Troubleshooting Brand New Trailer Brakes Performing Poorly

Updated 08/06/2021 | Published 08/04/2021

Question:

laast year i was having trouble with my brakes on my cedar creek fifth wheel. I ordered and installed 4 complete electric brake kits from etrailer I grounded each magnet to the frame . I also installed a teshonka contoller on my 2010 ram that I got from you. I have 13 volts at the controller 12 volts at the plug and 10volts at the magnets. When using the manual lever the brakes work about 1/4 as good as they should. The foot brake works a little better. I am getting no better braking than I had with my old parts. It makes no sense!

asked by: Gary G

Expert Reply:

The 10V is the absolute minimum voltage you want to see at the brake magnets, so that's worth looking into.

I'd make sure that the 7-way connector on the vehicle and the trailer are both in good condition, not damaged or corroded. Make sure the wiring from the trailer connector to the magnets is in good condition, with no loose connections, no cracked wire insulation. Make sure that the ground connections at each magnet are made to clean, bare metal.

There are a few other possible causes for what you have going on, as well.

• Make sure that the brakes are properly adjusted. Once properly adjusted, there should be a slight drag on
the brakes when you spin the wheel.

• Once installed, the brakes should be burnished in to allow the brake magnet and shows to seat.

• Check the inside armature surface of the brake drums that the magnets ride against. If this surface is
grooved or pitted, the magnets won't get a good grab on the drum to actuate the brakes.

• Make sure that the brake assemblies were installed on the connect side of the trailer. The arm that the
magnet attaches to should be on the side of the assembly closest to the front of the trailer.

I'll link to an article that explains how to adjust and burnish or break in trailer brakes.