Troubleshooting Weak Braking After Installing New Dexter Electric Brakes on Trailer

Updated 04/27/2026 | Published 05/12/2018

Question:

Just had new Dexter #3500 electric axel and complete brake assembled. The brake controller is set at a max of 13 volts but the trailer will hardly stop and certainly will not lock up. The brakes seem to be properly adjusted st the star adjuster as the wheel turns freely with a slight drag on the brake shoes. Their is an output at the axel of 12 volts when the brake controller is manually depressed all the way. Could the lack of braking efficiency due to the need for the “break in” of the assembly? If I manually apply the brake controller repeatedly at say 40 mph should the brakes performance improve?

asked by: Dennis A

Expert Reply:

If you have self-adjusting assemblies like the Dexter Nev-R-Adjust Brake Kit # 23-468-469 installed on your trailer, they will indeed continue to adjust as you pull the trailer around. It does sound like you performed the initial manual adjustment correctly, so you should see improved performance as you continue to use them. Driving around in a parking lot and using the brake controller's manual override like you mentioned is a good way to do this.

Otherwise, since the brakes were recently installed, I recommend making sure the wire connections are secure at each of the assemblies. Make sure that the ground wire from each unit is securely attached to a clean, bare metal surface on the trailer frame.

If you are stil having issues, please let me know and I will be happy to look into this further.

expert reply by: Chris R

Duan W.

6/26/2024

the trailer is a 8x14 with extra height 7000# tandom axles 12x2 new brakes new brake hubs. we put extra grounds but still have poor brakes, this is the third set of brake on a 6yr old trailer kept in side good shape customer says the brakes were never great this is a heavy trailer

Chris R.

6/27/2024

@DuanW How recently were the new brakes put on? Have they been properly adjusted, or if they're self-adjusting, have you given them enough time to adjust (drive around a parking lot doing hard stops over and over again for a while and they'll get better with each braking action)?

Brian

4/25/2026

I installed new electric brakes set brake controller at full capacity and ajust brakes so tire is hard to turn and brakes won't lock upon gravel

Chris R.

4/27/2026

@Brian Hey Brian! How new are the brakes? With self-adjusting assemblies it can take a bit for them to be fully burnished. Did you try breaking them in as described above?