Electric brakes self adjusting?

time2roll wrote:

Rwake901 wrote:
Looked at a different wheel tonight and found the adjusting wheel. It’s mostly hidden behind a piece of metal that I’m assuming is the self adjuster. Which means that I shouldn’t have to adjust them because they will eventually adjust themselves. Right?

Not if the braking performance is poor. Hence the need for initial adjustment. Have you manually applied the trailer brakes at full power? Maybe the controller needs adjustment. Virtually new should be working but no guaranty.

I will adjust them this weekend. I have the brake controller turned up as high as it will go.

Rwake901 wrote:
Looked at a different wheel tonight and found the adjusting wheel. It’s mostly hidden behind a piece of metal that I’m assuming is the self adjuster. Which means that I shouldn’t have to adjust them because they will eventually adjust themselves. Right?

Not if the braking performance is poor. Hence the need for initial adjustment. Have you manually applied the trailer brakes at full power? Maybe the controller needs adjustment. Virtually new should be working but no guaranty.

fj12ryder wrote:

You can get the axles specs off the tag on the axle, submit that info to Dexter, and they will tell you the specifics of your axle, which may include references to self-adjusting brakes.

I did just that, and Dexter was very good about returning my emails with very good info.

I just sent them the number from the sticker on the axle shaft.

Mark

Rwake901 wrote:
Looked at a different wheel tonight and found the adjusting wheel. It’s mostly hidden behind a piece of metal that I’m assuming is the self adjuster. Which means that I shouldn’t have to adjust them because they will eventually adjust themselves. Right?

You do understand that self adjusters can only work when the trailer moves and stops? And you consider using it for some unknown time with brakes out of adjustment?

Rwake901 wrote:
Looked at a different wheel tonight and found the adjusting wheel. It’s mostly hidden behind a piece of metal that I’m assuming is the self adjuster. Which means that I shouldn’t have to adjust them because they will eventually adjust themselves. Right?

You should still adjust them at your annual brake inspection and repacking of bearings. Of course a good time to do that is the day you bring a trailer home so you know the condition and what you have.

Looked at a different wheel tonight and found the adjusting wheel. It’s mostly hidden behind a piece of metal that I’m assuming is the self adjuster. Which means that I shouldn’t have to adjust them because they will eventually adjust themselves. Right?

2019...what does the documents show for your trailer? usually it's an option or listed as a standard feature.

I think you will be interested in the following two threads, both by our resident mechanical expert John Barca, and full of good close-up pictures to help with understanding.

The first one is all about maintaining your standard electric brakes and wheel bearings and is a sticky at the top of the Towing forum.
Annual brake inspection and Axle Re-Lube..

This one is all about Dexter Self Adjusting brakes and is similar to the 1st one but with different pictures and explanations of how the self adjusting brakes work. The adjusting wheel is under the magnet and behind the yellow spring at the bottom of the first picture.
Dexter Self Adjusting brakes.

Both threads have good pictures of the adjusting star wheels down near the end of the opening post.
Hope this help you out! :)
Barney

Agreed, there is a star wheel whether they are self adjusting or manual adjusting. The star wheel is how the adjustment is made.

Rwake901 wrote:
Took a good look with a flashlight in the two slots in backing plate. There is no adjusting wheel so I assume this means they are self adjusting?

No! It means you need to take it to somebody to take things apart. Something has come apart. Self adjusting use a star wheel, normally finer teeth than manual adjusting.