Electric trailer brakes don't work

[liv2ride]

I have a 6 yr old enclosed trailer that I bought last season. The electric brakes don't work, so over the weekend I replaced the rusty old ones with 4 new ones. I can hear them "try" to engage, but there is no stopping power. Any ideas?

 

[fredster]

First of all have someone apply the brakes (or pull the breakaway) and walk around the trailer and make sure each brake is humming. If so the brakes need to be tightened up. There should be a small plug on the back side of each drum that can be removed. The adjuster starwheel is inside. You can rotate the starwheel with a screwdriver tip (much easier with a flashlight and even better if you buy the actual starwheel adjuster tool). Basically you'll need to tighten up all four brakes until they are just dragging a bit and then take it for a drive and you should notice braking power. On my trailer if it's empty and everything is adjusted correctly I can easily lock all the wheels up.

One word of advice make sure you rinse the brake assemblies in the spring. I tend to forget to do this and the brakes rust up over the summer from the salt and I find myself pulling the drums each fall to remove rust and free up the moving parts. PITA!

 

[zimmbob]

I second fredster! perfect description!

 

[dofo1]

Then after you get them adjusted take it for a drive, cycle the brakes on and off while driving, they should get better after a few cycles as the shoes wear in. Note: stop and check the drums every once in a while you don't want them so hot that you can't hold your hand on them.

 

[liv2ride]

Thanks guys!! I can hear a hum on all 4 hubs, I didn't know about the adjustment behind the black plug.
I will definitely take the hubs off in the spring to rinse the salt out. It's amazing how bad they looked after only 5 years. Rusted tight!

 

[doomsman]

5 years, if you got through last year don't bother fixing them
because they probably didn't work last year.
Just kidding, but it might be time to replace the inner seals while the hubs are off just to keep the slickery stuff in.

 

[liv2ride]

5 years, if you got through last year don't bother fixing them
because they probably didn't work last year.
Just kidding, but it might be time to replace the inner seals while the hubs are off just to keep the slickery stuff in.

I only used it twice last year on dry roads. There is no way I wanted to use a 4 place enclosed without brakes this year! A little dangerous if used on a snow covered road. I went with 2 new hubs and all new seals. Should be good to go after I adjust the brakes.
Thanks again for the help! johndee members come thru every time!!!