Thank you for watching! I'm happy to hear the cut-away was a good visual tool! We truly appreciate the kind words and hope you'll check out the other videos on the channel
Thanks for the all the precise information you’re giving us. I am just in the process of fixing my bearing after having a blowout on a highway on my Pace trailer. You are a gentleman. Have a nice day thanks.
Thank you sir! The cut away is a great way to show what's happening. Sharing this with my race car friends as most of have trailers or are new to owning a trailer.
Just bought my first horse trailer and the front wheel brakes are too tight while the back ones are lagging. Best video I've found to explain how to do it and seeing the inside with the cut away was super helpful! Easiest tutorial to follow, definitely preventing me from having to spent more money down the road
We are full time RV traveling. Almost 4 years 37 states & we have never done this. I literally just turned the brake controller up to 9.5 from 6.5. You have probably saved this traveling family from a nightmare. People rarely talk about brakes in the many RV Facebook groups. Somebody shared a link to your video! Thank You!
Oh goodness! I’m sure glad to hear the 1. Someone shared our video and 2. You watched it and hopefully it helped you out! We also have a video on burnishing your brakes in, which is essential to making sure that brake adjustment works as it should. Here’s a link to it in case you haven’t already watched it. ruclips.net/video/mLp_5ApVjFc/видео.htmlsi=0O7ta4H3p77xbpN6 We are in North Texas so if you’re ever in the neighborhood give us a shout if you have time to stop and say hello!
Needs to be watched by anyone who owns a trailer with electric brakes! If nothing else you know what to check after getting your rig out of the shop. Didn’t have time to do the work myself before tow season so took it to a national RV dealer. $380 later for a repack and brake adjustment I still ended up readjusting.
Thank you so much for watching & taking the time to leave this comment! My goal is to share what I know in order to help others. I'm so glad this video helped you. Feel free to check out my other videos to see if there's anything else that might be of value to you. 🙂
???? Great video. Every word and action was correct. I always look for videos where I can learn more and see if I’m getting lazy. Well done. Is there a video on self adjusting brakes? Video on Spring maintenance?
Thanks for watching! ruclips.net/video/CUqvxovZ164/видео.htmlsi=7M_2hWhvBvGP-XsV We have this video on self-adjusting brakes. But no video on spring maintenance.
Very informative. I have recently purchased an older equipment trailer and was experiencing little to no braking without cranking up the controller. A quick visual inspection shows the backing plates were in new condition leading me to think that an adjustment could be the remedy. I new what to do to adjust them but I learned how much drag they should have. Quick and specific information. Thanks
This is the best brake adjustment video I’ve seen. Thanks for your thorough walk through I have 2 10k Dexter axles under my flatbed. I noticed one axle seems to run hot, even though it has adequate oil. I felt like the brakes are out of adjustment, can that cause the hub to run hot?
I've done plenty of adjustments on older cars so I figured it was the same... then I pulled the hubs to grease the bearings and realized this is a whole different animal. Time for youtube. Thanks for the visuals and all the good information. You earned my subscription!
Awesome and complete explanation !! Years ago with hydraulic drum breaks I drove in reverse & braked to adjust. Elect. is obviously not that way. Quick question.. 10K axel Dexter drum bolt rounded. I'm now drilling out to remove bolt head to get drum off. I suspect welding a nut on stud after drum removal is the best way to extract? Ever seen this? Thank you again.
Yes, welding it on there will work. Most drum mounting bolts use lock tite. Hub has to be heated to release the lock tite. Whenever you weld your nut on, it will be sufficient to release that bolt. Thanks for watching!
Should the Jack point be the axle or the frame and why/why not? Seeing both used and trying to find out the proper procedure. Thx and great tutorial on the adjusting process.
Thanks for watching! I prefer to jack the trailer frame up so that the axle is not under a load and so the jack stand doesn’t interfere with access to the brake adjuster.
Thank you very much for sharing - I needed to adjust my 5th-wheel trailer brakes before a cross-country trip. You provided everything I needed to get the job done.., I didn't even know what a brake-adjusting spoon was before seeing your video. The cheap one worked like a charm. Kudos to you!
Hi! Thanks for watching!! The star wheels do move the same direction regardless of which side they are on. If there is a self adjusting lever, the only issue you would have is if you adjusted it too tight and had to back it off, you would have to use something to release the adjuster arm in order to back the star off. A small welding rod always works well for me for this purpose. Good luck!
Too much effort into a failed braking system, I have never seen trailer brakes last longer than a year or two. My first trailer had intermittent brakes from day one. Full replacement would be required every year in my 20 years of towing experience. I just don't rely on trailer brakes at all.
Conventional drum brakes are definitely old school, but when properly maintained we see many years of service out of them. There are better options available if your budget allows, like converting over to hydraulic disc. There are after-market & factory conversion kits that will accommodate most any axle size. I’m a big fan of hydraulic disc, myself, but if you don’t properly maintain those, you will have a VERY expensive brake job on your hands.
One of my brakes was so far out of adjustment, it began locking up. I took the drum off to inspect it and the magnet was toast. I replaced the entire brake assembly. It cost $80 CAD plus tax. I did the work, so no labour charges.
