Aftermarket Brake Controller Installation in 2016 Silverado 3500 with Factory Controller

Question:

Dear Sir my question is if you already have factory installed brake controller can u install a after market controller ??? I have a 2016 3500 hd silverado diesel. My Chevrolet dealer tells me there in nothing wrong with the system but yet my 4 brand new brakes do not want to stop my 2016 5th wheel rv nor did the orginal brakes. i have just been living with it. I installed 4 new dexter never adjust 7000lb units and did the initial adjustments. all the wiring is good and the connections and grounds.

asked by: Ken J

Expert Reply:

Some OEM brake controllers will not function correctly with electric-over-hydraulic (EOH) braking systems. If your trailer has new Dexter hydraulic bakes that are actuated by an EOH actuator like # HBA16 that could be the issue. Not all brake controllers have an optional setting for this type of operation but aftermarket units like the Prodigy P3 # 90195 do and will work fine with either electric drum brakes or EOH brakes. All you need is wiring adapter # 3016. The linked article details installation of a wired aftermarket controller in your truck.

If you have electric brakes they may just need more adjustment. If you can jack up one axle you can check the grip of the brakes. You can apply direct battery power to the brake circuit on the trailer plug (no connection to truck) and see if the wheel will rotate. If you can rotate the wheel with this full-power 12V power to the brake then you almost surely need to adjust them further. A properly adjusted brake should lock up with this direct full-power battery input. Even Nev-R-Adjust brakes need to be adjusted initially so that they grip the hubs enough to self-adjust after that point.

There also is a really easy way to add an aftermarket controller just by plugging it in to your 7-way, the Curt Echo # C51180. This controller uses your smartphone as the display and controller and the unit itself simply plugs in to your 7-way socket. Pair the smartphone to the controller and you're done. No wiring, no error codes. This design also means it is easy to move the unit any other vehicle that has a 7-way. Please checkout the video I linked for you.

It is easy enough to test your OEM controller yourself. All you need is a circuit tester like # PTW2992 and a helper to manually activate the controller while you test. Set the controller to maximum power/boost and apply the tester to the brake output pin (see photo) while your helper presses the manual control. If you have close to 12V output then the controller is okay. Much less than that and it could be damaged.