Brake Controller Adjustments
I have just installed a new Prodigy 2 controller on pre-wired 2011 Sierra. Installation was simple as per wiring harness labeling and instruction videos. However when going thru the adjustment process...
Forum Discussion
Not using a Prodigy, but similar problem.
New trailer, couldn't get brakes to lock up when adjusting.
Six months later I adjusted them and they were way loose.
Afterwards they locked up at 8/10 (before I had it at 10/10 and no lockup), so I set the controller at 7.5/10.
This is a heavy 7500# trailer with two 5200# axles and 12" drum brakes.
One more thing: brake temperature changes everything. You're supposed to warm the brakes up a bit before adjusting the controller but not let them get too hot. I think the idea is that under normal operation, the brakes will be cold/warm. And when you make an emergency stop under those conditions, you will then get maximum trailer braking, not lockup.
But as I recently discovered, that may not be the best controller setting when going down a long grade and when the trailer brakes get hot. In my case, with hot trailer brakes, I could increase the setting pretty much to the max without lockup. And it was useful to do so on a long grade. I also manually applied the trailer brakes separately to give the truck brakes a cool-down.
New trailer, couldn't get brakes to lock up when adjusting.
Six months later I adjusted them and they were way loose.
Afterwards they locked up at 8/10 (before I had it at 10/10 and no lockup), so I set the controller at 7.5/10.
This is a heavy 7500# trailer with two 5200# axles and 12" drum brakes.
One more thing: brake temperature changes everything. You're supposed to warm the brakes up a bit before adjusting the controller but not let them get too hot. I think the idea is that under normal operation, the brakes will be cold/warm. And when you make an emergency stop under those conditions, you will then get maximum trailer braking, not lockup.
But as I recently discovered, that may not be the best controller setting when going down a long grade and when the trailer brakes get hot. In my case, with hot trailer brakes, I could increase the setting pretty much to the max without lockup. And it was useful to do so on a long grade. I also manually applied the trailer brakes separately to give the truck brakes a cool-down.
