Brake Adjustment

Question

Just sold my old TT and now have a newer/bigger one. Seems that I am not getting as much help from the TT with stopping as I did before with the old one. Obviously more weight would effect this, but I have increased the output to my Prodigy controller and I still just don't feel like the TT brakes are really giving as much help as they should. This is a 2013 Salem Hemisphere, which I assume probably has self adjusting brakes. However;I am considering turning the adjustment wheels inside the drums a little to get them to tighten up, like I did before on the old one. When I look at the back of the drums, I see two dust/access ports which is different than trailers I have had before that only had one.
Can anyone shed any light on this, as to whether I need to go in and adjust the brakes, and if so do those two (instead of one) access ports play a role of any kind.
thanks

morphrider · Answer

You can open either port but only one will have access to the adjuster. Wouldn't hurt to adjust them since it is a new to you trailer.

mbopp · Answer

The only reason I can think of is that there are two holes for right &amp; left side.Have you pulled a wheel to check? Do the brakes work when you pull the break-away pin?

garyemunson · Answer

The reason there are two holes is that the backing plates are interchangeable. When sides are swapped, the other hole is needed for adjusting.

tucsonjim · Answer

Do not assume that they are "self adjusting" brakes. Most travel trailers do NOT have self adjusting brakes. The brakes need to be adjusted upon delivery (hopefully, your dealer did this), and then every 3,000 miles or anytime you detect decreased braking activity.

There are other possible problems that can cause poor braking performance on a new trailer.

There could be an electrical problem which is causing one or more magnets to not activate. Like mbopp recommends, check the brakes to make sure they activate. You can jack up each tire, and then apply the brakes through your tow vehicle controller or by pulling the break away pin. If the brake(s) don't activate, you'll need to find out why.

Another issue some folks encounter is grease leaking past the grease seal and contaminating the brakes. For what ever reason, this seems to occur mostly on newer units. The only way to positively tell if this is happening is to pull the brake drums and visually inspect the brakes.

Jim

brockc · Answer

Thanks for the replies. I plan to jack the wheels up and check resistance of free wheel spin. Will adjust accordingly. Have not pulled the breakaway. I do hear the low "beep" of the brakes kicking in at the hubs when the pedal is pressed.
Question...if pulling the breakaway and the breaks kick in, do they reset once power is disconnected? Fortunately have never had an emergency or need for the breakaway emergency brakes.
thanks

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Brake Adjustment

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