How do electric trailer brakes work?
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How do electric trailer brakes work?
I am trying to get my brakes to work on my flatbed trailer so I took off the wheel and drum to see if the shoes where properly adjusted and if they where moving at all and then I couldnt figure out how they worked. I couldnt see what would apply pressure to the shoes towards the drums. What is the piece that rubs right up against the drum?
Thanks,
Derek
Thanks,
Derek
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Chino, California
The piece that rubs against the drum is called an armature. It has windings in it that act as magnets whenever current is applied to them. This draws the armature arm to the iron sidewall of the drum. The drag pulls on the arm and tries to pull it around with the surface. That causes the arm to swing in the direction of the rotation and cams open the brake shoes forcing them against the braking surface on the drums inner rim. The more current is applied the stronger the armature becomes and pulls harder to the wall of the drum, ergo...more braking power.
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I have pulled this trailer with many different trucks and the brakes have not worked for a while now, I have not gone through and checked all of wiring on the trailer yet (it looks ok just eyeballing it). I just took the drum off to check the condition of the pads and to the design of them. I guess they will not work at all if the drum is off?
Thanks for the reply's
Thanks for the reply's
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,166
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From: Chino, California
Take the wires off as near to the armature as you can get and apply 12 volts to it. If it sucks up to anything ferrous (iron content), than they work, and your problem is elsewhere.
If you have a breakaway switch, jack up the tires and spin them while someone pulls out the pin on the switch. If the wheel locks up, the brakes are good and your problem is in the tow vehicle (most likely), or the controller. Tekonsha makes excellent controllers if you need to upgrade, go with one that's not parasitic to the tow vehicle's brake lines. The all electronic models are best..
If you have a breakaway switch, jack up the tires and spin them while someone pulls out the pin on the switch. If the wheel locks up, the brakes are good and your problem is in the tow vehicle (most likely), or the controller. Tekonsha makes excellent controllers if you need to upgrade, go with one that's not parasitic to the tow vehicle's brake lines. The all electronic models are best..
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