Trailer problem or not - go or no go?

norbert gee · Post by **norbert gee** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 8:37 pm

Last time out I heard some louder than usual squeaking sounds from my trailer. When I got home, I touched the hub and it wasn't hot, just warm to the touch. Then I jacked up each wheel one at a time to try to spin it. The right wheel would not spin freely and only moved when I pushed it but made a scratchy sound. The left side would only spin about 1/2 revolution and also made a straching sound but not as loud. Neither wheel has any side play and seemed like the sound was coming from the brake pad being really close to the disk. This is my first trailer with disk brakes and COOL hubs, is this normal? Do I have a brake or a bearing problem?

My trailer is a single axle from a 2002 Ranger 518 boat and I have never serviced the oil bearings or brakes.

It will be two weeks before the shop will check it out but with the great weather coming up I'm dying to go fishing on Wednesday but not sure if I should wait till trailer is checked out first. Thanks.

norbert gee · Post by **norbert gee** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 8:55 pm

I noticed the squeaking noise is coming from the right wheel and it goes away whenever I apply the breaks like at a stop sign. Thanks.

tommypV2 · Post by **tommypV2** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 9:02 pm

it's fairly easy to pull off the tire and take a look at the pads - i would do that before going any further. see if you can see if the discs are hanging on the pads. Sounds a lot like worn pads. sometimes, the clips that hold the calipers will break, and the caliper itself will drag on disc.
I go to Barstad and Donicht in Hayward - they might be able to take you sooner than two weeks from now.. they do all my trailer work and are great guys.

- T

macinckirk · Post by **macinckirk** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 5:57 am

it needs brakes I would say, there not hard to do at all, if you have done front brakes on a car you can do the trailer. I would not drive it anymore then needed at this point though

185vsfrog · Post by **185vsfrog** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 6:26 am

Also, look at your ranger cool hub. If the Oil in the window of the hub is dark color, it is ok and working properly. If your oil in the window of the hub is yellowish and milky, that means water has got into the hub and it should be serviced. Ranger cool hub s are notorius for going out. My cool hubs needed to be serviced twice in the first year of owning my ranger.

RougeBass · Post by **RougeBass** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 8:44 am

I agree with 185 if you have the cool hubs really watch that oil. My brand new trailer left me stranded twice.

NaCl · Post by **NaCl** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 9:27 am

Most disk brakes incorporate a small curved piece of metal that rides a little off the brake rotor. Whent he pad wears thin, the metal begins to touch the rotor making a chirping sound. That's just a warning so you replace the pads before damaging the rotor. It will chirp until you apply the brakes, then you won't hear it until the brake releases.

Personally, I would NOT continue pulling that trailer without replacing the pads. You risk turning a very small expense into a much bigger expense or even an accident. Of course, the brakes are most important in wet road conditions. With this nice weather, if you simply MUST go fishing, you can "lock out" the brakes (like you can do for backing) and pull the trailer brakeless. Back in the 80's, we pulled 18 foot boats in all kinds of weather and never had trailer brakes. You just had to slow down and be safe.

.....NaCl

Hardshell · Post by **Hardshell** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 9:59 am

inspect you brake pads and rotors. Ranger Trailers have a electronic lock out when you back the trailer up, thus the need for the 5th wire connected to the backup lights of your vehicle. This system stops the full functioning of the surge brake, however sometimes there is some contact between the pads and rotor and this may be the cause of the wheel not turning freely. These trailer are very reliable and the brakes and wheel hubs hardly ever need serviceing. I can testify to this as I have a 1998 488 that the trailer has never had the brakes serviced or the cool hubs drained or refilled, and this old warrior has a bunch of miles on her. My motto has always been "If it aint broke, don't fix it"!

Hardshell-Jailer