Troubleshooting A Brake Magnet That's Activating Without Power Being Sent To It
Updated 01/12/2026 | Published 09/03/2024
Question:
Why is the magnet making contact with the drum with the battery disconnected. This is only on one side and all the components are new dexter parts including hubs.
asked by: Michael S
Expert Reply:
Hey Michael,
The magnet shouldn't be energized until the brake controller sends power to the brake assembly so I'm willing to bet you have a different wire touching the output to the brakes on that side that's getting power from something and is bleeding over to the brake assembly. I would take a multimeter to the brake assembly to see if you're getting any voltage to test this theory.
If the wiring is fine then I would start to look at the brake shoe adjustment as you might just have it too tight and the shoes are dragging too much against the hub. This is a bit hard to diagnose without actually getting my hands on the trailer but if you want to send me some pictures I might see something that could help us identify the problem.
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Jesse M.
1/12/2026
Hey Michael, what did you find when you checked the wiring and brake shoe adjustment on that side? Knowing what fixed the magnet contact could really help others sorting out similar brake issues.