Troubleshooting Weak Trailer Brakes After Replacing with Self-Adjusting Assemblies

Updated 02/13/2019 | Published 02/12/2019

Question:

Ok, I have read many of the Q and A here and dont see any that address my issue. Vehicle is a 2006 Silverado HD Duromax, trailer is 05 23 ft. Jayco Baja Edition. Controller is Tekonsha P3. So trailer brakes will not lock up at full voltage. They slow the trailer but no lock up. They get hot on the passenger side but only warm on the driver side, tandem axle, Dexter. This axle has a downdesign that prohibits my doing a manual adjustment via the adjustment wheel access hole. I purchased your self adjusting brakes so tried the alternate method of just driving around and manually braking with the P3 lever only. Like I said brakes get warm/hot, no lockup at full voltage setting. What is going on? Like I said, I am unable to access the adjustment wheel. Maybe a pro shop would have a special tool? Help!!!

asked by: Tom M

Expert Reply:

Is there possibly a leaky grease seal allowing grease to get into the drum and basically making the brakes non-effective? Since one hub isn't getting warm that's one possibility and the other likely possibility is that you don't have current making it to the colder hub's brake assembly or the ground isn't complete. Check those two things and let me know and we can go from there.

You can also try running a ground wire jumper from the assemblies back to the main ground of the trailer.

expert reply by: Jameson C