Electric brakes??

Brake adjustments on drum brakes is pretty easy. First, go to any auto parts store and buy a brake spoon.
Next, jack the wheel your going to adjust off the ground. Pup the rubber gromet at the bottom of the backing plate off. Using the spoon stsrt turning the star wheel until the brakes lock the wheel tight. Back off 3 to four clicks. Replace the plug and move to the next wheel.

This job is not hard, but nice to have an experienced helper the first time, or online sources like E-trailer have videos you can watch. It works best to have a brake adjusting tool, that has the right width and bend, even though some just use a flat screw driver.

Jerry

Take a look at this thread stuck at the top of the page. It will give adjustment procedure complete with pictures. (about 2/3 of the way down the page)

If you are talking about adjusting your electric brake controller in the truck then this is the generally accepted procedure.

1. Drive and apply the brakes several times to get them warmed up.

2. Drive at 25mph and apply the hand controller as hard as it will go.

3. If the brakes lock up, reduce the gain a bit and try again until you get just to the point before lockup.

4. If the brakes will not lock up at maximum gain, do not despair. It is not unusual for electric brake to be unable to lock the wheels on pavement but should do it on sand or gravel. If you get a good strong tug then you should be good to go

5. Keep trying to lock up the brakes with gain adjustments until you get the strongest pull back possible without the wheels locking up. Leave the controller at that point until braking performance diminishes then adjust the brakes and the controller again.
Barney

Thanks folks,, yes the electric controller was what I meant. Sorry for not being clear. Thanks Barney!

I'll bet there are internet videos for the Prodigy controller.

Click the following link to download a copy of the Tekonsha Prodigy owners manual. It will give you about all the information you need. The information on adjusting is pretty generic so it doesn't matter if your controller is not a Prodigy.
Barney
Tekonsha Prodigy owners manual

IMHO... :B


There is no one best one size fits all, but found & continue to find that
most who have helped are not adjusted well...and sometimes not correct

First, the trailer brakes are normally not adjusted tight enough and
suggest carrying an adjustment spoon no matter which brake controller.
From OEM on board, highly integrated to after market.

Check them at each stop and re-adjust them as needed.

Wiring, first thing is to note that most trailer OEMs only provide a
'just good enough' harness (wire gauge sizing), connectors and run them
in series. Parallel (think spider) is best/better. Second, the harness(s)
all the way back to the TV's controller needs to be in good order.

The TV plug at the receiver some times has an El Cheapo that does NOT
home in well and sometimes too much play to cause intermittent connections

If after market, the TV brake pedal light switch must be adjusted so
that just a tiny amount of foot pressure will turn on that switch.
Plunger types (think door bell button) are tough and becomes intermittent
if too close

My GM OEM brake pedal switch is not adjustable and has one of the smallest
switch points have found to date. Takes about 1/64" movement to turn
on that switch and way before the MC piston even moves

That has the trailer brakes turn on before the TV's turn on (leads the
TV). This is has the whole setup act as one while braking


The controller has two main adjustments and will only comment on them.
The OEM IBC (integrated brake controller) sometimes has several more.

Boost and gain.

One is the min level pre-set and has to do with how the trailer brakes
are sized, setup, work, etc. Think of it as if too low, there is no
braking of significance by the trailer

Other is the ramp the brake controller will follow once it is turned on


Finally, all the above is factored by the sensor that the controller
employs

Some use the TV MC fluid PSI sensor. Some (most after market) uses
an accelerometer to sense the rate of deceleration and will provide
more power to the trailer brakes accordingly...ditto MC fluid PSI
senses...the more PSI...the more power is sent to the trailer brakes
This is why the trailer wiring MUST be top notch, as with poor wiring,
all the power in the world sent back there will be lost to high resistance

These are the basics, IMHO, and key to setting up the TV/Trailer to
brake as 'one'...

Oh...suspect all advice on these freebie forums...it is worth the price paid... :B


Meaning...so many insist that XYZ fixed their problem and is the end all
for EVERYONE else...but...that depends on so much...like is their setup
EXACTLY like others, etc

Why the long thread...covers most areas and note that many of them
over lap to mask the true root cause of whatever problem(s) trying to solve.
Or use them as the end goal for the setup

Suspect my comments too...just learn the general areas of this control
system. Know their dials/knobs looking for the root cause of any issues

Thanks folks!!!