How to Break-In New Brakes With Redarc Tow-Pro Liberty Brake Controller

Published 11/24/2023

Question:

I am purchasing a new cargo trailer, single axle with electric brakes. How do I burnish in the new brakes using the Liberty controller? Lippert, the axle builder, offers instructions for traditional brake controllers directing that the user set the gain to its maximum and then use the slide mechanism to apply 8 to 10 volts of power to the brakes. How do I burnish the brakes using the Redarc Liberty? Is it as simple as setting the dial to something less that the lockup point, maybe a 7 or 8, and pressing the button? Ive never has a trailer with electric bakes and want to get this right. Thanks for your help! Jim A.

asked by: Jim A

Helpful Expert Reply:

Breaking in new brakes with the Liberty # RED24FR is basically the same thing you just described. The only difference from what Lippert told you is that there is no slide mechanism for the manual override. Instead, you will push in on the knob to engage the brakes as you described.

Take the trailer out to an open area, like a parking lot. Get up to around 40 mph then push the knob to engage the brakes. A middle setting or slightly higher is fine, you just need to make sure the brakes fully engage on the trailer. You also want to make sure you aren't using your vehicle brakes. The vehicle and trailer should slow down with the trailer brakes. Doing this 20-30 times should get them properly seated.

I have attached a helpful article below which covers brake adjustments and how to break them in for your reference.

expert reply by: Robin H