On Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:38:45 -0400, Jim24242
wrote:

Wizard of Woodstock wrote:
On Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:15:06 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

that looks like a serious dose of the clap, you got there Tom. Too
much exposure to salt in a tight spot.

Don't think so - if that were the case, the entire system would be
compromised like this and it's pretty clean up the tube to the brake
actuator - just a dirt.

What I think happened is that the solenoid let go - that's basically
brake fluid corrosion. This has been leaking for sometime - that's
what I'm thinking. I have had to add brake fluid over the years, but
it's a pretty open system so evaporation I figured - apparently not.

No indication it was leaking either until it let go.

On my trailer (23' Marquis) it's all exposed and so it has less means
of build up.

The pic of the brake line looks evil too. and it might be a lot of fun
trying to bleed the brakes with them baptized in brine as well.

I've seen that on an old Escort I had that had a brake line release.
Corrosive stuff brake fluid.

Unless I'm dreaming, I seem to remember reading about a non hygroscopic
synthetic brake fluid.

Not recommended for this system. Apparently silicone based hydraulic
fluids have a tendency to cause aeration in the fluid when forced
through small orifices as they have about 4 times the amount of air in
the fluid as standard glycol based fluids. I know they aren't
recommended for braking systems that use ABS.

You might consider using it after you replace all of your brake lines
and rebuild, if possible, the calipers and master cylinder.

I'm going to wing it with that - I just replaced the calipers, pads
and discs last year. The actuator seems fine - clean, no dirt or
grease - almost sterile. The brake lines from the solenoid back are
fine - no rust and the connectors are clean and disconnected very
easily. What I am thinking about doing is replacing all the steel
lines from the actuator to the solenoid and back again with rubber
brake hose. I'm going to completely remove the quick disconnect system
and just use rubber to connect to the trailer lines.

The solenoid appears to have a steel cover. Can you find one
that doesn't have a ferrous metal cover?

I don't know if that's possible. I'm heading up to Northeast
Industries this morning up in Dudley - they have Loadrite franchise
for this part of the world and talk to them about it. The lines I can
have made up at NAPA.

Champions Trailer Parts and Dexter Axle are two good sources of
information on trailers. They both have web sites.

I spent some time there last night while surfing around for
information - not sure they have what I need, but I'll look again.