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Old 09-28-2020, 08:42 AM   #1
RubyCJ
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Poor Braking on an Older Wilderness TT

So my daughter is moving and I am taking her 26' Wilderness Travel Trailer (1991) to her new home 17 hours away. Good tires and the wheel bearings look good and freshened up the hand pack grease.
Tested lights and can hear all 4 brakes hum using the pedal and manual truck controller.
Took it to the scales as we did put about 300# of stuff in it for the move. Trailer total is 7140# (5940# on wheels and 1200# on ball). Axle tag stamped at 3500# each. Tires in dual are Cargomax 1 year old with 500 miles on them and are rated at 181870 each (4 x 1870 = 7480#).
So all seems okay. Tested the manual braking while at a slow coast in driveway and it will not stop. Hear the brakes coming on and releasing but not stopping.
I took off each wheel and cleaned, scuffed the shoe pads and adjusted the shoes out a little. Still no joy. Changed the brake power from 8 to 10 and same outcome.
Any ideas on what to look into next?
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Old 09-28-2020, 10:29 AM   #2
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Checked the break away switch and after 5 feet it slows down to a stop with truck in neutral.
Retested with manual controller and it also slows to a stop after 5 feet.
Checked voltage with break away (truck disconnected) and have 10.7 volts.
Truck controller set on 9.5 and have 11 volts and 10.8 amps.
All volt and amp readings taken from under the camper where the plug cord connects to the camper wiring.
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Old 09-28-2020, 10:35 AM   #3
chuckster57
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Did you adjust the brakes when you did the bearings? If not then I would adjust them and try again.
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Old 09-28-2020, 10:46 AM   #4
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Originally Posted by chuckster57 View Post
Did you adjust the brakes when you did the bearings? If not then I would adjust them and try again.
I 2nd this! I adjust mine with enough drag that they won't quite make a full revolution when spinning the wheel by hand, right or wrong, but has always worked for me.
Also pulling the breakaway should lock up all 4 wheels immediately, not 5' further.
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Old 09-28-2020, 10:47 AM   #5
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I did a little, it is difficult as I can not adjust thru the backing plate due to the axle drop is in the way. I pull the hub off and turn with pliers. I'll go out now and try again, Thanks.
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Old 09-28-2020, 10:55 AM   #6
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I did a little, it is difficult as I can not adjust thru the backing plate due to the axle drop is in the way. I pull the hub off and turn with pliers. I'll go out now and try again, Thanks.
If they are adjusted properly I don't think you'll be pulling the hub back off without loosening the brake adjustment. They make many styles of brake spoons (the adjustment tools) just for tight spaces like that. I'd go talk to a good auto parts store and see what they have available. I had that issue many years ago and took a brake spoon,. placed it in a vice and used a torch to "customize" it.
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Old 09-28-2020, 01:42 PM   #7
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I did a little, it is difficult as I can not adjust thru the backing plate due to the axle drop is in the way. I pull the hub off and turn with pliers. I'll go out now and try again, Thanks.
You should be able to get a “brake spoon” in the slot.
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Old 09-28-2020, 02:49 PM   #8
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Okay, I adjusted the wheel spin so it went 2 revolutions with a decent spin. Doesn't drag hard. Still the same, minimal slowing down. So decided to take it for a ride and see if the adjuster would self adjust or the shoes seat in. Ran 20 to 30 MPH and set the manual brake to 9.5 and slammed it home. Slight notice it was working. After 10 or so times it was getting pretty good. Another 10 or so and the tires are skidding on the blacktop.
Have real good braking now, in fact I'll be reducing the gain on the brakes.
All wheels were pretty warm/hot when I got home so I know they are all working.
Thanks for the responses !
Can head south with less worry !
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Old 09-28-2020, 05:43 PM   #9
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A 1991 trailer didn’t come with self adjusting brakes. The new “self adjusting” brakes are “forward” adjusting brakes. Did someone upgrade to self adjusting?
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Old 09-29-2020, 03:12 AM   #10
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A 1991 trailer didn’t come with self adjusting brakes. The new “self adjusting” brakes are “forward” adjusting brakes. Did someone upgrade to self adjusting?
Seeing as how the OP “scuffed” the brake linings while he had the drums off, the shoes needed to be burnished again, which he accomplished when doing his latest road test. If it were me, I’d still like the brakes adjusted a little tighter than it sounds like his are, but if he has an appropriate tow vehicle, he should be fine. (He did know enough to scale the trailer, so I’m guessing that he has at least some experience.)
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Old 09-29-2020, 05:30 AM   #11
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A 1991 trailer didn’t come with self adjusting brakes. The new “self adjusting” brakes are “forward” adjusting brakes. Did someone upgrade to self adjusting?
On my old Jeeps there is a lever moves and that rotates the star adjusting the brakes. Come to think of it there is nothing in the trailer brakes like that. So I guess they are not self adjusting. They appear to be the original assembly.

I assumed they were as it improved each time I used the manual controller.
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Old 09-29-2020, 05:35 AM   #12
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Most older vehicles with drum brakes required backing up to adjust the shoes. LCI introduced forward self adjusting brakes and when I get time I am going to put a set on my trailer. This is based on 45+ yrs of wrenching on autos and 10 yrs of RV repair.

As stated, I bet you burnished the brakes when you used the manual lever set to full voltage.
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Old 09-29-2020, 05:36 AM   #13
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Sounds like the brake shoes "seated" and started to grab. Using the manual override on the brake controller if applied fully is like a "panic stop", full braking. On manually adjusting brakes I've always performed an initial adjustment, then drove the rig with a couple of full braking stops to seat them in. Then let them cool off fully and readjust. It's worked for me for several decades.
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Old 09-29-2020, 05:50 AM   #14
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Thanks for all the help on the brakes. I will re-check the adjustment now that they are cold and confirm good braking.
Thanks Again
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Old 09-29-2020, 10:35 AM   #15
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With James driving a Chevy dually and towing an Avalanche I'd say he has a little good sense. He's been a member here for close to two years and talked a good line about the scales, etc. Yep, I believe we should let him ride!
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Old 09-29-2020, 10:41 AM   #16
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Totaly agree Jim and I wish him a safe, uneventful trip. That get's me thinking, on a recent trip we were going down a steep grade after making a tight turn (well over 90 deg.) The 7 way plug pulled loose and and I didn't notice until I hit the brakes at the 4 way stop sign @ the bottom of the hill. That's when I was thankful that I have have a 3/4 ton truck with the PowerStop Z36 drilled and slotted rotors and HD pads. I would not have wanted to be hauling it down strapped behind a 1/2 ton.
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Old 10-04-2020, 03:37 PM   #17
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Lot of people scuff the brake material and clean up the inside diameter of the drum. You also want to clean up the face of the drum where the magnets run. This is probably why your brakes improved. I always found that my brakes were weak after sitting in storage; but after putting up 20 or so miles of safe local driving the brakes would be good and ready for an extended trip.
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