Troubleshooting Weak Brakes on a 1992 Rainbow Trailer

Published 06/20/2013

Question:

I have a 1992 rainbow trailer that Im refurbishing. The brakes work, energize, actuate BUT they are weak, weak enough that i can still turn the wheels manually. I took the Drum off and everything looks good but when the brakes are actuated i put a hammer to the magnet, the hammer sticks but i can just pull it off. There is 12 V at the harness and 10 V at the brakes. I put a new ground wire close to the axle to make sure i had proper ground, no change. My thoughts are that the odds that all 4 magnets are shot at the same time is slim so has to be an electrical issue. Any advice as to what the next step would be?

asked by: Kyo

Expert Reply:

Did you do the initial brake adjustment? It sounds like your brakes are out of adjustment and need to be set properly and once you do that they should have no problem stopping your trailer. Check out the video I attached beginning at the 4:23 mark to see how the adjustment is done.

A lot of brakes are self adjusting and will keep themselves in adjustment, but if the assemblies you have are old and do not self adjust they may have worn to the point where they are out of adjustment.

Basically you will use a brake adjustment tool to turn the starwheel on the adjuster to expand the brake shoes until the wheel is very difficult to turn by hand. Then back off the starwheel in the other direction, about 10 clicks until the brakes drag slightly. Make sure all brake assemblies are adjusted in the same manner.

expert reply by: Jameson C