Thread: electric trailer brakes

• Have you adjusted the shoes on each side?
• Checked the drums for oil contamination?
• after that, you may have a faulty magnet.

You are aware that the electrics don't work in reverse.

Diana

When I picked up the trailer they told me they checked the brakes and bearings and everything. Also I don't think they hooked it up to car with controller and mine did not have one installed at that time.
I did not take it apart as I was running out of time today and now I'm runing out of time before we go away.

Matt

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

• Have you adjusted the shoes on each side?
• Checked the drums for oil contamination?
• after that, you may have a faulty magnet.

You are aware that the electrics don't work in reverse.

Diana

^^^ ^^^

also check the earth for the magnet ... higher current from the manual override might be getting through, while there may be too much resistance for normal use.

Stevo

Pls let us know whatever you find.

Originally Posted by sschmez

... higher current from the manual override might be getting through, while there may be too much resistance for normal use.

Stevo

Stevo

I read the manual over-ride as the mechanism on the handbrake/tow coupling that can be used on a car without a controller. This operates the shoes independent of the electric system. Although I didn't consider the over-ride control on the brake control unit.

Matt will have to clarify which he means.

Diana

Originally Posted by Roadrunner

Hi,

is there anything special about electric brakes ?
Hooked up the camper trailer today to test the brake controller and one wheel locks and the other doesn't. Tested the manual override brakes and they seem to be equal. Can it be an electrical problem that one side is getting more current ?
I might have to take it to a brake place next week just wanted to check if there is anything else I can try or should look at.
(drum brakes by the way)

Matt

One side can't get more current from the controller as there is only one wire coming from the controller to operate both wheels. If one was getting more current it would be in the trailer itself but I doubt this to be your problem.
Is the problem consistent, meaning does it do what you described every time?

Dave.

With manual override I mean the handbrake on the trailer where are no electronics used with this trailer it's cable operated for the hand brake.
It does it every time. One side locks the other doesn't.

Matt

This now sounds like no power going to one wheel. I had the same problem once, it was a broken wire. Generally the wire from the plug will run down the chassis to one wheel and the across the axle to the other one. When I had this problem it was a broken wire between where it came from the axle into the brake backing plate.

Dave.

Originally Posted by Mr Whippy

One side can't get more current from the controller as there is only one wire coming from the controller to operate both wheels. If one was getting more current it would be in the trailer itself but I doubt this to be your problem.
Is the problem consistent, meaning does it do what you described every time?

Dave.

Originally Posted by Mr Whippy

This now sounds like no power going to one wheel. I had the same problem once, it was a broken wire. Generally the wire from the plug will run down the chassis to one wheel and the across the axle to the other one. When I had this problem it was a broken wire between where it came from the axle into the brake backing plate.

Dave.

Ummmm ?????????

S'pose it can then ???????????????




One wire from the controller splits into two wires somewhere near the axle and becomes two circuits each going through the magnet and returning to earth. If theres a bad earth return = high resistance = less current to one side. If a wire breaks to one side.... thats really really high resistance.