I recently bought a used tt with tandem axles and noticed that the brakes didn't seem to be working as well as they should. I checked the voltage (12vdc), and current at 100% output(about2.8amps) at each wheel. All that appeared normal but braking still seemed lacking quite a bit . It won't even come close to locking the wheels at 20mph test. My question is do the brake magnets(coils) actually drag on the brake drums to move the brake lever that in turn spreads the brake shoes? The reason for asking is I'm wondering if the levers are actually moving correctly if the magnet levers have been bent somehow and they are keeping the magnets from actually contacting the brake hub . Plus I would like to know more about how my brakes work for future reference. Thanks!

http://www.hitchweb.com/blog/post/2013/01/07/how-electric-brakes-work Yes they do drag on the drum. There could be a few things. Everything is frozen, shoes out of adjustment, or bad magnets (although you seem to have tested that)

Yes the magnets contact the face of the drum (where the wheel is sitting). The magnets get dragged on the drum which forces the shoes out to contact the drums.You may not be able to get the wheels to lock up, as I believe even Dexter says they may not depending on load. But have you adjusted the brakes up to make sure there is not too much clearance?

You're correct in how the brakes work; the magnets engage the face of the drum and move a lever. You need to take it all apart to see what's going on. Could be worn magnets, shoes, shoes out of adjustment, etc. Good time to repack the bearings too.BTW, you probably will not be able to lock the brakes up at 20 mph so just make sure the brakes are providing good stopping power.

I don't think you want to be able to lock the wheels up on dry pavement. In a panic stop (tree jumps out in front of you, for example), you want the trailer to stay straight behind you, not slew around sideways because it is skidding. If you are gonna hit something, anything, you always want to hit it front first, never sideways. Injury protection from the side is poor compared to from the front.

I had a clicking sound in one of my brakes that I could hear when driving slow or parking. When I got home I put a hydraulic jack under the frame and lifted each wheel off the ground. I spun the wheel and had my wife squeeze the brake actuator; sure enough one of them made a clunking noise compared to the others. They all stopped the spinning tire. My next move is to pull the hub and find out why the noise.

electric brakes | Good Sam Community

naturist
Nomad
Jun 10, 2014
I don't think you want to be able to lock the wheels up on dry pavement. In a panic stop (tree jumps out in front of you, for example), you want the trailer to stay straight behind you, not slew around sideways because it is skidding. If you are gonna hit something, anything, you always want to hit it front first, never sideways. Injury protection from the side is poor compared to from the front.
Ron3rd
Explorer III
Jun 10, 2014
You're correct in how the brakes work; the magnets engage the face of the drum and move a lever. You need to take it all apart to see what's going on. Could be worn magnets, shoes, shoes out of adjustment, etc. Good time to repack the bearings too.

BTW, you probably will not be able to lock the brakes up at 20 mph so just make sure the brakes are providing good stopping power.
opnspaces
Navigator II
Jun 10, 2014
Yes the magnets contact the face of the drum (where the wheel is sitting). The magnets get dragged on the drum which forces the shoes out to contact the drums.

You may not be able to get the wheels to lock up, as I believe even Dexter says they may not depending on load. But have you adjusted the brakes up to make sure there is not too much clearance?
ChooChooMan74
Explorer
Jun 10, 2014
http://www.hitchweb.com/blog/post/2013/01/07/how-electric-brakes-work

Yes they do drag on the drum. There could be a few things. Everything is frozen, shoes out of adjustment, or bad magnets (although you seem to have tested that)

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