Hey guys.
Some while back, (18 months or so), I came across a great deal on a 24' flat bed trailer (double axle).
I finally got a brake controller last week.

When I get everything hooked up, I can hear the electric trailer brakes engage, but they do not seem to slow the vehicle or create any drag at all. Even with the controller set to max, there is no drag from the trailer when the electric brake is fully engaged.

I tested the set up with my neighbors trailer and my controller is working fine.

With the trailer tires off the ground and the brake engaged, I cannot rotate any of the trailer tires.

So, I can hear the electronic brakes actuating, they are forcing the pads to make contact with the drums, but not enough force seems to be created to actually create braking power.

Could they simply need to be adjusted and if so, by how much?
Do I need to tear into them and just clean everything?
What tests can I do to see what needs to be done?

Some additional information- maybe useful - maybe not:
I was told that the brakes were a month or two old when I purchased the trailer.
The trailer has a break-away switch.
There are brakes on both axles (all four wheels).
The controller does not generate any errors when connected to the trailer and appears to be working fine.

Any ideas, advise is appreciated.
Thanks everyone.
Rich

 

I would pull the wheels and look at the linings first it could just be way ouy of adjustment ,or grease on the linings

 

My bet is that they never adjusted them after the replacement. Or they just replaced the shoes and the adjusters were froze up and they COULDN'T adjust them.

 

Thanks guys.
I did put a few clicks in the star wheel adjustments. Thats how I got it to the point where I could not free-spin the tires with the brakes on.
I manually adjusted all four brakes until I could just hear the pads scrape the drums when free spinning the tires when I had the tires off the ground.

 

The adjusting of trailer brakes is neglected for the most part. Depending on the age of the axles and the size of shoes/drum they may or may not be self adjusting.

Like previously posted pull it down for an inspection of the brakes and repack the wheel bearings while your in there. To adjust them run out the star until the tire no longer turns then loosen it until it turns freely.

Here is the Dexter resource library link:

http://dexteraxle.com/resource_library_

 

Thanks guys, appreciate the input.
Its likely that I will not have enough time to tear into until next weekend (at best).
I have pulled the dust cap off of all four hubs and the grease in the hub if both full and fresh. Reason to believe that, perhaps, the brakes are new and the bearings were greased when the brakes were put in.

Guess I'll know when I start to dig in.

Its always something.
Rich

 

In addition to Dexter's on line manual, AL-KO has a good one.

I set trailer brake adjustment by running the star out until I can't turn the wheel, then back it off until the wheel spins freely, plus about another turn and a half.

Running them all the way out centers the shoes in the drum. Also the magnet will skiff along the armature surface, which makes if tough to try to adjust by sound- like I used to with vehicles that predated self adjusting drums.