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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Rear brake woes...

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/16/2008 : 20:27:52

I just got home from my mechanic's shop having spent $750 on new calipers, rotors & brakes for my rear wheels (plus some other non-brake related stuff). He told me that my right rear caliper was completely frozen, he couldn't get it loose no matter what he tried, and consequently my RR rotor was trashed, there were even chunks out of the rotor along the rim & probably 1/16" deep ridges gouged into it. My mechanic's analysis of the problem? Salt water corrosion.

I go out of my way to hose down my brakes, tires, etc. whenever we launch / retrieve SL, but apparently "out of my way" simply isn't enough. I think the solution is a longer strap to simply keep my rear tires out of the water. I usually don't have to get them wet, but on occasion I have had to on shallower ramps or at low tide, and in any case I hose down the rear end of my truck each time.

Now, it is possible that they were on their way out when I bought the truck which was only over a year ago, and I just added to the problem, there's no way for me to make that determination. And since I bought the truck from a dealer, there's no way to talk to the previous owner to find out if he launched in salt water as well.

A word to the wise, don't think you're getting your brakes, etc. clean of salt water by flushing them with a hose. I thought I was doing a good job, but it didn't make any difference, corrosion still set in, and ruined my rear brakes.

Lesson learned.

David
C-250 Mainsheet Editor

Sirius Lepak
1997 C-250 WK TR #271 --Seattle area Port Captain --

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sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 02/17/2008 : 00:01:28

Your not alone in this discovery. Backing a hot or warm rear axle into even fresh water sucks the water into bearings and brake cylinders. I have had boating friends that said it didn't matter with a four wheel drive and I got to help them fix bearings and brakes and sometimes along the highway. The thread about launching with a strap or line to keep the tow vehicle out of the water has an other plus. Our trailer axles do the same thing with water into bearings if the axle is hot or warm.

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Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 02/17/2008 : 04:21:14

Now I know why I shouldn't dip my rear wheels all the way into the water.

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 02/17/2008 : 10:17:08

Salt water + any part of vehicle... bad ju-ju.
A tongue extension for our trailers isn't that hard to make.

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 02/17/2008 : 10:31:22

Well, one good thing about our launch process is that it takes two hours or so to get ready, so by that time, nothing will still be hot. That said, now I'm wondering about the brakes on my trailer since I washed them with the same diligence as my truck. Admittedly they're easier to get to and maybe that makes a difference, but I'm going to be taking a look at them today.

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 02/17/2008 : 11:06:53

IMHO - An axle deep dunk into fresh water is not going to harm a vehicle in good repair.
That said - a frayed part, weak seal, or warn bearing is more likely to fail after being submersed. Modern vehicles are comprised of sealed components and don't need to be greased like in the olden days, rear axles are capable of being submersed.

I would not drive a vehicle straight off the hiway into the water, I'd let it cool. I hose off my truck after being in salt water - and then take it to the car wash.
You can get salt water corrosion having never dunked your vehicle into the ocean. Park beside salt water, or drive beside it - your vehicle is subject to salt water corrosion.

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crcalhoon
Captain

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USA
303 Posts

Response Posted - 02/17/2008 : 15:02:01

The last time I lived in Puerto Rico, I lived right next to salt water. My car was parked about 100 feet from the ocean. I took it in for front end work and the mechanic looked at it and said "you must live very close to the ocean." When I said "yes" he said "I'll have to replace almost the entire front end now and in about three years, bring it back and I'll do it again." I also got the windows and windshield so covered with salt that I was relieved when a gravel truck threw a rock through the windshield and I got a new one. I had tried everything I could think of, including coca cola to get the salt residue off with no results. Argghhhh

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.