In 2012 I replaced all components of the electric brakes on the 5th wheel, from backing plate out and all bearing components (not hub). Last year (2015) I started getting "trailer wiring fault" intermittently then constantly on the last long trip home with complete trailer brake failure during these outages.Prior to winter, I replaced the easy stuff like the break away switch and the 7-way harness and all of their associated connectors. No luck.A couple of things I considered over the winter:1) Was running the brakes at a gain of 10 (max)2) If the gain is making the magnet pull harder against the hub to provide more force to the brakes, then it is probably causing more wear on the magnets, hub and the pads.Spent 8 hours this last weekend replacing magnets, repacking bearings and putting in new seals on all 4 wheels. Brake shoes still have another season or 2 left but I will need to replace (or refinish) the side of the hubs when I replace the pads.After the magnet replacement, no "trailer wiring faults" yet and the magnets did look pretty bad.I have reduced the gain to 7.5 but am not very happy with the stopping power from the trailer. Anyone else have similar observations or thoughts on this subject (yes I know, get disc brakes).

How are you adjusting the brakes?Consider a disc brake conversion.

A couple of things I considered over the winter: 1) Was running the brakes at a gain of 10 (max) 2) If the gain is making the magnet pull harder against the hub to provide more force to the brakes, then it is probably causing more wear on the magnets, hub and the pads.Perfectly normal and to be expected. The higher the gain, the higher the wear.I find it much cheaper to replace the entire brake assemblies rather than individual components. I purchase everything through: etrailer

Curious, what kind of truck and brake controller did you have previously.I don't know you, so I certainly can't say this applies to you, but just food for thought. I have often seen people who get their first integrated brake controller on their new truck, regardless of truck brand, are not happy with the brake performance. And it is not because the controller is not working well. Just the opposite. The new integrated controllers work so smoothly that you never feel the trailer dragging you back like the old plug-in controllers. It is unnerving, because that drag from the trailer kept us informed that the trailer brakes were working. So the urge is there to crank up the gain, when in fact the truck and trailer are stopping in unison very well.Results in premature brake wear. Also results in lots of false complaints to the dealers that something is wrong with the IBC.Probably not the case with you, but I'll just throw it out there.

WOW!! Gain set at 10. My 2010 Ram 3500 4x4 megacab towing 39' Keystone Alpine and my gain was 5.5 until I put EBC green pads on the TV and reset gain to 6.5 cuz the truck was stopping more and 5ver was "pushing".

i don't know about that gain. 6.5 is the magic number for the 2012 Ford.

Electric Trailer Brakes and Gain Caused Wear | Good Sam Community

cmeade
Explorer
Apr 25, 2016
WOW!! Gain set at 10. My 2010 Ram 3500 4x4 megacab towing 39' Keystone Alpine and my gain was 5.5 until I put EBC green pads on the TV and reset gain to 6.5 cuz the truck was stopping more and 5ver was "pushing".
bpounds
Nomad
Apr 25, 2016
Curious, what kind of truck and brake controller did you have previously.

I don't know you, so I certainly can't say this applies to you, but just food for thought. I have often seen people who get their first integrated brake controller on their new truck, regardless of truck brand, are not happy with the brake performance. And it is not because the controller is not working well. Just the opposite. The new integrated controllers work so smoothly that you never feel the trailer dragging you back like the old plug-in controllers. It is unnerving, because that drag from the trailer kept us informed that the trailer brakes were working. So the urge is there to crank up the gain, when in fact the truck and trailer are stopping in unison very well.

Results in premature brake wear. Also results in lots of false complaints to the dealers that something is wrong with the IBC.

Probably not the case with you, but I'll just throw it out there.
3oaks
Explorer
Apr 25, 2016
A couple of things I considered over the winter:
1) Was running the brakes at a gain of 10 (max)
2) If the gain is making the magnet pull harder against the hub to provide more force to the brakes, then it is probably causing more wear on the magnets, hub and the pads.
Perfectly normal and to be expected. The higher the gain, the higher the wear.

I find it much cheaper to replace the entire brake assemblies rather than individual components.

I purchase everything through: etrailer
donn0128
Explorer II
Apr 25, 2016
How are you adjusting the brakes?
Consider a disc brake conversion.

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Electric Trailer Brakes and Gain Caused Wear

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