5th Wheel Trailer Brakes are Pulsating  

Question:

Expert Reply:

When the pulsing occurs do you have a turn signal on while braking? If so then what could be happening is current from the turn signal/brake light circuit is shorting to the brake output circuit within either the vehicle or trailer side connector. Make sure that the vehicle and trailer side connectors are clean and free of corrosion inside, where the wires attach, and outside on the pins.

Your trailer also may need to have the brakes adjusted, replaced, or there could be a problem with the drums. Adjusting trailer brakes is easy. Just use adjustment spoon # W80630 to rotate the adjustment wheel located at the bottom inboard side of a brake assembly. When adjusted properly you will hear a slight but constant drag of the shoes on the drum when spun. If you do not hear the drag then the brakes are worn down and need to be replaced.

You can take your drums to a brake shop to see if they can turn them which will even out the surface that makes contact with the shoes. If you notice any discoloration on the armature surface (where the magnet makes contact with the drum) then the drum is shot and needs to be replaced.

I can recommend replacement hub and drum assemblies as well as brake assemblies if you can tell me the inner and outer bearing numbers stamped into the sides of the bearings. If the drums are warped, uneven, then that would also explain why the brakes feel like they are pulsing.

expert reply by: Michael H

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