Hydraulic Brake

[rebekahna]

Is there any point in trying to restore this or should we just switch to electronic? So new at all this and going through the preservation versus restoration debate. We have two tow vehicles - 00 Dodge Durango and 64 Ford wagon both capable of towing. Thanks!

[overlander64]

Greetings rebekahna!

Originally Posted by rebekahna

Is there any point in trying to restore this or should we just switch to electronic? So new at all this and going through the preservation versus restoration debate. We have two tow vehicles - 00 Dodge Durango and 64 Ford wagon both capable of towing. Thanks!

The hydraulic brakes on your coach are likely a special ordered feature that the original owner insisted upon. By 1960, Hydraulic brakes were becoming somewhat less common. These brakes, I believe, are of the type that must tap into the tow vehicle's hydraulic system. I don't think that this would be something to condiser with a modern vehicle with anti-lock braking system -- or any vehicle that has very minimal allowance for brake fluid displacement. You would also likely have problems finding needed replacement parts if any failed while on the road -- and if the failure results in a loss of hydraulic fluid, you would loose brakes on that circuit of your tow vehicle as well.

The 1950s hold-over hydraulic brakes are not something that I would want to have unless the goal is a perfect restoration to new condition. If you want practical day-to-day towing, either the current hydaulic disc brake conversion or modern electric drum brakes would result in far fewer worries. If you wish to maintain the appearance that the hydraulic brakes have been retained, you could basically restore the appearance of the hydraulic equipment mounted on the tongue -- and only you and those that you tell would know the truth about wheter the coach has its original hydraulic brakes or a more modern braking system.

Good luck with your research!

Kevin

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by rebekahna

Is there any point in trying to restore this or should we just switch to electronic? So new at all this and going through the preservation versus restoration debate. We have two tow vehicles - 00 Dodge Durango and 64 Ford wagon both capable of towing. Thanks!

Airstream still made a few trailers in 1960 that had hydraulic brakes.

In order to use those brakes, the tow vehicle brake system had to be modified. The rear brake line on the tow vehicle was tapped, and the brake fluid from the tow vehicle, when the brake was applied, went ot a coupler that tied on to the front of the trailer.

Back then that was sort of OK, as all vehicles had a single brake system, which had a large supply of brake fluid.

When the split brake system became standard on vehicles, that so to speak, made the system that your trailer has, obsolete.

The main reason being, that when the brakes were applied on the tow vehicle, the coupler required more fluid than the rear brake system on the tow vehicle had available. That meant when you had the coupler installed on the tow vehicle, you would have zero brakes on the tow vehicle because of the lack of adequate brake fluid.

You choices at this point, would be to install a new axle just like the one you have, equipped with electric brakes and new hub and drums.

Current style hub and drums will not fit your present axle, since the bearing sizes are very different.

Or, you can upgrade the trailer and use the suspension system that Airstream switched to with the 1961 models, which would be more expensive.

Andy