Weak trailer brakes

[mavman14]

I recently installed new 10" electric self-adjusting trailer brakes on a utility trailer that I tow with my EB 4k with integrated trailer brake controller. The brakes were adjusted manually at first and are good there. The trailer brakes are functioning and engaging the brakes normally. However, even with the gain set on 10.0 they don't provide what I would consider to be a lot of stopping force. They never lock up or even come close to it. Every tutorial I've watched on how to set trailer brakes everyone is showing how they'll lock up when properly adjusted at like a 7-8 on the controller, and then you back it off to around a 4, and usually settle somewhere around a 5. If I roll at 10mph and engage just the trailer brakes with the controller knobs, it takes foreeeevvverrr to come to a stop with the gain on 10.

Can anyone else towing with the integrated brake controller give any feedback on what they're seeing? Any ideas on what I can do to up the juice to the brakes?

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[GPSMan]

I don't have the integrated controller.
But your impressions on how it should work sound correct.

And sounds like it is not working correctly, but could equally be the truck, or trailer, or the wires. You're just going to have to troubleshoot.

 

[Johnkn]

I recently installed new 10" electric self-adjusting trailer brakes on a utility trailer that I tow with my EB 4k with integrated trailer brake controller. The brakes were adjusted manually at first and are good there. The trailer brakes are functioning and engaging the brakes normally. However, even with the gain set on 10.0 they don't provide what I would consider to be a lot of stopping force. They never lock up or even come close to it. Every tutorial I've watched on how to set trailer brakes everyone is showing how they'll lock up when properly adjusted at like a 7-8 on the controller, and then you back it off to around a 4, and usually settle somewhere around a 5. If I roll at 10mph and engage just the trailer brakes with the controller knobs, it takes foreeeevvverrr to come to a stop with the gain on 10.

Can anyone else towing with the integrated brake controller give any feedback on what they're seeing? Any ideas on what I can do to up the juice to the brakes?

Cut the problem in half.

Find a friend with another truck with a factory TBC and see how the trailer stops.

If the stopping improves then there's an issue with your TBC setup. If there's no improvement, there's an issue with the brakes you installed.

Good reference: https://www.etrailer.com/faq-Adding-Electric-Drum-Brakes.aspx#:~:text=If your trailer axle has,hub-and-drum assemblies.

good luck...

 

[GPSMan]

Wasn't there a recall on some early brake controllers? Wrong software or something? Did not affect me because I didn't have one so I'm not sure of all the details.

 

[mavman14]

Wasn't there a recall on some early brake controllers? Wrong software or something? Did not affect me because I didn't have one so I'm not sure of all the details.

There was but mine is a 2023...shouldn't be that issue but mine is behaving exactly like people described at the time.

 

[fossil]

just what do your new brakes "self adjust"?

 

[mavman14]

just what do your new brakes "self adjust"?

You can get manual or self-adjusting electric brakes. Basically they have a cable setup that connects the shoes to a little clicker that turns the adjustment gear as you apply the brakes. It's supposed to keep you from having to go back under and manually adjust the brakes after the first setup.

 

[fossil]

You can get manual or self-adjusting electric brakes. Basically they have a cable setup that connects the shoes to a little clicker that turns the adjustment gear as you apply the brakes. It's supposed to keep you from having to go back under and manually adjust the brakes after the first setup.

assuming the adjustment gear is like the star wheel on convential drum brakes. just wondered if the "auto" was fighting you

 

[mavman14]

assuming the adjustment gear is like the star wheel on convential drum brakes. just wondered if the "auto" was fighting you

I don't think it has anything to do with this issue right now as I know they're properly adjusted at the moment. They're just not getting enough grip to stop properly. I'm going to hook it up to another truck today and see for sure.

 

[campjake]

I don't think it has anything to do with this issue right now as I know they're properly adjusted at the moment. They're just not getting enough grip to stop properly. I'm going to hook it up to another truck today and see for sure.

And what happened with this? My trailer break system is the same. Gain setting of 10 and doesn't have that much stopping power. Normal or?

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