Can Manual and Self-Adjust Brakes be Used Together on Trailer or Will it Cause Brake Control Error

Question

Question:

I have two axles on my trailer. Will it hurt to have self adjusting on one axle and manual adjust on the other? This is what I have now and when I apply the brakes, the brakes will hold the trailer, then my controller says no brakes. It was not like this before. I was just wondering if the mix had anything to do with it. I bought the brakes from E Trailer.

asked by: Marvin B

0

Expert Reply:

There is only a mechanical difference between manual and self-adjusting electric trailer brakes so mixing the 2 types on 2 different axles would not cause the brake controller error. I would recommend sticking with one time of brake system though; otherwise you would have to be vigilant about adjusting the manual ones so that they provide the same braking performance as the self-adjusting ones.

The error on the brake controller could be caused by a poor connection on the output wire to the trailer brakes. What you can do is use a meter such as # PT89ZR to test for voltage at the trailer connector while someone applies the manual override on the brake controller.

If the voltage holds basically steady then the problem is not likely on the truck. But if it suddenly drops or cuts off completely then there is a problem on the truck side. A dirty/corroded vehicle or trailer side connector could cause this, a loose connection in the wiring between the controller and the trailer connector, a problem on the brake controller red input wire, or something inside the controller.

If could also be the wiring on the trailer or the magnets themselves. Inspect the power wires to the magnets and look for pinched, frayed, or damaged wires and fix as needed. Make sure the ground wires are attached to clean and corrosion free bare metal surfaces.

You can visually inspect the magnets and if you can see the copper windings coming through the magnets will need to be replaced. To further test the magnets you can follow the help article I have linked. I have also included some help articles on testing and troubleshooting brake controllers for you.

expert reply by: Michael H

0

Answer 1

Really the only way to tell if you have manual or self-adjusting brakes is to remove the hub and take a look inside. If you can see a cable running at an angle (see included photo), then you have self adjusting brakes like the Electric Trailer Brake…

view full answer...

Answer 2

Self-adjusting brakes like the etrailer.com Electric Brake Kit #AKEBRK-35-SA that you recently installed do require an initial calibration, which it sounds like you have already done. From there the brakes will continue to set themselves to the…

view full answer...

Answer 3

Hey Greg, what you have is the Dexter 4,400 lb trailer axle hub like the part #8-407-5UC3-EZ. This comes with the needed replacement bearings and seals but it is not pre-installed and greased like some options. Due to how rare this hub is there…

view full answer...

Answer 4

You will need to choose a jack whose capacity exceeds the fully loaded and ready to tow tongue weight of your trailer. Typically trailer tongue weight is 10-15 percent of the weight of the trailer. This means that when loaded to maximum, your tongue…

view full answer...

Answer 5

You can mix manual adjusting and self-adjusting 12" x 2" electric brakes and get away with it, so technically yes, it's OK. But it will also lead to your brakes being adjusted differently on each axle as opposed to being uniform, as the…

view full answer...

Answer 6

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…

view full answer...

Answer 7

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.

view full answer...

Answer 8

It sounds like you are speaking of the wires for the brake magnets. If this is correct, you will need to connect one of the wires to the brake controller output wire on your trailer connector and the other wire will need to be grounded to a clean…

view full answer...

Answer 9

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…

view full answer...

Answer 10

According to Blue Ox, it'll take an experienced installer about 4 to 5 hours to complete the installation of their #BX1128 Base Plate Kit on a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The install isn't what I'd call super-difficult, but the installation…

view full answer...

Answer 11

The #84 spindle is just a common way to identify the spindle dimensions typically used for 3,500 lb axles. So instead of listing out the parts, people can just say they have #84 spindles and it's easier to know what fits it. The CE Smith Trailer…

view full answer...

Answer 12

That's a very good question, we tend to be extra cautious and say to use 10 gauge wire because that would be more than enough. When you get into longer trailers that will end up using a lot of wire the heavier gauge wire becomes more necessary.…

view full answer...

Can Manual and Self-Adjust Brakes be Used Together on Trailer or Will it Cause Brake Control Error

Products Featured in This Question

Product Page this Question was Asked From

Featured Help Information

Miscellaneous Media

Continue Researching