Troubleshooting Trailer Brakes that Feel Weak

Updated 08/09/2026 | Published 08/07/2026

Question:

I have a 2023 Forest River trailer single axle 5000 Lb axle my trailer brakes dont work all of a sudden. Very little response when I do a manual application. Hooked up to another trailer and they work good. Any Ideas Please.

asked by: MARK G

Expert Reply:

Hey Mark, it sounds like you have the problem isolated to the trailer and not the tow vehicle. Typically in this situation the issue is that the brakes are out of adjustment and you would need to tighten them down a bit so that they engage harder.

Other times this issue is that a seal is bad in the hub and the grease has gotten onto the drum surface which then makes the brakes basically useless. Either way it's best to probably pull the hub off and inspect the drum to see what it looks like and see if you find anything wrong. You also should feel a light drag on the wheel as you turn it by hand. If not the adjusters are too loose. Let me know what you find and I can make further suggestions.

expert reply by: Jameson C