Troubleshooting Trailer Brakes Where Only One Assembly Locks Up

Updated 03/12/2019 | Published 03/11/2019

Question:

I have one brake out of 4 that locks up before the others. Im wondering if it is the controller. All the brakes work, rewired whole trailer and used 12 gauge wire for brakes. The controller is a cheap brand and is very difficult to adjust.

asked by: Sam V

Helpful Expert Reply:

The brake assemblies all will receive the same amount of power from your brake controller so the issue is the brake assembly that is locking up. Most likely it's adjusted tighter than the others which is causing it to lock up sooner. That would be the first thing I'd check. The trailer wheels should be able to turn by hand if they are off the ground but you should be able to hear the brakes drag on the drum slightly. Check to see if the one that locks up is harder to turn and that would be a dead giveaway.

I have included a link to a video and at about the 4:39 mark our installed begins adjusting the brakes.

The brake controller I recommend is the Prodigy P3 part # 90195 because this brake controller senses the amount of braking your tow vehicle is applying and puts a proportional amount of braking on the trailer's brakes. It also has a display that uses full words instead of codes that would have to be deciphered. It's our best selling brake controller because of how well it works, how reliable it is, and how easy it is to use.

expert reply by: Jameson C