Electric Brake Troubleshooting

[computerspook]

There are some really good utube videos on testing and even repairing trailer brakes.

One thing is that the wheels themselves are kind of the "motor". The way these work is that an electro magnet engages and pulls kind of a shoe against the face of the drum. That shoe is then connected to the brakes. As the wheel turns the pull it has against the face moves it and that moves a lever that then engages the brakes. It is very possible to have the electro magnet engage with the face of the drum and make a noise, but for the brakes to be frozen and not work. Also if you have bearing buddies and have over used them, it is very possible for the inside to be greased up to much to provide brake force.

[John in Santa Cruz]

my old tent trailer, the brakes were so worn that the metal plates on the coils that are supposed to grab the drum had nothing left.

[computerspook]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

my old tent trailer, the brakes were so worn that the metal plates on the coils that are supposed to grab the drum had nothing left.

Well those are wear parts. Usually the shoes are supposed to wear out first. Maybe the shoes had already been changed a couple of times. There generally are full sets of shoes, mechanics, and the electronics on the backer plate you can buy. This is generally a very cost effective to do the brakes over buying all the parts

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by computerspook

Well those are wear parts. Usually the shoes are supposed to wear out first. Maybe the shoes had already been changed a couple of times. There generally are full sets of shoes, mechanics, and the electronics on the backer plate you can buy. This is generally a very cost effective to do the brakes over buying all the parts

yup, and thats exactly what I was procrastinating on doing, when we jackknifed the rig and wrecked both the tent trailer and econoline van tug.

see, I figured, awwww, its a sub 2000 lb trailer, and a 7000 lb van, it doesn't /really/ need brakes, I'll get around to it later....

lesson learned.