I have 3500 lb axles with raised spindles, dropped tubes that are in the way of adjustment holes. There's just not an easy way , so I've been removing the hb in a trial and error way to try to get minimal clearance . 1987 and 88 Holiday Rambler trailers .
Great video, thank you. I would love to have you make a video about SELF-ADJUSTING electric brakes. Do they actually work, etc.? I'm sure you've seen some of these in your shop and would love your thoughts. Bob in Grand Rapids, MI
You're in luck! We recently just did a video on self-adjusting brakes. I'll leave a link to it. Thanks for watching! ruclips.net/video/CUqvxovZ164/видео.html
Wasn't that worn out brake assembly example at the 7:26 time mark an automatic brake adjuster? It has the spring around the adjuster and has a cable well.
Yes it was an automatic brake adjusting assembly. Unfortunately, most of the time the adjusters will get contaminated with brake dust & other road grime and the auto adjuster will not work. Thanks for watching!
You mentioned the breaks being set properly. I have the dexter electric breaks / self adjusting and one break/hub is getting warm. I have driven about 500 miles on the this set up and now noticed this issue. Is there something I’m supposed to be doing with the trailer break to set the breaks (turning the gain all the up to find lock up point for example). The three other breaks and hubs were cool but not the front left break and rim. I can hear a faint squeal noise now. So I will adjust that break to be looser. Any other tips I would appreciate. Thanks
You never want your electric trailer brakes to lock up. That would be too tight. If you have one getting hot and the others seem to be cool, the trailer needs to be jacked up and the cool brakes need to be checked to be sure they are working and you need to make sure that the hot one isn't doing all the work. Once you confirm that all 4 brakes are working, you may need to do a manual adjustment to make sure they are all adjusted equally. Great question! Sorry you're having this issue. Hopefully this helps!
FYI, I suggest you always remove the drum and dump the old ‘brake dust’ out of the drum first! The worn brake shoe material doesn’t just disappear… It lays in the bottom and is still friction material, just no longer on the shoe itself. It needs to be removed to not effect the adjustment! And repack the and adjust the wheel bearing preload. (Plus visually seeing how much the brake shoes are worn, and that the hardware, magnet, and springs, etc are all good and in place nicely will give you peace of mind. 👍🏼)
Recently worked on a trailer with Dexter 12K Axles and Disk Breaks. The Hubs came off with not much problem but fought all the way going back on. Do you have Tip and Tricks for this scenario? Never had this problem with Drums.
Hey no LOOKING at the star wheel. Model T technology in the 21st century. I jacked up my trailer and put jack stands on four corners,lioke you suggested, but did not expect that the shakles would twist down and the axles would drop, so I jacked the unloaded axles up and blocked to finish the adjustment. Could you please advise others of this hazard. Scared the $%#@ out of me. The manual states, "Do not jack under the axles". I appreciate and have learned a valuable lesson about how to get a trailer lifted, Thanks.
Best brake adjust video I've seen. The cut away drum really helps understanding what's going on in there interactively. One thing that I wonder about.... How much braking action should I expect with properly adjusted brakes? Is there a way to quantify this from a driver's standpoint sitting in the truck? I just installed all brand new (Southwest) running gear and adjusted the brakes but I feel like it's still not giving me enough stopping power even with the controller set to maximum. Another issue I'm having it seems like the wheels on the right side are adjusted out the maximum that the adjuster will turn and I'm still not feeling as much spinning resistance on the tires as I did on the left side. Left side adjusts just like you have shown, no problem.... right side, not so much. Cant get right side to engage the brakes enough- barely touching for part of the revolution.
Ps. The is on a 3500 lb lippert 3 inch drop axle with self-adjusting brakes. the initial adjustment was made with the wheels off, the double check was made with the wheels on, would this make a difference with drum alignment?
Thank you for watching! Glad to hear this video was a help! Be sure to check out other videos on the channel for any other issues that may arise with your trailer.
So with self adjusting brakes do you need two screwdrivers to keep the star-wheel "stop" out of the way? Great info about the magnets/drum wear. Thank you.
So first time adjusting my brakes 2015 big tex 10k Dexter oil bath axles I over tightened one an can't seem to get it to back off it wolnt move am I doing something wrong ? Is there something stopping it ? Any advise
Yeah. Those brakes have self-adjusters. In order to back it off you will need to use a small screw driver or a small rod (welding rod) to insert through the adjuster hole to push the self adjuster away from the adjuster wheel. While holding the adjuster away from the wheel, use your adjusting tool to back the brakes off.
Sorry probably a simple question but I am new to this. So, you should hear the slight resistance even though there is NO braking force or power being applied to the brakes correct?
Adjusting the brakes is not a big deal. Crawling around on the ground under the axle trying to see what you are doing is the problem. Great if you have some way of lifting the trailer up high to get access 😂
Do RV trailers typically have automatic or manual brakes? I’m looking at buying a 10 year old Rockwood Minilite trailer and have no clue what kind of brakes it has. And I don’t get the impression (as of yet) that the owner (for last three years has) done much in the way of maintenance on them.
