electric trailer brake question
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 998
Likes: 3
From: North Pole
electric trailer brake question
Not really sure where to put this on the forums but this looks like a good place to start. So trying to get the trailer ready for the long trip. checked all the wiring and replaced both sides of the electric brakes. when i hook up the trailer to the truck to test the brakes they dont really work. I jack up one tire and spin it then hit the brake in the truck and the tire keeps spinning. after a little bit the brake will lock up. I can hear the magnet engaging in the drum but its not slowing the tire down at all. is this how its suppose to work?
could this just be an adjustment i need to make on the shoes or could it be something else. My truck is a 2013 f150 so it has the built in brake controller. any ideas?
Tim
could this just be an adjustment i need to make on the shoes or could it be something else. My truck is a 2013 f150 so it has the built in brake controller. any ideas?
Tim
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
How did the brakes behave before you changed them? If they were engaging properly before but not after, I'd say it's an adjustment. Also, check the gain setting on your brake control.
On third party brake controls, you could set how quickly the trailer brakes engaged. I wonder if the integrated control does this automatically and somehow takes the speed of the vehicle into account. If it did, that would explain why your test isn't working. Trying taking it to a parking lot (or dirt lot if you can) and manually engaging the trailer brakes to see what happens.
On third party brake controls, you could set how quickly the trailer brakes engaged. I wonder if the integrated control does this automatically and somehow takes the speed of the vehicle into account. If it did, that would explain why your test isn't working. Trying taking it to a parking lot (or dirt lot if you can) and manually engaging the trailer brakes to see what happens.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,405
Likes: 4
If I am remembering correctly, the integrated brake controller doesn't work that way. While sitting still, applying the truck brake pedal sends almost no voltage to the trailer brakes. Try actuating the manual slide on the controller.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 998
Likes: 3
From: North Pole
Ok so i have hooked up the trailer and drove it. I was coasting down the road and held the control to 100% trailer brakes adn nothing at all. the factory setting for the controller is at 3.5 out of 10 when i first hook up the trailer. then i can adjust if from there. even on ten it dont work.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 1
From: South Jersey
Did you try checking the fuse (or relay, which ever the manual says)? I know towing my camper, I have the controller on 10 for the best performance, as anything under 10 gives me almost no trailer brake stopping power.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 998
Likes: 3
From: North Pole
every other trailer i pull the electric brakes work great but not with my own so i know the brake controller works fine but its got to be something easy. I am going to adjust the shoes tomorrow and go from there. I jsut dont get it at all.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: North Pole
fuses and relays are all good i have checked them a few times just for piece of mind. but there is nothin wrong with them
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Morehead, Ky.
You said that you replace the electric brakes. Are you confident that you adjusted the new ones correctly?
I have been under the impression to adjust each wheel, until you can manually give it a hard spin, and it will rotate about 1 to 1 1/2 turns. All wheels should be equal.
I have been under the impression to adjust each wheel, until you can manually give it a hard spin, and it will rotate about 1 to 1 1/2 turns. All wheels should be equal.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 112
Likes: 1
From: Massachusetts
Not really sure where to put this on the forums but this looks like a good place to start. So trying to get the trailer ready for the long trip. checked all the wiring and replaced both sides of the electric brakes. when i hook up the trailer to the truck to test the brakes they dont really work. I jack up one tire and spin it then hit the brake in the truck and the tire keeps spinning. after a little bit the brake will lock up. I can hear the magnet engaging in the drum but its not slowing the tire down at all. is this how its suppose to work?
could this just be an adjustment i need to make on the shoes or could it be something else. My truck is a 2013 f150 so it has the built in brake controller. any ideas?
Tim
could this just be an adjustment i need to make on the shoes or could it be something else. My truck is a 2013 f150 so it has the built in brake controller. any ideas?
Tim
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 998
Likes: 3
From: North Pole
I am going to adjust them tonight. the parts house told me they were already pre adjusted but they might be wrong. I will let you know what happens.
Old master tech, yes brakes locked up so that is why im going to adjust them. Thanks
Old master tech, yes brakes locked up so that is why im going to adjust them. Thanks
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 998
Likes: 3
From: North Pole
well taht is the last time i listen to the manufaturer on stuff. I was told the brake kits i bought were already pre adjusted. well they were not, i adjusted the hell out of them last night and finally got the brakes to work. Thanks for the help ya'll, i let ya know how the trip goes.
Thanks again.
Tim
Thanks again.
Tim
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