OK so am going thru the new to me 5ver since being used you don't really know,Its my 1st trailer of any size anyways and the first with brakes, My sprinter has two axles and while I was packing bearings and adjusting brakes I did notice that the rear axles brakes needed more adjustment then the front axles brakes. is this common, all the pads seemed to be in ok condition (enough pad left so I didn't replace) not really sure how the brakes work, does the magnet engage with the front face of the drum and pull on the lever which engages the pad ?? the magnet was spring loaded to stay in contact with the drum ??Thanks in advance yall always seem to be helpful to us newbeeeees maybe one day I can answer with authority!!

Here is some help, might not be what you have, but at least a start. http://www.dexteraxle.com/i/u/6149609/f/600-8K_Service_Manual/Electric_Brakes.pdf Being your packing the bearings, why not take a hub down somewhere and get what you might need in case of repair on road. You'll also find out exactly what axle you have so you can look up right manual.I carry a spare set of bearings, oil seal. Many with the "never lube" carry the whole hub.

Drum brakes are not self adjusting like on a car. You have to manually adjust them when needed.

Check the front brakes to make sure they are properly engaging. If not, this may be a reason for extra wear on rear brakes. You can check for loose wires going to front axle, check them with an electric meter to make sure they are getting juice, or just jack up one side, have someone apply the brakes and try to spin both front and rear wheels. If rear wheel locks and front doesn't, therein lies your issue.

I would set them up and pull onto a grave area, while moving forward step on the brakes or push the lever and see what the 4 corners are doing. If the prior owner had less weight on the front than the rear the front ties might have been sliding while the rears were providing the braking. Any difference in the wear on the front tires over the rear?

Bob/Olallawa wrote:I would set them up and pull onto a grave area, while moving forward step on the brakes or push the lever and see what the 4 corners are doing. Ah let the dead rest in peace :) Try a gravel area instead :)

brake maint ?? | Good Sam Community

Mile_High
Explorer
Dec 01, 2014
Another reason I never buy used trailers :R
Michelle_S
Explorer III
Dec 01, 2014
And just an FYI, there are Self Adjusting brakes for trailers. Many on another forum have switched out there old non-adjusting brakes for self adjusting. Dexter sells complete backing plate/self adjusting brake shoe assemblies.
robwhite61
Explorer
Dec 01, 2014
Michelle.S wrote:
And just an FYI, there are Self Adjusting brakes for trailers. Many on another forum have switched out there old non-adjusting brakes for self adjusting. Dexter sells complete backing plate/self adjusting brake shoe assemblies.

Mine has these.
g4sbrg
Explorer
Dec 02, 2014
didn't mean to start an argument over jacking, the instructions did say use frame (didn't say why) but all I had was a floor jack so I had to gently jack as close to the tire as possible on the axle, I am planning on getting a bottle jack, and a stack of good wood to reach the frame. ??? why is it not to jack on the axle, side load on the other side, possible bend of the axle ??? I camp on an extreme budget so ""I will be"" ""my self"" adjusting brakes for the foreseeable future !!

thanks again
Mile_High
Explorer
Dec 02, 2014
If you are under the spring at the axle you should be fine. The risk of jacking on the axle is bending the axle. The axle tube is not designed to carry the weight of the trailer - the springs are.
Michelle_S
Explorer III
Dec 02, 2014
If you place a jack under the spring pad when jacking, you'll put less pressure on the suspension than you do going over those Speed Bumps in the CG or that giant pot hole on the way to your site.
g4sbrg
Explorer
Dec 03, 2014
makes sense, thanks. hope not to have to jack it up much on a trip. I did figure out pretty quick (on my first trip) it was a lot easier to jack the back end of the truck to change a tire by putting the landing gear down and raise the 5ver up a take some weight off the truck. yall have safe travels

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