Brakes, Wires, and Grounds Look Good but Trailer Brakes are Weak on 2006 Cedar Creek Trailer

Question

Question:

My brakes are very weak on my 2006 Cedar Creek trailer. I can just barely feel them grab at full brake controller power. Here is what I have found: - the brakes look good and there seems to be lots of pad left - the brakes are adjusted and constantly rub a little bit - I measured the current to each brake and it is 3.2 amps each with the emergency brake pulled switch. 15 amps total. Battery voltage was over 13 and it s to 11.9 when brakes are energized. - I have checked wires, connectors and grounds The only thing I can think of is the brakes are worn out and need new ones but they look fine to me. Help!

asked by: Don

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Expert Reply:

If you are getting full power when using the manual override on your brake controller and your brakes and wires look like they are in good shape then I would try checking your brake magnet to ensure that they are in good shape.

I have attached a helpful article on how to test your brake magnets for you to check out.

expert reply by: Jon G

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Answer 1

Maximum amperage draw for 4 Brakes that are 10 or 12 inch diameter is 15.0 to 16.3 amps at 12 to 13 volts. The 14 gauge wire may be sufficient but for maximum braking effectiveness at full load capacity. I would opt to run 10 gauge wire. Larger wire…

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Answer 2

I have included a link to a help article that explains how you can test trailer brake magnets. Basically you will need a multimeter such as #PT89ZR, a car battery, and the magnets. When testing I recommend testing one magnet at a time. On a 12-1/4…

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Answer 3

Brake parts cleaner like what you could find at your local auto parts store would work great to clean off brake magnets like the part #AKBRKR-M12.

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Answer 4

While it is possible to replace just the magnet like part #Replacement Magnet Kit for 12" Electric Trailer Brake Assemblies part #AKBRKR-M12 I highly recommend replacing the entire assembly. It proves very cost effective and can save you labor…

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Answer 5

Yes, for a 10k rated Dexter brake assembly magnet you would want the part #BP01-301.

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Answer 6

When we see this problem it's almost always with a 6-way trailer connector being used. The issue is that there are two ways that a 6-way is typically wired and the only difference is that the 12 volt accessory circuit and the brake output circuit…

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Answer 7

Are you speaking of brake assemblies? If so, you can certainly replace the brake assemblies on one axle and leave the existing ones in place on the other axle as long as they're working okay. When you replace a brake assembly, be sure to examine…

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Answer 8

To determine the correct magnet you will need, you need to go by the manufacturer and size of the brakes on the trailer. Sometimes, the year of the brakes is needed as well. The brakes may have information stamped into the metal on the back side (in…

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Answer 9

It does sound like your Tekonsha Prodigy P3 #90195 has given you some diagnostic information that reveals you may have bad brake magnets. The magnets are bad if you have one braking axle based on the 9 amps recorded, but if you have two or three…

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Answer 10

For a 12-1/4 x 4 Dexter cast brake assembly you would need replacement magnet #BP01-301. It comes with one magnet and a spring.

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Answer 11

The #L68110 Race in my application charts works with the #L68149 bearing. We do show that the #L68149 bearing also works with the #L68111 race and this may be the application you need. The #L68149 inner bearing is paired with the #L44649 outer…

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Answer 12

The bolt hole pattern for the brake assembly #AKEBRK-35L is 2-7/8 by 2-7/8 inches. I've linked a diagram of the flange the brake will install on with the same pattern. The shipping weight is 9 pounds. This is the left hand brake, if you also need…

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