How Hot Should Brakes Get During The Bedding Process?
Updated 09/14/2026 | Published 08/27/2026
Question:
i just installed your replacement e-brakes on my tandem 7inch axles, and they are a perfect fit. Jayco x23b 2014 with 2 dexter 2,200 lb torsion axles. I just got done with a test drive to break them in. After 45 min of driving and about 10 wear-in sets of braking from 40-20 mph. The hubs were 3@200 deg, and one at 300 degrees. I would expect a little warm due to getting seated, but is 200 too high? what might be normal? I think the 300 I just have the adjustment to tight. Thanks
asked by: Mike D
Expert Reply:
Hi Mike!
Seeing 200 to 300 degrees is actually on the low side when you are bedding brakes. Seeing temperatures between 350 and 400 is pretty normal as you want to go through the braking process around 15 to 20 times, not just 10. It can take a lot longer for brakes to fully seat to the drums than you would think.
Now if you start seeing 450 to 600 degrees while going through this process, you do have them over adjusted and should be backed off. Getting that hot for a long period of time will damage both the brakes and the drums.
And cool camper! Are you replacing the brakes after this last season or are you getting ready for a trip?
Product Page this Question was Asked From
etrailer Electric Trailer Brakes - 7" - Left/Right Hand Assemblies - 2,000 lbs
- Trailer Brakes
- Electric Drum Brakes
- Standard Grade
- Manual Adjust
- 7 x 1-1/4 Inch Drum
- 2000 lbs Axle
- 10 Inch Wheel
- 12 Inch Wheel
- 13 Inch Wheel
- etrailer
more information >
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Mike D.
9/11/2026
Lazer, Thank you for the reply. I did find the one brake was too tight and always dragging too much. I haven't had a chance to "bed" them some more, but I appreciate seeing that it will take at least another 10 tries, and that up to 400 for short periods of time initially is not too bad. I was afraid I was going to have to back off the brake adjustments more than I wanted. (bummer the 7" brakes don't have the auto adjust feature available anywhere). I love the camper, but the original design by Jayco with 7" brakes must have been a cost/weight saving thing. They were never very strong when they were new. The problem started later when I had (forgive me for this) Camping World repack the bearings and adjust the brakes. They never worked the same, and wouldn't even stop a slow coast at 12V. I took them to another RV dealer to have the breaks adjusted and hitch checked. They told me to just back up and hit the breaks to auto-adjust them (before I knew they had no auto-adjust). At that point I decided I needed to learn about electric-break repair on trailers. Thank you e-trailer, you made it a lot easier than I thought. Heading to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and hang out with the Yoopers near lake Gogebic. Thanks for the help.