Troubleshooting Weak Trailer Brakes with Controller but Not Breakaway

Question

Question:

I have added electric brakes to my trailer. I am using a junction box and battery breakaway kit. When I pull the pin on the breakaway box the brakes stop the wheel. When I apply the brakes on the truck, I can hear a hum at the brakes but they do not stop. I have checked and am getting power to the blue cable at the junction box from the truck when brakes applied. Anything else you can think to check? Thank you-

asked by: Pat M

0

Expert Reply:

What brake controller do you have installed in your vehicle? If it's proportional it'll have to sense deceleration to apply a lot of braking power. Have you tried using the manual override lever of the controller? Since the breakaway kit applies a lot of braking power that would mean the issue is brake controller related.

I attached a help article on troubleshooting brake controller installs for you to check out as well.

expert reply by: Jameson C

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Answer 1

Assuming that when you tested the resistance of the brakes you were testing the two wires on each magnet and getting 2.0 and 2.8 ohms the magnets on your trailer are not working correctly and will need to be replaced. For 7" brakes you should…

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Answer 2

First thing you should do at this point is test the 4-way of the wiring harness with a circuit tester part #PTW2993 for voltage on all of the right pins when the taillight signals are being applied. Just like in the video I attached. If the voltage…

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Answer 3

Electric Trailer Brake Assembly #AKEBRK-7L-SA will self-adjust (after an initial adjustment at installation) when traveling and braking going forward. The matching right hand assembly is #AKEBRK-7R-SA.

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Answer 4

If you are referring to two white wires from the brake magnet that are coming from the rear of each electric brake assembly, then it would not matter which wire is connected to ground and which wire is used for the brake feed. The magnet that…

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Answer 5

It sounds like your brake controller is not installed correctly or has a short because you have the 12V constant on your brake controller when engine is running. This could be a wiring harness issue if you have a custom harness, a 7-way connection…

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Answer 6

If your trailer has 7 wires running all the way back to the brakes, then yes, you can tap into the existing wiring. Each of your new brakes will have two wires for the brake magnet. One wire is for 12 volt power to the brake magnets and the other…

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Answer 7

Self adjusting brake assemblies actually don't technically require an initial adjustment. If you want to install them and then while traveling slowly in like a parking lot situation apply the manual override lever of your brake controller…

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Answer 8

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 9

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 10

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 11

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 12

A 4-Way trailer connector has the basic lighting functions only; running lights, left turn signal and brake lights, right turn signal and brake lights, and ground. A 7-Way has these functions and a 12 volt circuit, a circuit for electric trailer…

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Troubleshooting Weak Trailer Brakes with Controller but Not Breakaway

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