When Adjusting Trailer Brake Assemblies Do the Brakes Need to be Applied

Question:

When the hub and wheel is installed it says turn the wheel until you hear drag . Do you need power to the brakes to adjust and turn clock wise or counter ?

asked by: Brian

Expert Reply:

The drag you are referring to would be the shoes of the brake assembly on the drum with the brakes not being applied. You would not need to have the brakes activated to adjust them either. The star wheel on the back of the assemblies can easily be adjusted with a # W80630 or with a small screw driver.

Check out the video (see link). Beginning at the 4:23 mark, our installer shows how to adjust your trailer brakes.

Since your brakes are self-adjusting brakes you can simply go out in an empty parking lot and apply the trailer brakes several times so that they end up adjusting themselves to the proper tension.

expert reply by: Jameson C