Poorly Performing Brakes on Trailer Towed By 2018 Chevy Silverado  

Question:

Expert Reply:

I'd first recommend trying out the trailer with a different tow vehicle, if at all possible. This will eliminate your truck from the equation, and should tell you immediately if the trailer brakes are working correctly.

If the brakes still don't work well, even on a different vehicle you'll have proven that the problem is with the trailer. Beginning at the trailer connector examine the brake circuit (usually a blue wire) from the trailer connector all the way back to the brakes. Check the brake pin (5:00 position) on the vehicle's trailer connector and it's corresponding socket on the connector on the trailer. Make sure there's no green or white corrosion on the pin or in the socket. As you're following the blue wire back, look for loose connections or worn spots on the wire insulation. This brake output circuit on the trailer should be using 10 gauge wire, any smaller gauge than that and you could be losing voltage on the way back.

Make sure the face of the magnets and the surface of the brake drum that they ride on are in good shape with no grooves or pitting. If the surface of the drum and the magnet face aren't perfectly flat, you're going to have poor preforming brakes. Make sure the magnet isn't worn to the point where the internal copper wiring is visible.

Finally, you can actually test the brake magnets using the procedure shown in the article I've linked for you.

expert reply by: Mike L

0