How to Properly Seat Self Adjusting Brakes

Published 02/17/2022

Question:

I bought my backing plate from etrailer. I put it on a utility trailer my truck is a 2017 chevy silverado 1500 with intagrated trailer braking from factory. The brake hum but do not engage

asked by: Bill

Helpful Expert Reply:

While the Electric Trailer Brake Kit # AKEBRK-35-SA are self adjusting, they do still require an initial bedding of the brakes (breaking in/seating the brakes) to work properly. I have listed the steps to do this below.

1: Pick an open stretch of road that will allow you to stop multiple times

2: Adjust brake control power to MAX

3: Speed up to 40mph, then use the manual override on the brake control to reduce speed to 20mph

4: Repeat 12-15 times, allowing time for brakes to cool in between (could potentially take more)

If the brakes are adjusted (seated) properly then make sure they are installed on the correct sides of the trailer as this would cause them not to engage as well. If all of this has checked out, please let me know and I would be happy to help your troubleshoot further.

expert reply by: Scott S