Troubleshooting 3 of 4 Trailer Brakes Locking Up

Question

Question:

I have a 2003 fifth wheel camper and when i hooked up this year after it had not been used for about 18 months I found that three of the four brakes on it did not fully release. Two of them felt pretty hot after a few miles of driving but the third one was very hot. I got on a country road with little traffic and unplugged the trailer and they seemed to be alright. When I tested the brake controller it showed 0.2 volts when the brakes were not applied. Is that enough voltage to slightly activate a magnet and cause the brakes to drag some?

asked by: Paul L

0

Expert Reply:

The little bit of voltage you are seeing from your brake controller is typical as that is how they test to see when a trailer is connected. I believe your problem is related to the wiring, brake magnets, or your brakes need to be adjusted. Start off by checking the connections for your brakes and looking for any places where it may be damaged or exposed. Also be sure to check that your grounds are connected to a clean, bare-metal surface. You can also adjust your brakes with a spoon # W80630 and back them off some.

If the wiring looks good then you need to test your brake magnets. I have attached a helpful article that shows you the steps to do this. If you are still having issues please let me know and I can help you troubleshoot further.

expert reply by: Jon G

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Answer 1

The brake spoon part #W80630 that you referenced is designed to adjust the tightness of brake assemblies so that they operate as they should. As long as you have drum brakes on the axle you are referring to this product should work well for you.…

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Answer 2

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 3

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 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

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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Answer 6

The difference between an load range C and load range D tire in the same size is the capacity and psi rating. The two tires will still have the same dimensions and fit on the same wheel. The D rated tire has a higher capacity. For a ST175/80D13…

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Answer 7

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…

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Answer 8

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 9

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 10

You will have to go with a sliding hitch to allow the trailer to make tight turns. For a trailer 8 feet wide the only bed length that's going to allow 90 degree turns without a slider is a stationary hitch. That being said you have two options.…

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Answer 11

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 12

The torque for the Dexter Trailer Hub and Drum Assembly - 6,000-lb and 7,000-lb Axles - 12" - 5 Spoke Utility #8-174-5UC3 is not specified by the manufacturer. For 9/16 inch studs, the typical lug nut torque will be 120-140 ft lbs based on most…

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