Posted 2011-07-09 9:35 PM (#135514 - in reply to #135489) Subject: RE: Trailer brake adjustment
Veteran
Posts: 122 Location: Monroe, WA
Had the brakes adjusted today, a little difference but not enough. Made an appointment to have the brakes, bearings, etc all done. Hope that will fix it!
Posted 2011-07-11 8:34 PM (#135554 - in reply to #135517) Subject: RE: Trailer brake adjustment
Veteran
Posts: 122 Location: Monroe, WA
I just spent $600 getting all brakes done, bearings, whatever. Anyway NO DIFFERENCE! I still have to have the controller all the way for the trailer brakes to be right. The controller is a Reese Brakeman Compact and been in there since 2003. Looking for ideas as I have to go over the pass on Thursday.
Posted 2011-07-11 10:34 PM (#135559 - in reply to #135489) Subject: RE: Trailer brake adjustment
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Are you getting 13.8 volts to the brakes with the truck running and the manual controller at its maximum? Anything less usually will cause a less than full brake application. Check all your connections to and through the controller, and apply dielectric grease to your trailer's plug and receptacle if the voltage is lower. The blue wiring from the plug, running through the under carriage to the brakes, should be inspected for integrity as well.
If your trailer brakes are manually adjusted, they will have to break in and be readjusted in a few hundred miles. They will not usually provide a full stopping affect until they are seated by wear.
Posted 2011-07-18 4:49 PM (#135804 - in reply to #135559) Subject: RE: Trailer brake adjustment
Veteran
Posts: 122 Location: Monroe, WA
Update - I found an RV place who made time to look at the controller right away. Everything was working correctly, nothing wrong with the controller, he checked the work done on the brakes and it was all good. He plugged in a new controller with same results. He agreed that the new brakes needed to be "burned" in to work fully.
So driving home I applied the trailer brakes a few times. OK I was bad and did it too much and had smoke coming from all wheels - lesson learned, nothing burned! Anyway the next day I loaded my horse and adjusted the controller. I now have more brakes at 1/3 power than I had at full power the day before!
Trailer brake adjustment
