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Massparanoia · 09-07-2018, 11:14 AM

So I started having an issue with the dolly brakes locking up on me on the second day of the trip, and they finally got so bad that I almost lost control trying to get into a rest area. I took the van off the dolly and tried to see what was wrong, and it looks like the bolt that holds the spring/shock in place either broke or was never there.

I put a call in today, waiting on a call back from the shop foreman. Hopefully their customer service is good because I’m 600 miles away from home with a broken dolly.

Charles L · 09-07-2018, 11:54 AM

Sorry to hear of your problem. I am not familiar with the shock or spring you speak of. I have a surge brake version acme eze tow dolly and have had no problems in 10,000 miles. Make sure it is full of brake fluid to the recommended level. Best of luck.

vettenuts · 09-07-2018, 05:23 PM

What is that steel cable in the photo? Looks like it is wrapped up in the caliper but hard to tell from the photo. Do you have any other photos? Can you remove the wheel & tire?

There is no spring or shock on the ACME dolly. As far as the brake bolts backing out, I doubt that would happen. When I rebuilt my calipers I had an awful time getting those bolts out, they are set with Loctite and don't come out very easy.

**JohnRR** · 09-07-2018, 05:28 PM

It sure looks like a steel cable that does not belong where it is to me.

vettenuts · 09-07-2018, 05:30 PM

Just looked at your other thread where you took it for a test tow. The brakes in your photos look clean and well cleared of any objects. While I am not sure what the photo in this thread is, something seems to have gotten lodged in your setup.

Can you possibly provide more photos? Are you still stuck in the rest area?

twinboat · 09-07-2018, 07:28 PM

I think the breakaway cable was pulled and wasn't reset properly. That left the cable loose to wrap around the brake actuator.

His picture is of the master cylinder cap ( the black round thing )

BillJinOR · 09-07-2018, 07:32 PM

I think the photo is the surge Master cyl. On the tongue.. nothing to do with the wheels the cable is wrapped around the surge brake cylinder

vettenuts · 09-07-2018, 08:07 PM

Ahh, that makes sense. He just did a test tow recently and had no issues. I think the closeness of the photo and his mention of a spring/shock threw me off. If the cable was inadvertently pulled so the grommet is gone, then that would be why his brakes were applied. Hopefully he got help, sucks being stuck on a trip. I had a lot of issues last trip and it really puts a kibosh on things.

Massparanoia · 09-07-2018, 08:36 PM

The cable wasn’t pulled, the grommet is still in there. I called ACME and they said they don’t know why it was routed up that way. And they’ve never seen the bolt come off the shock like that.

I called Dexter, who makes the brake actuator and they found a place local to me that has a new actuator, and found a service center that can swap them out. So I am going to drop the trailer off at the service center tomorrow morning and it should be ready to go Monday. Fingers crossed. So far great customer service and response from both companies. The lady from Dexter actually conference called with me and the service center to coordinate the repair.

Massparanoia · 09-07-2018, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vettenuts

Ahh, that makes sense. He just did a test tow recently and had no issues. I think the closeness of the photo and his mention of a spring/shock threw me off. If the cable was inadvertently pulled so the grommet is gone, then that would be why his brakes were applied. Hopefully he got help, sucks being stuck on a trip. I had a lot of issues last trip and it really puts a kibosh on things.

Yeah test tow went great. I hit some rough roads coming up through CT so I’m wondering if the bolt wasn’t torqued properly and vibrated out.

Massparanoia · 09-07-2018, 08:42 PM

This bolt is what I’m missing. So without the shock/spring connected every time I touch the brakes it’s 100% lockup on the dolly because there’s no resistance.

vettenuts · 09-08-2018, 05:32 AM

Glad they are helping. Hope it works out for you. Where did you get stuck?

Ron1z · 09-09-2018, 03:51 PM

Now im leaning to a Master Tow?

Massparanoia · 09-09-2018, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron1z

Now im leaning to a Master Tow?

The actuators probably are the same, or work the same way. Acme and Master Tow don’t make the braking systems or axles. They just make the frame, all the other components are third party.