Hi! Thanks for watching! RV trailers can have either type of brakes. One way to tell is by looking on the back side of the brake backing plate-look through the adjuster hole. Once you see the adjuster wheel, look to see if it has a lever contacting the wheel. If there's no lever present, they are manual adjust. Due to the age of the trailer, I would recommend doing a tear-down for brake and bearing inspection. This will also allow you to see if they are self-adjusting or not. You can check out the videos we have on our channel on brake and bearing inspection. If the brakes are self-adjusting, due to the age, it is likely the adjuster will be stuck and a manual adjustment will still be needed and the adjuster will need to be disassembled and cleaned. I hope this helps!
Since day one of purchasing my new TT from dealer, I have been running my gain on the truck at 10 in order to have some kind of action on the trailer brakes. Other trailers I have towed, they lock up at 6…what the heck
Hi! Just in case you haven’t already watched it, I’ve included a link to our video on burnishing brakes. If you are having to run it on 10 to get any braking, the shoes are likely not burnished in properly or they’re out of adjustment or both. If both of those have been done properly and it’s still an issue, then you may have a wiring issue or an internal issue with the brakes. Hope this helps! Thanks for watching! How To Burnish Your Trailer Brakes ruclips.net/video/mLp_5ApVjFc/видео.html
I did all new brakes, all dexter electric, with new drums, backing plates, magnets, wasn’t too bad, but expensive. Adjusted just like you did. Plus new bearings. 6x12, dual axle, 4 sets of brakes. Each axle 3500 lbs gvw. 7k gvw total. You asked for ideas, I keep having trouble with my shackles. One will flip over causing springs to ride in awkward position. No matter how many times I reset, the shackles keep flipping again. I would like to talk about this but don’t want this post to be too long. I have an idea what may be happening.
Thanks for your feedback and for the video idea! I am actually going to be doing a video about this very issue as I have a repair to do on a trailer that is experiencing the same thing. You can look for that to be out in the next couple of weeks.
I had a situation like that back in the day with a couple long ass heavy trailers. I replaced the worn out stock leaf bushings probably made in Slanty Land. I punched out that garbage and press clamped in some super snug nylon bushings, and before setting down off jack stands I used a crowbar at the linkage prior to pressing in new bushings to make it proper. Also I changed the bolts. Road bumps and all no problems after that.
Excellent video. I have a question, I installed a new #10 Dexter torsion axle on a clients trailer, he picked the trailer up and drove it a little more than 100 miles, he said he thought that something was wrong with the road side drum. He brought the trailer back and I took a look at it, first off the brakes seamed to be engaged, so I backed off the adjuster and pulled the hub, everything looked ok at first but I noticed the forward drum brake pad jumped the upper pivot pin just a bit engaging the brakes. Now my question, what would make that happen? was the factory adjustment to far out? It seamed ok when I installed the axle. I hope you can shed some light on this, thanks. I taped the shoe back into place, reinstalled the hub and adjusted the brakes as you suggested, I'm hoping that it won't happen again.
I’ve never seen that exact issue on a new axle. Just keep in mind that they are mass produced. We do have issues from time to time with adjusters missing, nut retainers missing, drums rusted to the shoe & contaminants in the drum like dirt & gravel from sitting on the yard. It would be my guess that the shoe assembly was not installed correctly during the production which led to the issue you’ve witnessed. It sounds like the repair you made was the right move & I think it should solve the problem. Great work! Thanks for watching!
Thank you for watching! I look forward to having you as a viewer! Having a full-time day job and doing RUclips keeps me plenty busy so there have been some comments that have slipped through the cracks. We try to keep up with them as best as we can, while also putting out helpful videos.
I read you said you should never adj you electric brake controller to the point the brakes lock up. Yet the instructions on my controller said go 25 mph and adj till you see them lock up. I did that and have been using them that way for some time. Have I damaged the system. When I checked them a while ago everything looked good. Just need to know what is best. Thanks great video by the way.
I’ve never seen a controller manufacturer recommend that you adjust until they lock up. I certainly would never recommend that b/c there are so many issues that can come from locking up your brakes. I would love to know which brand & model controller that is so I could dig into that a little more. Thanks for watching!
My brake controller read 4.0 felt a little less break resistance adjusted to 4.5 works fine is there a number on your brake controller for example 7.5 would let you know you need to adjust your brakes
No, there’s no number on your brake controller that would let you know that information. If you’re having to continually increase your brake controller to get the same amount of brake resistance, that is your signal that your brakes are in need of adjusting. Great question! Thanks for watching!
@machine7767 unfortunately, many people don't realize the importance of the brake adjustment for their trailers. Regular maintenance on a trailer can literally save it's owner thousands of dollars in repair costs later down the road. That's the reason we started this channel. To share knowledge and to hopefully show how to save time, trouble, and money just by doing preventative maintenance. And to also show why it might cost so much or take a while at the mechanic shop. Thanks for watching!
So happy to hear I could help! That’s our goal with this channel-to empower others with the knowledge they need to either do their own work or to understand the value of what they are paying for if they have to take it to a shop. Thanks for watching and for letting us know how we have helped!
