Brake Assemblies Allow Movement of Wheels When Brakes Are Fully Applied

Question:

Hello, I installed four 7inch Dexter brake assemblies that I purchased from eTrailer. After adjusting the brake shoes I hooked up trailer wiring to the tow vehicle and had a friend press the brakes to be sure the electric brakes worked...trailer still on jack stands and off of the ground. I noticed that that the wheels will move forward and back several inches even with the brakes fully engaged...in other words, unlike auto brakes that allow no wheel movement when the brakes are applied, the Dexter brake shoes seem to be tight against the drum but moving inside and with the Hub/Drum fore and aft. The new brake assemblies are tight and torqued to about 55 ftlbs. I can move the wheel forward and backward 2-3 inches and then the brakes hold solid...if that makes any sense..... Is that normal?? Thanks!

asked by: David C

Helpful Expert Reply:

There are several things that might be going on, but to begin with I'll concentrate on the two most likely culprits. First, you'll want to make sure the brakes are installed on the correct side of the trailer. The arm that the brake magnet is mounted on should be on the side of the brake assembly that's closest to the front of the trailer.

Next, you'll want to ensure that the brake assembly has been properly adjusted. You can access the adjuster through the backing plate. Tighten the adjuster until you cannot turn the wheel by hand, then back it off by about 10 clicks, which will leave a slight brake lining drag on the inside of the drum. I'll link you to a video showing how to adjust a brake assembly, fast forward to the 4:23 mark.

If neither of these proves to be the problem, please let me know.

expert reply by: Mike L