Troubleshooting Brake Assembly That Isnt Activating on Tandem Trailer

Question:

Hello I have a 10K tandem axle, dually flat bed trailer. I have a problem with the brakes, when I pull the emergency brake away cable, 3 of the 4 brakes lock up, which is the intended purpose. My problem is the rear drivers side brake isnt catching at all. The hub is heating up when we drive the trailer around, so its getting power, but the brake on it isnt working. Side note, we have replaced the brake magnets already. Any insight or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

asked by: Justin

Expert Reply:

Have you adjusted the brake assembly recently? It sounds like it's getting the power needed but it's adjusted so loose that it's not effectively grabbing the brakes hard enough.

On electric drum brakes there is a star wheel at the bottoms of the assemblies that you can turn using a flat head screw driver or brake adjusting tool # W80630. Turning the wheel one way will bring the shoes closer in and turning it the other way pushes the shoes out more.

You will adjust the brakes using that wheel until there is a slight but constant drag of the shoe pads on the drum. I have included a link to a video and at about the 4:39 mark our installed begins adjusting the brakes.

expert reply by: Jameson C