emergency brake system was likely not
previously engaged. If the cable clip
is broken or missing, the breakaway
cable cannot operate properly. Such
failure could result in serious injury or
death.
The photo shows a broken clip.
Note that brakes will be submerged
when the trailer is backed into the body
of water to unload or load the boat. If
the brakes (and/or wheels) are hot, it is
recommended to wait briefly and allow
them to cool before submerging.
Excessive heat in the wheels as
a result of road use, meeting cooler
water can cause damage to the
components, especially the calipers and
rotors. Also, if the trailer is submerged in salt or brackish water, be
sure to carefully and completely rinse the entire trailer after the
outing. Salt and exceptionally dirty fresh water can cause damage to
the trailer components, which is not covered under warranty.
Salt and brackish fresh water can damage
trailer components, which is not covered
under warranty. Always clean the trailer
with a freshwater rinse and/or use of mild
soap after an outing in which parts of the trailer are submerged.
Regarding routine maintenance, you need to be aware that small
amounts of rust will build up on the brake’s rotor surface if the trailer
sits for a fairly short period of time, as little as a week. The brake’s
pads will eliminate the rust after several applications of braking, but
if the trailer has been sitting for a more-extended period of time,
and especially following long-term storage such as over the winter
off-season, the brakes may be significantly corroded. This can also
happen if the trailer has been submerged in saltwater and has
not been sufficiently rinsed with fresh water afterwards. Greater
concentrations of rust may require assistance from your authorized
Malibu Trailer dealer to ensure ongoing proper functionality.
If there is any concern about the condition of any component of
the braking system, have an authorized Malibu trailer dealer review
and rectify the matter before towing the boat.
How to Manually Bleed the Brakes
Because of the importance of correctly performing this
procedure, Malibu strongly recommends that this be done only
by trained service technicians at your authorized Malibu dealer.
However, recognizing that brake issues arise and may have to be
addressed in situations in which the trailer cannot be taken to the
dealer for repair, the following instructions are provided with the
understanding that they should be utilized only in emergency.
• Check that all hydraulic fittings are secure.
• Read and understand all instructions before starting.
• Two people are required for manual bleeding.
Step 1: Remove the master cylinder reservoir plug and fill the reservoir
with brake fluid, being careful not to spill any fluid on the paint
as it will cause damage.
a. DOT 3 Premium is the preferred automotive brake fluid.
Follow the instructions on the brake fluid container.
b. Avoid shaking the brake fluid container and pour fluid
slowly to minimize air entrapment.
c. Let the fluid in the reservoir stand until it is completely free
of air bubbles.
Step 2:
IMPORTANT
: Before bleeding the brake lines, bleed the actuator
master cylinder. Insert a screwdriver though the hole in the
bottom of the inner member and use short strokes to pry on the
push rod (while holding the safety release bracket up) until no
air bubbles are seen coming from the small orifice hole in the
bottom of the master cylinder reservoir.
Step 3: Start the bleeding procedure on the brake farthest from the
master cylinder.
Step 4: At the brake assembly, connect a transparent bleeder hose to
the bleed screw fitting on the wheel cylinder and submerge the
free end into a container partially filled with brake fluid. Do not
reuse this fluid.
Step 5: The first person should stroke the push rod slowly while holding
the safety release bracket up.
Step 6: The second person opens the bleed screw fitting.
Step 7: Then close the bleed screw fitting
before
the first person
slowly
releases the push rod.
Step 8: Repeat this procedure until the fluid expelled from the bleeder
hose is free of air bubbles.
Step 9: Remember to always tighten the bleeder screw before
releasing the push rod. During this procedure, the master
cylinder reservoir fluid level must be maintained at no less
than half full.
Step 10: Repeat Steps 4-9 for the other brake, as well as the brakes
on the front axle of tandem or triple axles.
Step 11: If installation is on a tandem-axle or triple-axle trailer,
repeat the bleeding procedure on the rear axle brakes for
a second time to assure purging of all air in the system.
Step 12: As a final check after bleeding is completed, stroke the push
rod and check to be sure the brake system is pressurized.
This is done by attempting to rotate a tire around.
Step 13: Push up on the safety release bracket to ensure that the
push rod is in the released position.
Step 14: After the bleeding is completed, recheck the fluid level in
the master cylinder. Fill the master cylinder reservoir to
the indicator on the reservoir plug.
Do not overfill.
Optional Electrical Brakes
As an option, Malibu offers electrical brakes. The system uses electric
power from the towing vehicle to drive the hydraulic power source. In
a breakaway situation, the electric power is supplied by a breakaway
battery connected to the towed vehicle brake actuation system. This
battery is charged by a charger built into the control circuitry.
The actuator reacts in one of three ways: primarily, it turns on
when the brake pedal of the towing vehicle is depressed. If due to
road conditions it is desirable to apply only the towed vehicle brakes,
this is achieved by applying the manual override on the in-cab brake
controller. In a breakaway situation, the towed vehicle braking
system is applied by the breakaway switch, which is explained
elsewhere in this section of the manual.
The system requires an in-cab electric brake control not provided
as part of the system. The system will operate from most electric
brake controllers
when properly installed.
Proper electrical wiring is
critical
for the performance of
the braking system. Improper wiring can result in damage to the
actuation system or system failure after initial use. A pure ground
and direct power (+12 VDC) with fuse or circuit breaker (30 amp)
are necessary to ensure good performance. Line losses and poor
grounding will result in poor performance or total loss of towed
vehicle braking. The connection for the system is provided by
prewired harnesses and the plug connectors are keyed so that they
cannot be connected incorrectly. However, if the plug between the
towing and towed vehicles is not wired properly, the unit will either
not function at all or will function improperly.
Trailers—123
