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sele's avatar
sele
Explorer
May 21, 2013

Pull Test ?

I have read in a couple of different posts about brakes not setting imediately when you use the manual slide, one person even said their brakes did not set until rolling about eight inches. I am curious about how you would do a pull test under these circumstances. When we do a pull test the fron legs are barely off the ground, slide the manual lever over and pull the f'ver stays connected to hitch if all is correct. WE have no forward movement when we do this. Yes I know about bed savers and all I am really curious about how other trailer brakes are working. Thanks all

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  • TomHaycraft's avatar
    TomHaycraft
    Explorer
    May 21, 2013
    For my pull test? I leave the chocks in place.

    As to the brakes, I'm sure others will chime in with better mechanical descriptions and terminology, but in short, most trailer brakes rely on an electromagnetic system with the magnet "sticking" to the drum, with forward motion, the magnet shifts and displaces the brake shoes. So yes, it takes some forward motion, the more poorly adjusted the brakes, the more motion necessary to engage the brake shoes against the drum.

    Electric over hydraulic on the other hand, use more immediate hydraulic pressure to engage the brakes.

    Hope it helps!

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