[jdkluge]

I just installed electric brakes on my truck. Real straight forward job witht the Ford wiring/fuse kit. All circuits check out however on my 16th dove-tail one wheel loks up no matter how low I set the setting on the controller. I know that the brakes should apply evenly and trouble shooting texts say to do that but exactly what are you doing. Is it like adjusting regular brakes? Could the magnetic pic-up be fouled?

 

[NickKent]

Open up that wheel, take off the drum and clean the brakes. Make sure everything checks out visually, and that the brake is adjusted properly. Could be a wiring problem too, although that doesn't make sense in my head. When I adjust my brakes on my crappy controller, I just set them up so the trailer doesn't lock up but stops quickly. That way if I panic stop it isn't too scary. The brakes will also be a lot stickier when they are wet.

 

[Mr_Roboto]

Pull off the drum. Most likely that brake is adjusted too tight, or else there is oil or grease on the lining causing grabbing.

The trailer brakes should adjust with a screw adjuster the same as car / truck drum brakes.

 

[LongRider]

<font color="green">You probably have a slightly sprung/bent shoe that grabs and locks as soon as they spread.

To test, swap the shoes of the locking wheel to the other wheel on the same side and see if that wheel locks.

If the problem moves with the shoes, then, most likely, a shoe is bent. </font>

 

[T_Bone]

Hi Jd,

A easy way to set the brake shoe, is too first burn off the surface rust on the drum, take the trailer for a short drive at low speed dragging the brakes with the manual control on, then back off the adjusting star on the offending brake, apply manual brake power, then adjust the brake shoe to where it draggs the same as the other shoes.

This will set all brakes pretty close to each other where they all grab with the same resistance.




/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif

 

[kiteflyer]

I had a trailer wheel that was gabby when it was cold. I finally determine the backing plate was not parallel to the drum and the shoe would catch on the side of the drum and lock up the brake. Groomed the brake shoe so it would not hang up. This resolved the problem. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[jdkluge]

Thanks for the great replies. I'll pull off the drums this weekend and let you all know how it goes. Should (hopefully) be one of the easier fixes I have before me.