Brakes grabbing

[mpray]

Maybe someone out there has had this problem and can give me a hand. I have a 2001 tt that the brakes seem to grab and release in quick succession when the brake pedal is aplied. I bought the trailer brand new, had no problems with it the first 1000 or so miles, and then I'm headed to deer camp in some pretty steep and winding roads. I step on the brakes and the trailer about puts me into the steering wheel and then lets off quickly and then back on. I pull the Chevy off the road with the trailer to check things out and can't find anything. Continue on to camp and 5 days later head home. Trailer continues to brake and release brake and release. Next trip out there are no problems. Now I upgraded to a Dodge, hooked up a Tekonsha Voyager and on the first long trip had no problems. The last trip I took the problem showed up again. Brakes seem to work just fine on the trips when the problem doesn't show up but this hit and miss is getting to be a pain. It's getting close to elk and deer camp again I wonder if the trailer knows this and doesn't want a bunch of stinking guys abusing it. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[Casey Balvert]

Since you have the problem with two different tow vehicles and brake controllers, the problem is in your trailer. Check all the wiring to the magnets and to the ground. Allmost sounds like you have a broken wire at a magnet or perhaps in the wire as it runs from the trailer frame to the axle. Good luck.



Casey

 

[ralley]

I had the same thing happen on my trailer. I checked the brake wiring on the trailer and found a bare spot on the wire that would short to ground. When this happened the brake controller would send full power and the three other wheels would lock up.

To find the problem, I had someone step on the brake pedal in the truck and I went under the trailer and started wiggling the wires around, when the wire shorted to ground I could hear the other brake magnets humming. I replaced the wire that ran across the front axle and that solved my problem.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Grabbing

Mine has done the same thing two different times. I wiggled the hook up plug the first time and it stopped the grabbing. Second time I cleaned the blades in the plug and receptacle and added some "dielectric" lube. Yet to see if this solves the problem. bg

 

[mpray]

Thanks for the info. guys. I'll definetly put the dialectric grease on the cleaned blades and then get to rolling around in the gravel afterward. I already climbed under twice and couldn't find anything but I wouldn't doubt if I might have missed something. Will have a friend or wife give me a hand stepping on the brakes while I'm under there. Course she might put the truck in gear and get rid of two problems at once and have my truck all to herself. Thanks fellas.

 

[Roger Ledbetter]

Rust?

If You have your rig sit along time in between tows it might be possible the drums rust up. If that happens the brakes will grab. Should go away after using it though

 

[clem]

Sounds like you have short in the trailer wireing. The on and off of the brakes could be the auto C. B . The breaker keeps resetting. The head lights will do the same if a short gets in the head light wireing. If you don't find a short a long the frame rails. Look at the wires on the swing arm the magnet is attached to. That area has been a problem for years something is always moving Also get rid of any wire nuts you find