Trailer brakes pads stick to disk

[Karl Konecny]

I have an annoying problem with my trailer. I replaced the non-functioning surge brakes with electric over hydraulic Kodiak disk brakes. They seem to work great with one issue. I leave my boat in the water (salt water) over the summer so my trailer sits unused (but covered). I rinse it well with fresh water before storage but when I get ready to use it to pick up the boat in the fall one or more brake pads are stuck to a disk. Is there anything I can do to prevent this??? Thanks for any advice.

 

[journey on]

Run the trailer. One revolution of that wheel will fix that. I too have pads that stick to the wheel, but they free up when I tow the trailer. Or, you could reach in there and pry the pad off the disk. Salt water does that.

Boris

 

[DayBreak]

Karl, immediately after pulling the trailer out of the water, do a good freshwater rinse and then use a spray bottle and spray the brake components as best you can with Salt Away. When you get home, in a perfect world, it would be best to keep the trailer in a dry enclosed building and/or pull the trailer once a month to exercise the brakes even if driven just a few feet.

 

[hardee]

Maybe, just storing the trailer up on jack stands and spin the wheels occasionally would do the trick. I have both axles up high enough so I can spin the wheels a few revolutions with my foot every time I go over to the trailer.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[Karl Konecny]

Thanks everyone for the great ideas. Its good to hear others have experienced the same issue. I will store the trailer on jacks so I can spin the wheels every so often.

 

[T.R. Bauer]

A squirt or two of Brake Clean from the can usually does the trick in cleaning and freeing up brake parts. I keep a can in the truck just for that. I wouldn't use anything oil based as it could/will soak into the pads.