How Long Does It Take New Trailer Brakes to Engage

Question

Question:

We just installed all four drums and brake kits on our trailer. All four seem to work and we have the correct voltages at each wheel. The voltage goes from zero up to 11.0 as the gain is increased in the truck controller. The problem is when driving, I hardly get any trailer brakes during a stop. I turn the gain all of the way up and I still cant get the trailer brakes to lock up or even slow the truck. Is this normal for new brakes? How long do I have to drive without brakes before the come in? Thank you

asked by: Robert W

0

Expert Reply:

Yes it is normal for new brakes so it is not something that you should worry about because you probably just haven't traveled far enough yet with your trailer. Electric brakes need about a 200 mile breaking in period to allow the brake shoes and brake magnets to bed into your drum.

During those 200 miles you need to make sure you apply the brakes with a marked decrease in speed at least a couple dozen times and making sure you let the brakes cool between applications. After that you should adjust the brakes and by that point they should perform like you expect.

expert reply by: Kyle S

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Answer 1

Hi Jim; I don't think it is the brake controller based on what you have already tested. However, depending on where you tested it could be the vehicle or trailer wiring. If you tested at the 7-way on your vehicle then that checks out. If you…

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Answer 2

Hi Julie, UC3 is added on to this part number because we offer parts with the same part numbers from multiple manufacturers so a code or extra numbers get added on to differentiate the parts. If you scroll down on the #8-388-80UC3 page you'll see…

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Answer 3

The Dexter Nev-R-Adjust electric trailer brakes can be manually adjusted. There are a couple teeth of the adjustment wheel that are exposed just under the lever that you referenced. I have attached a photo showing the teeth. You will likely need a…

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Answer 4

Since you just installed the #AKEBRK-35-SA on your trailer and are experiencing this issue, the most likely cause is just a weak ground wire on the right side. I recommend checking the wiring on the side that is providing weak braking (the right side…

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Answer 5

If you are only getting 1.5 volts at your brakes then there is an issue, but there is not a fuse that controls the brakes. There are a number of possible issues so you will need to find out if the issue is on the brake controller, truck, or trailer.…

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Answer 6

Hello Javier, As I would love to make your life easier and tell you it is not necessary, I cannot do so. Brake Burnishing (bedding-in, or break-in) should be done for the following reasons: - Achieve Maximum Performance: Burnishing evenly transfers a…

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Answer 7

Since you seemed to have narrowed the possible cause down to the vehicle side of your setup, I recommend starting with the 7-Way connector at the rear of your tow vehicle. Check for any corrosion or debris build-up inside the connector that might be…

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Answer 8

Self-adjusting brakes like the etrailer.com Electric Brake Kit #AKEBRK-35-SA that you recently installed do require an initial calibration, which it sounds like you have already done. From there the brakes will continue to set themselves to the…

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Answer 9

In order to determine the torque rating for the lug nuts on your trailer you will need to know check out the chart I attached that shows all of the torque specs for all the trailer lugs available based on stud size, wheel material and wheel size.

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Answer 10

Hey Bryan, that's a good question. The pricing can definitely be misleading, but I wouldn't use it to judge the quality of the tire. A lot of that comes down to promotions, inventory, and whether you're looking at a tire by itself or…

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Answer 11

It sounds like you are speaking of the wires for the brake magnets. If this is correct, you will need to connect one of the wires to the brake controller output wire on your trailer connector and the other wire will need to be grounded to a clean…

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Answer 12

The #84 spindle is just a common way to identify the spindle dimensions typically used for 3,500 lb axles. So instead of listing out the parts, people can just say they have #84 spindles and it's easier to know what fits it. The CE Smith Trailer…

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How Long Does It Take New Trailer Brakes to Engage

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