After Installing New Trailer Brakes, Front Axle Brakes Work, Rear Axle Brakes Do Not

Updated 10/14/2013 | Published 10/12/2013

Question:

Just finished installing, tandem axle no adjust brake assemblies on my 5th wheel trailer. When I push in the brake pedal the front axle brakes engage I hear the magnets hum. However I am not hearing the rear axle engage. I have a voltage meter but I am not sure how to check if I have power going to the rear axle. Can you provide some input?

asked by: Jackson

Expert Reply:

I will be happy to help. Since we know the front axle is getting power use your circuit tester and find the wires on the brake magnets for the rear axle to test them. There should be 2 wires. One is ground and the other is the power wire. The ground wire should be attached to a clean and corrosion free bare metal surface near by.

If there is no power going to the magnet then there is a wiring issue somewhere forward of them that will need to be addressed. Because the power for the brake magnets comes back to the trailer brakes initially on one wire, it could just be a missed connection in a splice somewhere.

I have include a link to an FAQ article on testing brake magnets for you just in case you believe the magnets to be faulty.

expert reply by: Michael H