Troubleshooting Poor Trailer Brake Performance After Replacement of Brake Drums and Assemblies  

Question:

Expert Reply:

There are some things you can do. First, I'd make sure the brakes are properly adjusted. Even if the brakes are self-adjusting, you'll need to manually adjust them initially, or find a large parking lot and run through several braking cycles at 20 or so mph to adjust the brakes. Also, regardless of if you have manual adjust or self adjust, the brakes will need to be burnished in or broken in, if you will.

If you click the provided link, you can take a look at a help article that explains how to accomplish the initial adjustment and break-in.

If that fails to solve the issue, use a voltmeter at each brake magnet as a helper actuates the manual control on your brake controller. You should be reading pretty close to 12V at each brake magnet. If you're not getting that, check to make sure each brake magnet is grounded to clean, bare metal.

The best way to get a good ground connection is to install a ring terminal like # 44-5310A on the ground wire. Sand the area where you'll ground the tire to the trailer frame down to bare metal, about the size of a dime. Use a self-tapping screw to attach the ground to the trailer frame, but install a star washer between the ring terminal and the trailer frame. The star washer will bite into the metal, providing a reliable ground connection. Protect the connection with a shot of rust inhibiting spray paint like Rust Oleum.

You'll also want to make sure you're getting a good fit at the trailer connector. Check the connector in the trailer and the vehicle side for corrosion or damage, and repair/replace as necessary.

expert reply by: Mike L

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