When you put new brakes on do you need to pull the trailer around and use the brakes before adjusting them? Mine have a drag out of the box. Should I adjust them, road test them and then readjust them? Thanks
Hi! The brakes need to have an initial adjustment after installation. Then they need to be burnished in and after a couple hundred miles, they need to be readjusted. Then readjusted every 3000 miles after that. I’ve included the link to our video about burnishing brakes in case you want to check that out. Hope this helps! Thanks for watching!! ruclips.net/video/mLp_5ApVjFc/видео.html
Hi! It's called a brake adjusting tool or a brake adjusting spoon. I've included a link to one on Amazon in case you want to check it out. I hope this is helpful and thanks for watching!
Very good. I just went through the brakes on a travel trailer on my channel. I'll be getting in there to do a fine tune adjustment from the back. I've Subscribed. I'm a RUclips creator located in British Columbia, Canada. I fix my own cars and do a whole bunch of other stuff. Take care and I'll be keeping any eye out for your videos.
Thanks for this video! It was very informative, I will be adjusting my 5th wheel brakes today for sure. I have had my brake controller turned up more than normal and just put front brakes on the tow vehicle! (Pricey)
One of the best break adjustment videos I've seen as far as the amount of drag that the wheel hub should have. Thanks. Great video!
Thank you for watching! I appreciate the comment!
Been pulling a fifth wheel for 8 yrs never knew you had to do this just turned up the controller,best video I’ve seen.Thanks
Larger hubs have room for self adjusting drum brake hardware,i.e. 10 inch and larger drum inner diameter.
This guy is the best instructor on RUclips!!! Great videos!👍👍👍
Wow, thanks for that vote of confidence. We appreciate you watching.
Extremely well done, loved the cut-away wheel assembly - had watched other videos and had no idea that I was rotating a toothed wheel. Good work!
Thank you for watching! I'm happy to hear the cut-away was a good visual tool! We truly appreciate the kind words and hope you'll check out the other videos on the channel
Thanks for the all the precise information you’re giving us. I am just in the process of fixing my bearing after having a blowout on a highway on my Pace trailer. You are a gentleman. Have a nice day thanks.
Thank you sir! The cut away is a great way to show what's happening. Sharing this with my race car friends as most of have trailers or are new to owning a trailer.
Thank you for watching & thanks for sharing! I’m glad to hear the video & the cut away were helpful to you!
Just bought my first horse trailer and the front wheel brakes are too tight while the back ones are lagging. Best video I've found to explain how to do it and seeing the inside with the cut away was super helpful! Easiest tutorial to follow, definitely preventing me from having to spent more money down the road
Excellent information! Now I know why my daughter's magnets and hubs look worn out, but the brake shoes look new! Thank you!
Glad to hear the video helped you out! Thank you for watching!
This is the best brake adjustment clip yet - really appreciate the cut off view on the adjustment screw 👌👌👌🖖
Thanks for watching! We're happy to hear the video has been helpful! Thank you for the positive feedback!
This is the best video I've come across on this subject. Thanks.
Thanks for watching! I’m glad it was a helpful video. I really appreciate the feedback!
We are full time RV traveling. Almost 4 years 37 states & we have never done this. I literally just turned the brake controller up to 9.5 from 6.5. You have probably saved this traveling family from a nightmare. People rarely talk about brakes in the many RV Facebook groups. Somebody shared a link to your video! Thank You!
Oh goodness! I’m sure glad to hear the 1. Someone shared our video and 2. You watched it and hopefully it helped you out!
We also have a video on burnishing your brakes in, which is essential to making sure that brake adjustment works as it should. Here’s a link to it in case you haven’t already watched it.
ruclips.net/video/mLp_5ApVjFc/видео.htmlsi=0O7ta4H3p77xbpN6
We are in North Texas so if you’re ever in the neighborhood give us a shout if you have time to stop and say hello!
Needs to be watched by anyone who owns a trailer with electric brakes! If nothing else you know what to check after getting your rig out of the shop. Didn’t have time to do the work myself before tow season so took it to a national RV dealer. $380 later for a repack and brake adjustment I still ended up readjusting.
Thanks for the educational video. It was very helpful for me and I'm sure many others.
Thanks for watching! Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for the reminder.
Awesome. Finally found someone not using a screwdriver
Thanks for watching!
dang ..... thank you for taking the time to make this video.
I learned something today.
Thank you so much for watching & taking the time to leave this comment! My goal is to share what I know in order to help others. I'm so glad this video helped you. Feel free to check out my other videos to see if there's anything else that might be of value to you. 🙂
Great advice, very well presented. Thank you!
Great info presented in a very smooth way. Thank You!
You are welcome! So glad you found the information helpful! Thank you for watching
???? Great video. Every word and action was correct. I always look for videos where I can learn more and see if I’m getting lazy. Well done.
Is there a video on self adjusting brakes? Video on Spring maintenance?
Thanks for watching!
ruclips.net/video/CUqvxovZ164/видео.htmlsi=7M_2hWhvBvGP-XsV
We have this video on self-adjusting brakes. But no video on spring maintenance.
Very informative. I have recently purchased an older equipment trailer and was experiencing little to no braking without cranking up the controller. A quick visual inspection shows the backing plates were in new condition leading me to think that an adjustment could be the remedy. I new what to do to adjust them but I learned how much drag they should have. Quick and specific information.
