O.T. Elect. Brakes

[Royboy]

A while back I bought all new backing plates and shoes for my tandem trailer. Adjusted the brakes and all was well for 4-5 trips. Now I went to use it and the r/rear locks up. Can someone help me? Tks

 

[Walt Davies]

1st check to see if it is getting power to the wheel if so that's your problem. the next thing is to take it apart and look.
Walt

 

[Michael Soldan]

Royboy, check your backing plates and make sure the four bolts are tight and there is no movement in the plate. If one wheel is locking it likely needs to have the adjuster turned back a few turns. When setting up the drag the proper sequence is you must turn the adjusters tight until the wheel won't turn, then back them off until you have the drag you desire, equal on both wheels, or all wheels with brakes. Check your brake shoes to see if they are correctly installed, the short shoe should be on the front. I bought complete sets of back plate and shoes for some trailers I was working on, theres a left set up and a right setup, I accidentally put a left on a right wheel and so it reversed the shoes and the long one was on the front..won't work that way. The short of it is if the shoes are right you have an adjuster/ adjustment problem. There are three ways to check electric brakes to ensure they are working. Inspection...the face of the drum should be shined from the magnets, the surface of the drum should be shined from the contact with the shoe and third, take a tester light, ground it and touch the other end to the surface of the magnets, vent holes etc, if the light lights up you may have a short in the magnet and it need replaced. Again if you have one wheel locking I'm sure you need adjuster/adjustment. I always take new adjusters or working used ones and coat them with ANTI SEIZE, that way they will always turn when you need to adjust. I did twenty trailers this spring for my friend's company and I found that buying the complete backplate and assembly is the cheapest route and it save probably 70% of the labour, rather than cleaning up a plate putting new spring kits and shoes, adjusters, magnets and activating arms. Buying the parts separately is about $90 a wheel and Carquest has the complete assembly for $56 and there is little work involved. Good luck, I'm not a professional, just a wily old veteran of many a brake job!

 

[Blackhole49]

My 24' travel trailer will lockup after sitting a while. I backoff on the controller for the first couple of stops and everything is fine is fine.

 

[Anonymous-0]

The adjustment on that wheel may be too loose so the cam goes over center. Tighten it till it drags, drive it a little, braking to center the shoes, tighten it some more.

Gerald J.

 

[Tim in OR]

When I was a Kid, My folks had a tandem axle travel trailer. For the longest time the right rear wheel would lock up in a hard stop. Dad decided to pack the wheel bearings and found that the wire wasn"t hooked to the other 3 wheels. He connected them and it stopped better than ever.
Tim in OR