Troubleshooting a Trailer with a Titan # T4747220 Brake Actuator

Updated 10/26/2010 | Published 10/24/2010

Question:

cant get brakes to work well,rotors are always rusty.there are two springs with nuts on the back of actuator ,are they for pressure adjustment?? if so which way would you turn them for less pressure,very hard to get brakes to work.and they are bleed right.

asked by: George B

Expert Reply:

I spoke with my contact at Titan about the issue you are having with the Titan Zinc-Plated Brake Actuator w/ Electric Lockout - Disc - 2-5/16 inch Ball - 8,000 lbs, part # T4747220, on your trailer.

He informed me that there is no pressure adjustment on the trailer actuator, and that the breaking intensity is completely proportional to the braking intensity of the towing vehicle. He said most likely that the brake system needed to be bled again.

There is a way to test the brake system. To test the brake system you will need to follow the following steps that I pulled from the manufacturers instruction page.

Move the trailer to flat, level ground, pulling forward several feet before parking. This forward motion will
ensure trailers equipped with free-backing brakes are in their normal operating mode. Disconnect the trailer from the tow vehicle and jack the trailer's tongue until it is level.

Hook the trailer's safety chains (NOT the actuator's break-away cable/chain) together to form a loop, which is centered below the actuator's coupler as shown in the picture to the right.

Place a sturdy board, such as a 2 inch by 4 inch piece of lumber, into the chain loop below the coupler. The board should be 4 feet or longer so it will extend several feet above the actuator. Keep the end of the board a few inches off the ground, and position it to press against the front end of the actuator's coupler.

Stand in front of the trailer and face the rear. Apply force to the top end of the board to use it as a lever. Press back towards the rear of the trailer. The board will begin moving the coupler case (inner slide) into the actuator’s outer housing.

Keep pressing the top of the board to stroke the actuator and its internal master cylinder. If the trailer brake
system is operational, the brakes will apply and keep the trailer from rolling away from you.

I attached the instructions below that I pulled these brake testing instructions.