Thanks
I'm so glad this video was a help to you! Thanks for checking it out.
@@TheTrailerSmith Update: I adjusted the brakes and seen an improvement.
Thanks for the update! I'm so glad this video was a help to you!
This is the best brake adjustment video I’ve seen. Thanks for your thorough walk through
I have 2 10k Dexter axles under my flatbed. I noticed one axle seems to run hot, even though it has adequate oil. I felt like the brakes are out of adjustment, can that cause the hub to run hot?
Best trailer brake adjustment video out! #subscribed
That means a lot. Thank you for watching! And I appreciate the subscribe!
Thank you for such a helpful video! Subscribed
Thanks for watching and for the feedback!
Thank you! That was great info. Been getting a feeling that I need to visit this so very helpful!
I'm so glad you found it helpful! Thanks for watching!
@@TheTrailerSmith On a trip right now. Looking forward to a complete axel/bearing/brake overhaul. 👍
Thank you for your very informative video.
Glad it was helpful!
Nice job on the video. Clear and to the point. Good videography.
The feedback is much appreciated! Thanks for watching!
How to replace the brake assembly on good trailers with old mobile home wheels and brakes. Good videos and thanks
👍
Thanks for watching!
Excellent, thank you.
You are welcome! Hope it was a help to you.
Great video mate,
I will be doing mine tomorrow,
It’s a new van (trailer) so I will know where I’m at after the adjustment.
Cheers Mate.
Thanks for watching!
Awesome video thank you SO MUCH!
Thank you for watching! We hope it was a help to you!
I ordered a Brake spoon adjustment made in USA on Amazon, @@TheTrailerSmith
I've done plenty of adjustments on older cars so I figured it was the same... then I pulled the hubs to grease the bearings and realized this is a whole different animal. Time for youtube. Thanks for the visuals and all the good information. You earned my subscription!
Thank you for the kind words! I'm so glad to hear my video helped you out. The subscription is much appreciated!
Awesome and complete explanation !! Years ago with hydraulic drum breaks I drove in reverse & braked to adjust. Elect. is obviously not that way. Quick question.. 10K axel Dexter drum bolt rounded. I'm now drilling out to remove bolt head to get drum off. I suspect welding a nut on stud after drum removal is the best way to extract? Ever seen this? Thank you again.
Yes, welding it on there will work. Most drum mounting bolts use lock tite. Hub has to be heated to release the lock tite. Whenever you weld your nut on, it will be sufficient to release that bolt.
Thanks for watching!
Grreat video and instruction!
Thanks for watching! Glad you found the video helpful, that's what we like to hear! Thank you for the positive feedback!
Very helpful thanks 👍🕺
Thank you for watching and leaving a comment! We’re happy to hear the video was helpful for you!
Thank you very good video
Thank you for watching! So glad you liked it.
Should the Jack point be the axle or the frame and why/why not? Seeing both used and trying to find out the proper procedure. Thx and great tutorial on the adjusting process.
Thanks for watching! I prefer to jack the trailer frame up so that the axle is not under a load and so the jack stand doesn’t interfere with access to the brake adjuster.
Adjustment is a pita on dropped axle trailers. Not easy to get to hole
Thank you .
You are welcome! Thanks for watching!
Great video. Is there an easy way to tell what lb your axle is?
Thanks for the video. The cutaway of the drum was super helpful!
Thank you for watching! I'm glad it was helpful!
Thank you very much for sharing - I needed to adjust my 5th-wheel trailer brakes before a cross-country trip. You provided everything I needed to get the job done.., I didn't even know what a brake-adjusting spoon was before seeing your video. The cheap one worked like a charm. Kudos to you!
I am so glad the video helped you out! Thank you for watching! Hope you have a good & safe trip!
I heart the easy way ❤
ARE SURGE TRAILER BRAKE SHOES SHELF ADJUSTING OR SHOULD THEY BE MANUALLY ADJUSTED AS WELL?
Great video!!! Want to comment for you. New sub here
Roughly how many miles in between adjustments would you suggest?
3000 miles or once a year, whichever comes first.
Do the star wheels move the same direction on each side? And what if there is a self-adjusting lever on the star wheel?
Hi! Thanks for watching!! The star wheels do move the same direction regardless of which side they are on. If there is a self adjusting lever, the only issue you would have is if you adjusted it too tight and had to back it off, you would have to use something to release the adjuster arm in order to back the star off. A small welding rod always works well for me for this purpose. Good luck!
Too much effort into a failed braking system, I have never seen trailer brakes last longer than a year or two. My first trailer had intermittent brakes from day one.
Full replacement would be required every year in my 20 years of towing experience.
I just don't rely on trailer brakes at all.
Conventional drum brakes are definitely old school, but when properly maintained we see many years of service out of them. There are better options available if your budget allows, like converting over to hydraulic disc. There are after-market & factory conversion kits that will accommodate most any axle size. I’m a big fan of hydraulic disc, myself, but if you don’t properly maintain those, you will have a VERY expensive brake job on your hands.
I'm a transport trailer tech for a living. I had no clue that trailers like campers, cargo ECT trailers needed brake adjustment... The more you know.
