the coupler on the brake. If it is a grinding noise then you may have
a problem with the brakes releasing.
If this is an Atwood coupler, take the receiver hitch stinger from the car
and install it in the coupler. Step on the stinger and activate the
coupler. See if it goes down easy. If it does, you either have brakes out
of adjustment or air in the line. A Dico coupler needs to use a prybar to
slide the coupler.