Upgrading Electric Trailer Brakes to Self-Adjusting Assemblies One Axle at a Time

Question:

Tandem axle travel trailer 20ft. with manually adjusted brakes. Can I replace only 2 with self adjusting brakes and leave the manually adjusted ones in place to be changed at a later date? Do you see a problem with this. Thank-you

asked by: Rick K

Expert Reply:

You can absolutely upgrade your manual electric trailer brake assemblies on your tandem axle trailer to self-adjusting brakes like the 10 inch # AKEBRK-35-SA or the 12 inch # AKEBRK-7-SA. As long as the assemblies on each axle match you can update your assemblies over time. There is no problem with having manual brake assemblies on one axle and self-adjusting brake assemblies on another axle. You simply need to remember to adjust the manual brake assemblies until you change them to the self-adjusting.

When you first install the self-adjusting assemblies, it is recommended to go to an empty parking lot or other open area and use the manual override on your brakes while traveling about 15-25 mph a few times. This will help those self-adjusting assemblies to start engaging properly so they will work properly in emergency braking conditions the first time you need them on the road when others are around.

expert reply by: Jason S