There are A LOT of misconceptions & misinformation concerning utility & recreational trailers!
One of my brakes was so far out of adjustment, it began locking up. I took the drum off to inspect it and the magnet was toast. I replaced the entire brake assembly. It cost $80 CAD plus tax. I did the work, so no labour charges.
I have 3500 lb axles with raised spindles, dropped tubes that are in the way of adjustment holes. There's just not an easy way , so I've been removing the hb in a trial and error way to try to get minimal clearance . 1987 and 88 Holiday Rambler trailers .
Great video, thank you. I would love to have you make a video about SELF-ADJUSTING electric brakes. Do they actually work, etc.? I'm sure you've seen some of these in your shop and would love your thoughts. Bob in Grand Rapids, MI
You're in luck! We recently just did a video on self-adjusting brakes. I'll leave a link to it. Thanks for watching!
ruclips.net/video/CUqvxovZ164/видео.html
@@TheTrailerSmith Yea !!! Thank you ! Bob
Thank you
Thank you for watching!
Wasn't that worn out brake assembly example at the 7:26 time mark an automatic brake adjuster? It has the spring around the adjuster and has a cable well.
Yes it was an automatic brake adjusting assembly. Unfortunately, most of the time the adjusters will get contaminated with brake dust & other road grime and the auto adjuster will not work.
Thanks for watching!
Are both sides the same wind Up to Adjust out ?
Great question and thanks for watching! The action is going to be the same for both sides.
Great content. I appreciate you making the "training aid" to better describe the process.
Thanks for the feedback! We're glad to know the training aid was a help!
Thank you, good video .. where are located if you don’t mind me asking? ..
Thanks for watching! The feedback is much appreciated. We are in North Texas.
You mentioned the breaks being set properly. I have the dexter electric breaks / self adjusting and one break/hub is getting warm. I have driven about 500 miles on the this set up and now noticed this issue. Is there something I’m supposed to be doing with the trailer break to set the breaks (turning the gain all the up to find lock up point for example). The three other breaks and hubs were cool but not the front left break and rim. I can hear a faint squeal noise now. So I will adjust that break to be looser. Any other tips I would appreciate. Thanks
You never want your electric trailer brakes to lock up. That would be too tight. If you have one getting hot and the others seem to be cool, the trailer needs to be jacked up and the cool brakes need to be checked to be sure they are working and you need to make sure that the hot one isn't doing all the work. Once you confirm that all 4 brakes are working, you may need to do a manual adjustment to make sure they are all adjusted equally. Great question! Sorry you're having this issue. Hopefully this helps!
Excellent video, thanks very much for sharing, definitely 5 stars :)
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!
thankyou
FYI, I suggest you always remove the drum and dump the old ‘brake dust’ out of the drum first! The worn brake shoe material doesn’t just disappear…
It lays in the bottom and is still friction material, just no longer on the shoe itself. It needs to be removed to not effect the adjustment! And repack the and adjust the wheel bearing preload.
(Plus visually seeing how much the brake shoes are worn, and that the hardware, magnet, and springs, etc are all good and in place nicely will give you peace of mind. 👍🏼)
Recently worked on a trailer with Dexter 12K Axles and Disk Breaks. The Hubs came off with not much problem but fought all the way going back on. Do you have Tip and Tricks for this scenario? Never had this problem with Drums.
Hey no LOOKING at the star wheel. Model T technology in the 21st century. I jacked up my trailer and put jack stands on four corners,lioke you suggested, but did not expect that the shakles would twist down and the axles would drop, so I jacked the unloaded axles up and blocked to finish the adjustment. Could you please advise others of this hazard. Scared the $%#@ out of me. The manual states, "Do not jack under the axles". I appreciate and have learned a valuable lesson about how to get a trailer lifted, Thanks.
Great tutorial, thanks! Can this also be done with the wheel and tyre still on and jacked up?
The brake adjustment can & should be done with wheel & tire in while jacked up & stabilized. Thanks for watching!!
@@TheTrailerSmith Thanks so much. Can I please also ask what's the name of the adjustment tool?
@@72superlead You're welcome! Yeah, it's just a brake adjusting tool. You can find them on Amazon. Lisle is a good brand.
I cut and bent a piece of flatbar for an adjusting tool in a vice with a ball peen
Best brake adjust video I've seen. The cut away drum really helps understanding what's going on in there interactively. One thing that I wonder about.... How much braking action should I expect with properly adjusted brakes? Is there a way to quantify this from a driver's standpoint sitting in the truck? I just installed all brand new (Southwest) running gear and adjusted the brakes but I feel like it's still not giving me enough stopping power even with the controller set to maximum. Another issue I'm having it seems like the wheels on the right side are adjusted out the maximum that the adjuster will turn and I'm still not feeling as much spinning resistance on the tires as I did on the left side. Left side adjusts just like you have shown, no problem.... right side, not so much. Cant get right side to engage the brakes enough- barely touching for part of the revolution.
Ps. The is on a 3500 lb lippert 3 inch drop axle with self-adjusting brakes.
the initial adjustment was made with the wheels off, the double check was made with the wheels on, would this make a difference with drum alignment?
