Why Would Installing New Trailer Brakes Require More Brake Controller Voltage

Question

Question:

Hello - just installed new brakes on my 2010 Keystone Laredo 5th wheel. Install was straight forward. One issue I have now is that the gain setting on my integrated trailer brake controller in my truck 2008 GMC Sierra 2500 needs 9.5 to engage the brakes. Scale is 1-10 and my old brakes were set at 5.5, new brakes at 9.5. I made sure there was light drag on the wheel/drum and adjusted the brakes as such. Should I be concerned that the new brakes need more voltage gain to operate properly?

asked by: Jeff

0

Expert Reply:

Since the trailer brake assemblies you bought and installed part # AKEBRK-7-SA are self-adjusting what you'll need to do is just drive on them for a while and they'll tension themselves to the correct amount so that you don't need so much brake controller gain/voltage.

You'll probably notice the brakes feeling more and more aggresive and will need to begin backing the voltage down slowly.

expert reply by: Jameson C

0

Answer 1

It sounds to me like one of two problems. The first would be that your ground is indeed not strong enough to allow enough amperage to be applied to the trailer brake magnets. In this case I would make sure that the ground wire attached to the trailer…

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Answer 2

There are a few things I recommend checking on your new trailer brake assemblies that may be leading to the poor voltage and performance you are experiencing. First, check to make sure the ground wires are securely attached to bare metal portions of…

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Answer 3

In order to determine the torque rating for the lug nuts on your trailer you will need to know check out the chart I attached that shows all of the torque specs for all the trailer lugs available based on stud size, wheel material and wheel size.

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Answer 4

To determine the size of the brake assemblies you need you have to measure the depth and width of the hub drum on the axle like what you see in the picture I attached. The most common size is 2-1/4 inch wide like the #T4071600-500 that you…

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Answer 5

To determine the size of the hub assembly you need to purchase you have to determine which bearings are in the old assembly. If the old assembly has L44649 inner bearings, you would use the hub you chose #8-258-5UC1. If the inner bearings are marked…

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Answer 6

Hey Richard, thanks for reaching out! The Dexter DX7.5 Drop-N-Go Brake Actuator #099-175-00 is a great option for a replacement actuator because it's a direct replacement for the common Model 60 actuators that were popular in the '90s.…

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Answer 7

Even though I cannot comment specifically on the grease you used because I am not familiar with it, I can tell you the best grease for trailer bearings is a a grease with a rating of GC-LB, which just means it is made to withstand very high…

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Answer 8

Traditionally, trailer manufacturers did not use electric brakes on boat trailers because the brake magnet wiring and trailer wiring did not always have the best insulation or water protection. These days, more and more manufacturers are using…

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Answer 9

To find the load capacity for your axle you should look on the trailer VIN plate or sticker that lists the VIN number. The weight rating of the axle should be listed on that same plate or sticker. Also, the axle could have a tag or plate on it that…

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Answer 10

A BT8 spindle would have a diameter of .99 of an inch where the bearings would both install and would have a diameter of 1.24 where the great seal would ride. That would require a hub part #AKIHUB-440-2-1K for an idler hub. A BTR spindle would have…

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Answer 11

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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Answer 12

There really isn't a particular maximum trailer weight that is used to determine when brakes need to be added to both axles of a tandem axle setup. While I do still recommend checking your local laws, I am also not aware of any general laws that…

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Why Would Installing New Trailer Brakes Require More Brake Controller Voltage

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