Troubleshooting Trailer Brakes and Grease Seal Failure

Updated 11/25/2020 | Published 11/24/2020

Products Featured in This Question

Electric Trailer Brake Assembly - Self-Adjusting - 10" - Left Hand - 3,500 lbs

(372)

$69.89

10 Gauge Wire - Blue Primary - Per Foot

(109)

$1.87

Dielectric Grease for Electrical Connectors, 2 oz.

(1509)

$10.94

etrailer Electric Trailer Brakes - Self-Adjusting - 12" - Left/Right Hand - 5.2K to 7K

(3317)

$181.47

Hook Probe Circuit Tester

(70)

$12.41

Question:

It looks like my self adjusting brakes became to hot and caused the rear oil seal to fail. On my 2016 5th wheel, Causing the brakes to be coated with bearing grease and damaged. Any idea why this would happen and what can I do to keep it from happening again?

asked by: Bill

Expert Reply:

The heat causing a seal failure would be extreme. If it started as an overheating of the assembly as you stated it would be due to the wiring at the magnet. The magnet would need to be getting the constant power to stay activated or the brake shoes wouldn't have been activated to cause the friction for the heat build up to be that extreme.

I recommend testing your power wires to the magnet using a circuit tester like # PTW2993 to check your wiring and the 5 o'clock pin at your 7-way. If there is corrosion, that pin may get power from other pins which could cause that or a faulty brake controller. Some sand paper can clean the connections and then dielectric grease # 11755 will help prevent that in the future.

If you need to replace wiring from the trailer side connection to the magnets you can use # 10-1-1 sold by the foot. You will need to replace your brake assemblies because of the grease, so I recommend # AKEBRK-7-SA which will work with the mounting bolts in your photo.

I've attached some articles to assist with troubleshooting.