intermittent brakes

[azbohunter]

I am having the intermittent brake problem. I have done some diagnostics as recommended in other posts. I pulled the emergency connection and all four wheel rolled, I checked for power at wires coming out of that connector and had power, crawled under trailer on drivers side and checked for power at front axle, good. Checked rear axle and it was no go, wiggled some wires, pulled on wire going through axle etc, checked power and at rear axle drivers side again and it was there. Went back to truck, plugged emergency connector back in, checked dash brake with manual slide controller and it went up to 10, pulled the emergencey plug and all four wheel slide? So I have determined that the problem is wiring and not magnets or in the hub..but don't know where to go from here?

[azbohunter]

Yes and ad it's resolved and behind me.

[Sjm9911]

Congratulations! Lol. Always in the last spot , right? Good news is everything is new now, so no more problems. Happy breaking!

[azbohunter]

Sjm9911 wrote:
That might be it, a wire making intermittent contact in the drum itself.

photo

Finally, but if I would have started here I would still have the three bare wires in the frame and the bad breakaway. Now I have all new wiring and breakaway and brakes are strong.
Thanks to all who responded and offered help. This remains my go to forum for RV problems and questions.

[Sjm9911]

That might be it, a wire making intermittent contact in the drum itself.

[azbohunter]

Two years ago I had a magnet brake lose and I had identical symptoms. It was the passenger side rear wheel which is last in line on the power wire yet I lost all brakes when I would get a brake fault warning. I replaced the backer plate and fixed issue. I will pull wheels off Friday and see what I find.

[Sjm9911]

The problem with that, is if it was just a loose conection or broken wire the rest of the breaks should have activated? Unless you ran the wires in a series , then it would be at the first break hub. Or it could be in the 7 pin conection.

[azbohunter]

I'm not being clear maybe. I replaced all trailer wiring including the breakaway. And when I had the brake fault message, I pulled breakaway and had no brakes. So I'm sure it has to be inside a wheel.

[Sjm9911]

Of you did both it has to be in between the break away and the harness, or where you hooked into the harness. Then check the harness itself. Look at the conections. If you have a multi meter, you can maybe get a reading, that dosent help much when it comes and goes. I would spray the conections with contact cleaner and coat with dielectric grease and see if that helps.

[Sjm9911]

Did you replace both wires or just one?

[Sjm9911]

Then you should look at the wire from the breakaway to the conection for the harness. Your almost there.

[azbohunter]

When breakaway was pulled I had no brakes at trailer.

[Sjm9911]

Pull the breakaway and check to see if the magnet has power. Use something metal. You did check and clean the grounds I belive. Did you ever check the tv wiring? Just to rule it out? I know the whole thing is a pita.

[azbohunter]

So it has been several days and I need to update this. I replaced my breakaway, ran new wire from breakaway thru bottom trailer, through each axle, and to each wheel. Soldered joints and tested in driveway. Pulled breakaway all 4 wheels slid.
Hooked up next morning for a 1200 mile trip and first bump got the "check trailer brakes" warning. I continued on and next bump I had brakes again. I drove the 1200 miles w/brakes 99% of time, sometimes for several hours. Only thing left is pull the wheels off, what besides the obvious like bare or broken wire should I look for?

[azbohunter]

Sjm9911 wrote:
Might as well replace the old breakaway switch while you at it. In for a penny in for a pound.

FOR SURE