Thank you for the outstanding video. Your explanations as well as descriptions of what to look/hear for were very helpful. Excellent job!
Thank you for watching! Glad to hear this video was a help! Be sure to check out other videos on the channel for any other issues that may arise with your trailer.
So with self adjusting brakes do you need two screwdrivers to keep the star-wheel "stop" out of the way? Great info about the magnets/drum wear. Thank you.
So first time adjusting my brakes 2015 big tex 10k Dexter oil bath axles I over tightened one an can't seem to get it to back off it wolnt move am I doing something wrong ? Is there something stopping it ? Any advise
Yeah. Those brakes have self-adjusters. In order to back it off you will need to use a small screw driver or a small rod (welding rod) to insert through the adjuster hole to push the self adjuster away from the adjuster wheel. While holding the adjuster away from the wheel, use your adjusting tool to back the brakes off.
Question, how about the never adjust self-adjusting electric brakes? How often should I double check?
What would happen if the brakes were adjusted to tight?
They would overheat, potentially causing lock up or fire.
great video very helpful and love the cut out. you have to watch his other videos
It looked like the "bad" example at the end was a self adjusting Dexter?
Sorry probably a simple question but I am new to this. So, you should hear the slight resistance even though there is NO braking force or power being applied to the brakes correct?
Great question! Yes, you should hear just a slight resistance, even without the brakes being applied.
Adjusting the brakes is not a big deal. Crawling around on the ground under the axle trying to see what you are doing is the problem. Great if you have some way of lifting the trailer up high to get access 😂
Good advice. Simple and complete with understandable points.
Do RV trailers typically have automatic or manual brakes? I’m looking at buying a 10 year old Rockwood Minilite trailer and have no clue what kind of brakes it has. And I don’t get the impression (as of yet) that the owner (for last three years has) done much in the way of maintenance on them.
Hi! Thanks for watching!
RV trailers can have either type of brakes. One way to tell is by looking on the back side of the brake backing plate-look through the adjuster hole. Once you see the adjuster wheel, look to see if it has a lever contacting the wheel. If there's no lever present, they are manual adjust. Due to the age of the trailer, I would recommend doing a tear-down for brake and bearing inspection. This will also allow you to see if they are self-adjusting or not. You can check out the videos we have on our channel on brake and bearing inspection. If the brakes are self-adjusting, due to the age, it is likely the adjuster will be stuck and a manual adjustment will still be needed and the adjuster will need to be disassembled and cleaned.
I hope this helps!
@@TheTrailerSmith thank you.
Since day one of purchasing my new TT from dealer, I have been running my gain on the truck at 10 in order to have some kind of action on the trailer brakes. Other trailers I have towed, they lock up at 6…what the heck
Hi! Just in case you haven’t already watched it, I’ve included a link to our video on burnishing brakes.
If you are having to run it on 10 to get any braking, the shoes are likely not burnished in properly or they’re out of adjustment or both. If both of those have been done properly and it’s still an issue, then you may have a wiring issue or an internal issue with the brakes.
Hope this helps! Thanks for watching!
How To Burnish Your Trailer Brakes
ruclips.net/video/mLp_5ApVjFc/видео.html
I did all new brakes, all dexter electric, with new drums, backing plates, magnets, wasn’t too bad, but expensive. Adjusted just like you did. Plus new bearings. 6x12, dual axle, 4 sets of brakes. Each axle 3500 lbs gvw. 7k gvw total. You asked for ideas, I keep having trouble with my shackles. One will flip over causing springs to ride in awkward position. No matter how many times I reset, the shackles keep flipping again. I would like to talk about this but don’t want this post to be too long. I have an idea what may be happening.
Thanks for your feedback and for the video idea! I am actually going to be doing a video about this very issue as I have a repair to do on a trailer that is experiencing the same thing. You can look for that to be out in the next couple of weeks.
I had a situation like that back in the day with a couple long ass heavy trailers. I replaced the worn out stock leaf bushings probably made in Slanty Land. I punched out that garbage and press clamped in some super snug nylon bushings, and before setting down off jack stands I used a crowbar at the linkage prior to pressing in new bushings to make it proper. Also I changed the bolts. Road bumps and all no problems after that.
Excellent video. I have a question, I installed a new #10 Dexter torsion axle on a clients trailer, he picked the trailer up and drove it a little more than 100 miles, he said he thought that something was wrong with the road side drum. He brought the trailer back and I took a look at it, first off the brakes seamed to be engaged, so I backed off the adjuster and pulled the hub, everything looked ok at first but I noticed the forward drum brake pad jumped the upper pivot pin just a bit engaging the brakes. Now my question, what would make that happen? was the factory adjustment to far out? It seamed ok when I installed the axle. I hope you can shed some light on this, thanks. I taped the shoe back into place, reinstalled the hub and adjusted the brakes as you suggested, I'm hoping that it won't happen again.
I’ve never seen that exact issue on a new axle. Just keep in mind that they are mass produced. We do have issues from time to time with adjusters missing, nut retainers missing, drums rusted to the shoe & contaminants in the drum like dirt & gravel from sitting on the yard. It would be my guess that the shoe assembly was not installed correctly during the production which led to the issue you’ve witnessed. It sounds like the repair you made was the right move & I think it should solve the problem. Great work! Thanks for watching!
