Trailer Brakes Not Working Properly After Replacing Shoes and Backing Plates

Updated 06/02/2017 | Published 06/01/2017

Question:

i REPLACED ALL 4 BACKING PLATES W/NEW BRAKE SHOES AND HARDWARE AND NEW CRUMS WHEELS WILL NOT LOCK UP WITH CONTROLLER TURN ALL THE WAY UP TO 10. I HAV EPOWER TO BRAKE THEY GRAB SLIGHTLY TURNING WHEEL THERE IS DRAG WHAT AM I MISSING . CLEANED GROUNDS

asked by: JIM Y

Helpful Expert Reply:

There are a couple of things you can check to see why the brakes are not working properly on your trailer after replacing the shoes and hardware.

I recommend first ensuring that the brake assemblies are grounded properly. It's possible that while replacing the parts on your brakes, the ground for the magnets were loosened. A weak ground will certainly lead to the issues you are having.

Next, I recommend trying to adjust the brakes again. You want to tighten them until you cannot turn the assemblies by hand, and then back off about 10 clicks I have attached a video for you to check out that demonstrates this process around the 4 minute mark. It's possible that the assemblies are simply not quite tight enough. Also just make sure that all of the moving mechanisms are able to move freely and check for any foreign material that may be preventing this movement.

If this does not resolve the issue, please let me know and I will be happy to look into this further.

expert reply by: Chris R