Troubleshooting Trailer Brakes Locking Up When Using Curt Echo

Updated 09/23/2021 | Published 09/22/2021

Question:

I have been using the Echo for a few months on a new single axle travel trailer with a Subaru Ascent tow vehicle. I find the brakes to be very grabby and they lock up at low speeds. I used a test light on the brake pin and tested the app braking at various gains and can see the light getting brighter at each level. Keeping the unit hooked up and routing the light inside I went for a drive to test brake power. The light lit at full power on immediately applying the brake regardless of what gain and even if the app was showing only light braking. Is this a possible issue of connection between car brake and controller with too much power going to trailer brakes when vehicle brakes are applied?

asked by: Chris

Helpful Expert Reply:

The Curt Echo # C51180 is a proportional brake controller, so it uses sensors to determine direction of travel and how quickly you're stopping to determine how much power to apply to the brakes; it does not use the brake output wire for any controls as a traditional brake controller might. However, what's likely going on here is there is an issue with your brakes either being out of adjustment or something like the brake shoes being damaged that is causing the brakes to lock up.

If you've got manually adjusting brakes then you'll want to back the brakes off completely and go back through the brake adjustment process of tightening the brakes so the wheel can't move and then backing them off about 10 clicks to the point where they just barely are grabbing but the wheel still turns freely. I would also take the time to go through the wiring on the brakes and make sure all of the connections are good; sometimes a faulty ground wire or some corrosion on the connections can cause these types of issues.

If examining these potential causes does not provide resolution, let me know and I can walk you through a few other things to look at.

expert reply by: Erik B