breaks

[jamiet]

i have never adjusted breaks on a tt how do i know they are tight enough and if i get them to tight how do i back them off

[Shadow_Catcher]

Check Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL-eLaB0opE

[Chuck_thehammer]

what ScottG said,,,

I am a mechanic from the days of 4 wheel Drum brake cars and trucks.

and have done thousands.

[ScottG]

Most non-pros adjust their brakes too loose. Don't be afraid to cinch them down to the point you can only spin the wheel about 1 revolution. The proof that they are adjust correctly will be that they work but dont get hot just running down the road.

[azdryheat]

Oh, this thread is about brakes not breaks. lol If your brakes are bad you might break your trailer. Sorry.

[wmoses]

Mine claims to be self adjusting. So far so good.

[thomasmnile]

canoe on top wrote:
My understanding has always been that you spin the wheel and tighten until the wheel won't turn. This centers the shoes. Then back off until there is a slight drag.

Pretty much how the Dexter manual explains it..............

[canoe_on_top]

My understanding has always been that you spin the wheel and tighten until the wheel won't turn. This centers the shoes. Then back off until there is a slight drag. You can test your brakes various ways. The simple way is to roll along about 25-30 mph in a safe place with no traffic and apply them with the manual override on the controller. You should feel significant stopping effect. I you're on gravel, the wheels should lock up and slide. On pavement,, ideally, they would be right on the threshold of lockup.

This won't give you information about each individual wheel but will give you a good idea if your brakes are working. While adjusting, since you have the wheel off the ground, you can have someone use the manual lever on the brake controller and see if the wheel locks up. If you don't have a helper or you aren't hooked to the TV you can pull the brake away plug long enough to check each wheel. If you're nervous about leaving the plug out put it back in after checking each wheel and pull it again after you go to the next one and are done adjusting it Just don't for get to plug it back in.

If you go to the Dexter axle website, they have a section in the manual on brakes on adjustment.

[352]

NanciL wrote:
The way I do mine:
Jack the wheel off the ground.
Pry the rubber plug off the adjusting hole
Spin the wheel
Use a screw driver and turn the star wheel a notch or two, (look in with a flash light before you do it, so you can see what you will be doing)
Spin the wheel again if the wheel still turns easily, try it the other way.
Once you find which way tightens them, turn the star wheel until there is a slight drag on them, and then back the star wheel off until there is none.
Replace the rubber plug

jack L

I could not have said it better.

[NanciL]

The way I do mine:
Jack the wheel off the ground.
Pry the rubber plug off the adjusting hole
Spin the wheel
Use a screw driver and turn the star wheel a notch or two, (look in with a flash light before you do it, so you can see what you will be doing)
Spin the wheel again if the wheel still turns easily, try it the other way.
Once you find which way tightens them, turn the star wheel until there is a slight drag on them, and then back the star wheel off until there is none.
Replace the rubber plug

jack L