@@TheTrailerSmith Thanks for the reply, your top notch.
Thank you. How different are Nev-R-Adjust brakes?
Great job with the video and I'm impressed how responded to everyone's questions. I'll be viewing more of your videos
Thank you for watching! I look forward to having you as a viewer! Having a full-time day job and doing RUclips keeps me plenty busy so there have been some comments that have slipped through the cracks. We try to keep up with them as best as we can, while also putting out helpful videos.
I read you said you should never adj you electric brake controller to the point the brakes lock up. Yet the instructions on my controller said go 25 mph and adj till you see them lock up. I did that and have been using them that way for some time. Have I damaged the system. When I checked them a while ago everything looked good. Just need to know what is best. Thanks great video by the way.
I’ve never seen a controller manufacturer recommend that you adjust until they lock up. I certainly would never recommend that b/c there are so many issues that can come from locking up your brakes.
I would love to know which brand & model controller that is so I could dig into that a little more.
Thanks for watching!
Not sure why but once the intro passed there was no audio.
I’ll try from a desktop tomorrow.
Thanks buddy, headed out to have a look at it today :) just bought a small dump trailer and am having this exact issue with it
Thanks for watching & good luck!
not so easy for me there is a bar blocking my adjustment knob. can you explain how to do it?
Is the bar inside the brake assembly or outside the brake assembly? And what size/type axles do you have?
My brake controller read 4.0 felt a little less break resistance adjusted to 4.5 works fine is there a number on your brake controller for example 7.5 would let you know you need to adjust your brakes
No, there’s no number on your brake controller that would let you know that information. If you’re having to continually increase your brake controller to get the same amount of brake resistance, that is your signal that your brakes are in need of adjusting. Great question! Thanks for watching!
Holy crap!!! I had no idea how important this is and how it can lead to magnet failure and premature drum wear.
@machine7767 unfortunately, many people don't realize the importance of the brake adjustment for their trailers. Regular maintenance on a trailer can literally save it's owner thousands of dollars in repair costs later down the road. That's the reason we started this channel. To share knowledge and to hopefully show how to save time, trouble, and money just by doing preventative maintenance. And to also show why it might cost so much or take a while at the mechanic shop. Thanks for watching!
THANK YOU!! I'm a noob and it seemed scary to be messing with my teardrop electric brakes. You have changed that.
So happy to hear I could help! That’s our goal with this channel-to empower others with the knowledge they need to either do their own work or to understand the value of what they are paying for if they have to take it to a shop. Thanks for watching and for letting us know how we have helped!
When you put new brakes on do you need to pull the trailer around and use the brakes before adjusting them? Mine have a drag out of the box. Should I adjust them, road test them and then readjust them? Thanks
Hi! The brakes need to have an initial adjustment after installation. Then they need to be burnished in and after a couple hundred miles, they need to be readjusted. Then readjusted every 3000 miles after that. I’ve included the link to our video about burnishing brakes in case you want to check that out. Hope this helps! Thanks for watching!!
ruclips.net/video/mLp_5ApVjFc/видео.html
So they don't have the automatic adjustment finger like car and truck drum brakes?
Some do have them, but some don't. The brake assembly shown in this video is a manual adjust brake.
What is the name of the tool to adjust brakes? Can it be found on Amazon or harbor freight??? Thanks
Hi! It's called a brake adjusting tool or a brake adjusting spoon. I've included a link to one on Amazon in case you want to check it out. I hope this is helpful and thanks for watching!
amzn.to/45Z5L78
My tensioner seems to be the opposite? Down make it so the wheel won't turn at all up is looser but still can't get the wheel to spin freely
If you have self adjusting brakes do you still recommend doing an initial setup manually to make sure they are matched?
Yes. I would make sure they are all equally adjusted. Good question! Thanks for watching!
Very good. I just went through the brakes on a travel trailer on my channel. I'll be getting in there to do a fine tune adjustment from the back. I've Subscribed. I'm a RUclips creator located in British Columbia, Canada. I fix my own cars and do a whole bunch of other stuff. Take care and I'll be keeping any eye out for your videos.
Hello, fellow RUclipsr! Thanks for watching and subscribing!
@@TheTrailerSmith yOU'LL FIND i AM A WISE GUY THAT IS ALWAYS CRACKING JOKES-yOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!Hahahaha
Great explanation on adjusting brakes. What do they say? A picture is worth a thousand words. Nice shop by the way. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the video! Happy Holidays to you and yours!
SAVED our vacation! The ebrake controller would error because brakes were not making contact! Couldn't leave driveway!
Wow! Glad to hear this video helped you out. Happy vacation & safe travels to you & yours!
THANKS! This video SOLVED my trailer brake problem. SCORE!
Awesome! Glad to hear it!
Thanks for this video! It was very informative, I will be adjusting my 5th wheel brakes today for sure. I have had my brake controller turned up more than normal and just put front brakes on the tow vehicle! (Pricey)
Thanks for watching! I’m glad it helped you out.
I wish the dealership where you buy the trailers would tell you things like this