Soft Brake Pedal
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 0
From: Princeton MN
Soft Brake Pedal
I figured Id share some information with the group and hopefully help solve somebodys issue someday.
So I gave my old Kelsey-Hayes trailer brake controller its last rights yesterday, the hydraulic arm wasn't making a full sweep and the coil inside was dead. I found a nice newer one that is the same type, its another Kelsey-Hayes that taps into the brake line.
After I installed the new(er) one my brake pedal firmed up and the rear brakes work great. I think the old one was sucking air and making a squishy pedal. So I you have an old hydraulic over electric controller andyou have a soft pedal trying looking into the controller as the cause.
So I gave my old Kelsey-Hayes trailer brake controller its last rights yesterday, the hydraulic arm wasn't making a full sweep and the coil inside was dead. I found a nice newer one that is the same type, its another Kelsey-Hayes that taps into the brake line.
After I installed the new(er) one my brake pedal firmed up and the rear brakes work great. I think the old one was sucking air and making a squishy pedal. So I you have an old hydraulic over electric controller andyou have a soft pedal trying looking into the controller as the cause.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,560
Likes: 1
whalebus, how i understood him was a hydro-controlled electric brake controller. a friend of mine has one on his 85 F250 diesel. the trailer has electric brakes, but instead of having the controller read the brake light signal it reads the fluid pressure and applies the brakes accordingly. these systems are becoming quite rare.
AFAIK, the only trailers that have hydraulic brakes are those which use surge brakes, which the basic principle is that when the tongue is under a compression force (braking, backing up hill, etc), the hitch ball pushes on the MC pushrod and applies the brakes. my car dolly has this system, and its also common on boat trailers. but this isn't the subject of this thread
AFAIK, the only trailers that have hydraulic brakes are those which use surge brakes, which the basic principle is that when the tongue is under a compression force (braking, backing up hill, etc), the hitch ball pushes on the MC pushrod and applies the brakes. my car dolly has this system, and its also common on boat trailers. but this isn't the subject of this thread
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 1
From: Surrey, BC, Canada
Sorry nothing useful to add to the thread, just wanted to say congrats on the new girl!
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
I have surge brakes on all my boat trailers I have had but I could have sworn on some of the heavy duty trailers they had hydro brakes with out the surge system on it but I could be wrong, Its happened before
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 0
From: Princeton MN
Thank you it looks like we get to go home Monday. You know you're tired when you fall asleep and almost fall out of a folding chair.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,560
Likes: 1
whalebus, i've never heard of such a system and would find it quite unlikely because of the problems it would likely cause. it would be a nightmare to connect to the tow vehicle's brake system, would get an air bubble every time you connect, and would take away braking pressure from the truck's rear wheels. i suspect you may be mistaken on this one.
i've seen some pretty heavy duty surge brake systems
i've seen some pretty heavy duty surge brake systems
Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,737
Likes: 179
From: Western Mass
There are systems out there that have hydraulics brakes on the trailer that are electrically controlled. It entails having an electrically controlled master cylinder on the trailer that gets the signal by wire like regular electric brakes. I have no idea what types of trailers these would be on, but the system is out there (and expensive).
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
There are systems out there that have hydraulics brakes on the trailer that are electrically controlled. It entails having an electrically controlled master cylinder on the trailer that gets the signal by wire like regular electric brakes. I have no idea what types of trailers these would be on, but the system is out there (and expensive).
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 0
From: Princeton MN
I have seen that system on old heavy duty tag trailers ment to be pulled by trucks with juice brakes, the truck had the controller in it and sent the signal to the master cylinder on the trailer, they worked but must hhave been a nightmare to maintain especially in northern climates like here in MN. I know they do exist because I have seen several mostly on pre-70's deckovers and some of the very first gooseneck trailers
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 0
From: Kville, ohio
i had the same unit in my 88 till my gooseneck set it on fire...lol that was interestiog to say the least. replased it with a new Hayse controller and had the same expirence