3
Score
Greg R
271
Asked
SOLVED: Brakes actuate by controller, but are weak?
Taking a shot in the dark to see if anyone can help with a problem I'm having with the electric brakes on a horse trailer.
The trailer is a 1990 Trail-et two horse straight-load trailer, with dual torsion axles and electric drum brakes on all four wheels. I did my annual spring maintenance, which includes repacking all the wheel bearings and cleaning the rust off the brake components and readjusting so they operate smoothly. The brake shoes have plenty of pad remaining.
When the brake controller is actuated in the truck, I can hear the magnets entergizing/hum
I clearly am getting electricity to all four wheels, but am not well versed enough to figure out why the brake action is so weak. Do the magnets wear out over time? Any advice is welcome.
3
Score
Greg R
271
Answered
Accepted Answer
Yesterday I received and installed the new 7-conductor wiring harness. This is the part that physically plugs into the tow vehicle and runs into the fuse block/power distribution in the trailer. Installation involved pulling the line inside the frame and crimping new connectors on each conductor at the fuse block.
A quick test by plugging into the truck and the brakes worked as I hoped! So I'm guessing my theory was correct: the old, mostly broken ground wire was a good enough ground to operate all the trailer lights. But it wasn't enough to support the significantly heavier electical load required by the brakes.
For anyone interested, I've made a little progress. I've concluded that since all four wheels became dodgy at the same time, the problem must be electriclal. I spent some time tracing wires and discovered a point in the main wiring harness where the ground wire was about 50% broken from repeated flexing at the same point. Since the brakes are a significant electical load, I think the faulty ground is limiting the amperage the system is able to deliver. I've orderded a new harness, and will post my results back when it's installed.
Greg R,
Good work. Now if you would please make the last paragraph an answer and accept it so the solution can be archived and available to others. Thanks.
rj713,
Greg R, great job fixing it. Now, all you have to do, take part of your comment and cut and paste it as an answer That way we can all learn from you and know better next time. :-)
oldturkey03,