Defect Investigation Detail

TIE DOWN ENGINEERING / BRAKE CALIPER / 9999

Components - Details
NHTSA Action Number: EA99033 Vehicale/Equipment Name: TIE DOWN ENGINEERING
Vehicale/Equipment Model: BRAKE CALIPER Vehicale/Equipment Year: 9999
Component Name: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC Manufacturer's Name: TIE DOWN ENGINEERING INCORP
Date Opened: Nov, 29 1999 Date Closed: Jun, 13 2001
Subject: BOAT TRAILER DISC BRAKE LOCKUP Summary: After receiving a report from a florida boat dealer alleging certain hydraulic surge brake calipers manufactured by tie down engineering "freeze" on the caliper carrier pins, odi opened pe99-034.during the course of conducting the pe, odi has found that numerous performance failures have occurred involving tie down's boat trailer brake calipers.since their introduction in june 1997, the calipers have been upgraded at least 3 times.in all, tie down has made more than 18 changes to the calipers addressing complaints received from trailer manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and owners.most of these complaints related to the original caliper (gen1) producted from june, 1998 through september, 1998.the two most serious complaints lodged by those familiar with the system, involve inadvertent brake lock-up while towing at speed and brake fluid leakage from the caliper/poston interface (the allege cause of the crash).to clarify these and other issues, we have upgraded the pe to this ea.