Troubleshooting Weak 12" Electric Brakes with Full Power Being Sent to Them

Updated 05/10/2023 | Published 05/08/2023

Question:

I have a 2018 GD Momentum 351M. I bought two sets of part # AKEBRK-7-SA? I installed them on the trailer and adjusted the drag and they are not operating properly. As I installed each one I checked that they were working by engaging the brake and spinning the tire by hand and they seemed to work. Once I installed all four I set my brake controller to 10 and engaged the brakes but it didnt slow the trailer down at all. When I engaged the brakes I could hear them humming, I jacked it back up and engaged the brakes and could not spin them by hand. when I used a pry bar and had a leverage point and I could spin the tires with the brakes engaged. So, final results are they are braking very weak. do you have any suggestions on what could be causing this. Everything was clean with no grease on the drums or the shoes. The magnet seems to be activating about the same as the old did. I checked the voltage at the wire connection and had 14.25 volts. Any Suggestions???

asked by: Russell T

Expert Reply:

It looks like you have the correct voltage to your Electric Trailer Brake Kit - Self-Adjusting # AKEBRK-7-SA so I recommend re-checking the adjustment. You said they seemed to work but you didn't mention how much you had initially adjusted them. You want there to be a slight drag when you're spinning the wheel by hand without applying the brakes.

It's possible that the brakes are strong enough that you can't spin them by hand with full power applied, but the weight and momentum of your trailer will be stronger than you spinning it by hand which is why the trailer isn't stopping.

If you did adjust the brakes to where there is a drag while spinning it by hand then let me know and I can help you look into this further.

expert reply by: Jon G