How to Adjust Electric Trailer Brake Assemblies

Updated 07/01/2020 | Published 06/30/2020

Products Featured in This Question

Electric Trailer Brake Assembly - Self-Adjusting - 10" - Right Hand - 3,500 lbs

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$54.78

Brake Adjustment Spoon for Drum Brakes

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$10.04

Question:

I bought a new 20ft Lamar deck over trailer and I need to adjust the electric brakes on the trailer so it will stop under load. How do I do it?

asked by: Alvin M

Expert Reply:

On the back of each brake backing plate, you'll find an oblong hole near the bottom, which might be covered with a mud and crud plug. Once you pry the plug out, you can use a brake adjusting tool like # W80630 to adjust the brakes. A flat blade screwdriver can be used, but an adjusting tool is easier to use. Put the trailer up on jack stands. Grab the teeth on the star wheel with the screwdriver or adjusting tool and run the brake shoes all the way out until you can't spin the wheel by hand. Then back off the star wheel by about 10 notches until you feel a very slight drag. Repeat this on all the brakes.

I've linked to a video showing how this is done. Fast forward to the 4:40 mark, and Joe will show you how to adjust the brakes..

If you have self adjusting brakes, you can still initially adjust them this way, or you can do several braking events at low speed (10-20 times) and the brakes will self adjust after that.

expert reply by: Mike L