Troubleshooting Weak Trailer Brakes

Question:

I have a 2012 nissan frontier with curt brake control. I have the 2 dots on control. But when I drive to adjust I cant get brakes to lock up. I started at 2.0 and went gradually up to highest setting but my brakes never locked up. Do I need to do this and then back off?

asked by: RICK A

Expert Reply:

I would check the main ground for the trailer. This is the wire that runs from the trailer connector to the trailer frame and provides the ground for the entire trailer. The ground strap may have come loose and now may not be strong enough to fully apply the trailer brakes.

This could be a magnet wiring problem. It is unlikely that the magnets are bad on new assemblies, but if the wiring is not properly connected, it could cause problems. Check to see that the magnets are properly grounded to a clean, bare metal surface free of corrosion. A bad ground would not allow the circuit to be complete and lead to the brakes not performing like they should.

The new brake assemblies may also not be adjusted properly. You will want to have the adjustment screw tightened to the point where the wheel locks up and then back it off 10 clicks. Check out the video I attached at the 4:25 mark.

expert reply by: Jameson C