Upgrading Electric brake controller
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7th Gear
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Upgrading Electric brake controller
I'm trying to change my electric brake controller on my '85 F350. Any info would help. I noticed it's got a hard line connected to the controller and three wires(red,blue ,black,no white). Thanks in advance
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,940
Likes: 4,125
From: Angier, NC
If what you have works I would not change it as they just work and work.
Only thing you may have with them is it leaking brake fluid inside as it is hooked to the master cly. and when you step on the brakes fluid is pushed through the line to the controller.
If you do want to change it out get a Proportional controller NOT a time delay controller.
I went to https://www.etrailer.com/bc-1985_For...250,+F-350.htm and put in your truck and this is what came up.
Some look to be intergraded into the truck and guess if your truck has a factory trailer tow package it may have wiring in place but then again you have the controller so the wires are already in place if not.
I had a 86 K5 with factory tow and I cant remember how I hooked up the controller if it was a plug in or not?
I also had to wire up the trailer light connector out back.
My 02 Dodge had a plug under the dash and with an adapter could plug in the controller after it was mounted.
Out back was already wired as needed what a difference 16 years makes LOL
No my 81 F100 had no wiring or hitch so I added it all and had to pull wires from front to rear and wire up the trailer connection.
I also had to find power for the brake controller and wire it up.
Again if what you have works I would keep it and yes I have used that type on many of my pull cars & trucks.
When they went to ABS is when the newer controllers came out and why my 02 Dodge have the newer type.
Think by 86 you could not get the type you have as I looked.
If you do swap it out just use the wires going to the old controller to wire in the new controller.
Dave ----
Only thing you may have with them is it leaking brake fluid inside as it is hooked to the master cly. and when you step on the brakes fluid is pushed through the line to the controller.
If you do want to change it out get a Proportional controller NOT a time delay controller.
I went to https://www.etrailer.com/bc-1985_For...250,+F-350.htm and put in your truck and this is what came up.
Some look to be intergraded into the truck and guess if your truck has a factory trailer tow package it may have wiring in place but then again you have the controller so the wires are already in place if not.
I had a 86 K5 with factory tow and I cant remember how I hooked up the controller if it was a plug in or not?
I also had to wire up the trailer light connector out back.
My 02 Dodge had a plug under the dash and with an adapter could plug in the controller after it was mounted.
Out back was already wired as needed what a difference 16 years makes LOL
No my 81 F100 had no wiring or hitch so I added it all and had to pull wires from front to rear and wire up the trailer connection.
I also had to find power for the brake controller and wire it up.
Again if what you have works I would keep it and yes I have used that type on many of my pull cars & trucks.
When they went to ABS is when the newer controllers came out and why my 02 Dodge have the newer type.
Think by 86 you could not get the type you have as I looked.
If you do swap it out just use the wires going to the old controller to wire in the new controller.
Dave ----
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7th Gear
Joined: Sep 2021
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Thanks. As soon as I saw the brake line, I knew it wouldn't be an easy upgrade. I hooked up to a newer dump trailer and couldn't get the brakes to release. I figured it was the controller and would update it.....I'll leave it a is.
Mark
Mark
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,940
Likes: 4,125
From: Angier, NC
Well it is easy enough to see if it is the controller or not with a test light or meter, I like light.
You need to know the pin out of the truck side of the plug. Etrailer has different pictures on wiring.
Check each pin and if it is wired to have battery power only 1 pin should have power on it.
Now if you do have a pin with power you need to check the trailer side to see if it goes to the battery on the trailer and not the electric brakes.
Now you say battery on trailer? Yes if it has brakes it needs to have a break a way brake switch (BWS) hooked to the trailer brakes.
This way if the trailer comes undone a cable to the BWS pulls a pin and puts the trailer brakes on using power from the battery.
The other thing to check is the BWS, the pin may not be cutting power to the trailer brakes.
When checking the truck side with the test light I would also check the other pins to make sure they are doing what they should do.
If the turn / brake & running lights dont work at the plug than they will not work on the trailer.
Dave ----
ps: dose the trailer move with out the light plug plugged in?
May want to check first then with a test light above.
pss: Reminds me I need to make sure the brake controller I installed in my pickup works as I don't see any lights on it like I do in my Dodge so I don't know if it will work when I need it.
You need to know the pin out of the truck side of the plug. Etrailer has different pictures on wiring.
Check each pin and if it is wired to have battery power only 1 pin should have power on it.
Now if you do have a pin with power you need to check the trailer side to see if it goes to the battery on the trailer and not the electric brakes.
Now you say battery on trailer? Yes if it has brakes it needs to have a break a way brake switch (BWS) hooked to the trailer brakes.
This way if the trailer comes undone a cable to the BWS pulls a pin and puts the trailer brakes on using power from the battery.
The other thing to check is the BWS, the pin may not be cutting power to the trailer brakes.
When checking the truck side with the test light I would also check the other pins to make sure they are doing what they should do.
If the turn / brake & running lights dont work at the plug than they will not work on the trailer.
Dave ----
ps: dose the trailer move with out the light plug plugged in?
May want to check first then with a test light above.
pss: Reminds me I need to make sure the brake controller I installed in my pickup works as I don't see any lights on it like I do in my Dodge so I don't know if it will work when I need it.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,997
Likes: 2,744
From: Virginia
If its a 6 pin hook-up, there are two standard ways they hook up. One way will put the trailer charge 12v on the trailer brakes and make them apply at all times. If you look it up on a google search , there is a couple of wires you have to swap around.
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,940
Likes: 4,125
From: Angier, NC
I forgot they have a 6 round pin. I did not know they had 2 different ways they wire them, crazy!
All my stuff is 7 flat pin.
Dave ----
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,997
Likes: 2,744
From: Virginia
Here's a link. Some people do not mention this fact, but it happened to me when I used a 7 pin to 6 pin converter plug. I finally figured out what was going on and tore the adapter apart. Lo and behold the adapter pins were all molded in place except those two pins were jumpered with short wires which could be swapped around. The link below mentions the two pins that could be swapped. Older horse trailers and construction trailers use this 6 pin most frequently.
http://countrytrailer.com/uploads/6wayplug.pdf
http://countrytrailer.com/uploads/6wayplug.pdf
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