Do Self-Adjusting Trailer Brake Assemblies Require Initial Adjustment

Updated 10/17/2017 | Published 10/16/2017

Question:

I just purchased a set of these self adjusting brakes for my 2009 jayco camper trailer. I got them installed after watching your video. But the video didnt say anything about initial adjustment. I assumed they are preset. After installing brakes, I hitched up trailer and pulled out of shop, I pressed manual brake on dash of truck and trailer did not respond. I raised set point from 5 to 10 and it started to grab. So I know I need to adjust them. My questions is how to do that. I know on my old manual brakes I pulled dust cover and adjusted brakes manually, but i dont know about these.

asked by: Kent P

Expert Reply:

Self adjusting brakes will adjust themselves upon initial install. At first they will feel pretty weak but with every brake application (while moving) they will get tighter and tighter until they are properly tensioned.

What I would do is find a parking lot or even your subdivision street and while traveling at a slow speed grab the manual override lever of your brake controller several times until you feel the brakes get to where they need to be.

You can manually adjust them but that's more work than would make it worth it.

expert reply by: Jameson C