Why do I have to turn my Prodigy up further and further? - Diesel Forum

ScaldedDog · 10-19-2007, 10:37 PM

The last few times I've towed, I've noticed that I have to turn my Prodigy brake controller up more than I used to to get the same braking power on the trailer. Tonight, with an empty 1500lb flatbed, I had to turn it to "5" (halfway) just to get it to lock all four wheels - on loose gravel.

I need to fix this tomorrow (Saturday), and can only think of two places to look:

1) Dirty electrical connections, probably where the trailer plugs into the truck's harness.

2) Brake shoes just plain worn out.

Anywhere else I should look? I work on my trucks a lot, but don't know much about (Chinese) trailers.

Thanks,

Mark

MOUNTAINMAN444 · 10-20-2007, 09:39 AM

It sounds like you need to adjust the shoes on the brakes. Most trailers aren't self adjusting and every so often you need to manually adjust them. They have a star adjuster on them just like the old rear axle on cars and trucks had (before 4 wheel disc pads). Jack up the wheels one at a time (or an axle at a time), spin the wheel and adjust the shoe until it just barely start scrubbing. Do this to all the wheels and it should make a BIG difference. If you think they might be worn out pull a wheel and check before you start adjusting. It might be a good time to grease and adjust the bearings while you are at it.
Joe

Mr_Roboto · 10-20-2007, 05:48 PM

Exactly you need to adjust your brakes. I'm working on the same thing on my neighbors' trailer, they were so far out that the brakes no longer worked.

ScaldedDog · 10-20-2007, 08:19 PM

Well, I tried to adjust them, and they took a lot of adjustment, but I still don't think it's working right. The driver's front will lock up fairly easily, the passenger's side much more slowly, and the rear's don't lock at all below "5" on the controller. (The trailer is an empty 16' flatbed, around 1500-1700 lb's, I'd guess.) I backed off the adjustment of the driver's front, to see if that'll equalize the sides, and will test it again in a few minutes.

Any ideas?

Mark

MOUNTAINMAN444 · 10-20-2007, 10:05 PM

Did you adjust them all until you could just hear them start to scrub? If you did drive it a few miles and then check them again. Next step would be break it down and check everything out.
Joe

ScaldedDog · 10-21-2007, 12:46 PM

Yeah, more or less. I adjusted them until I could feel resistance, then back them off a couple of clicks. Even after backing the driver's front off some more, it still locks well before the other three.

Mark