Troubleshooting New Trailer Brakes That Have Little To No Braking Power

Question:

Hi Over the winter i rebuilt a travel trailer. New axles brakes suspension and house. I took it for a test drive and the trailer brakes were nearly non existant. I took it two a service place and they adjusted each wjeel end 4. Now the brakes work lightly. About what i would expect if gain was 1 or 2. Problem is gain is 10. I should be pulling skids on gravel roads vut bairly stops when idling with auto in drive. Question is, what can i do to get the auto adjusters to adjust the rest of the way? Is it stoppin while going backwards. Stopping while going forwards doesnt seem to do it. Robert V

asked by: Robert V

Expert Reply:

Hello Robert, thanks for reaching out. When you put these new brakes on, did you complete the break-in process? The break-in or "bedding" process is necessary for new brakes because it allows the brake shoes to seat correctly in the drum. If you get new brakes and do not break them in, you will see little to no braking power no matter what you do. Based on what you are telling me, it sounds like this is what is going on. Here are the steps for completing the brake-in process:

-Drive the trailer out into an open area, like an empty parking lot. Get up to around 40 MPH and apply the manual override on your brake controller. Make sure the brake controller is set high enough where it will fully engage the trailer brakes (in your case I would do the gain at like 7-10). Do not hit the brake pedal during this time, as you want to slow down your vehicle and trailer with only the trailer brakes. You’ll most likely have to do this about 20 to 40 times to properly seat the brakes.

- When you feel like your brakes are properly seated, pull over and check for signs that you're done: a bit of smoke is normal and your brakes should be very hot (brakes should read 350-400 degrees with a temperature gun). If you have done it right you should be able to smell it. If you don't see these signs, then keep repeating the process until your brakes are properly seated. Once completed the brakes will function as intended.

Please give this a try and let me know how things go. You should not have to keep turning up the adjusters to get more braking power. You can adjust them slightly, but the braking will still be weak if the shoes are not bedded. I am here if you have any other questions.

expert reply by: Jesse M