Trailer brakes install issue

[BGDUMMY]

Put new trailer brakes on 94' Coachmen. The whole backing plate assembly on all 4 and the brakes are no better than before. The brakes have not been changed since new, so I figured they needed it. Put all on and no better.

I'm running a Prodigy and have it turned up to 12 and in gravel 5mpg in neutral trailer tires will not lock up.

I am totally confused.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[JimBob24]

Try pulling the pin out of your breakaway switch. That should tell if your trailer brakes are working. Then you will know which way to start troubleshooting.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Try what JimBob said, also make sure the brakes are adjusted up real close, they don't have much travel. bg

 

[jelag]

I have some thoughts... ...

1 - if the wiring goes through the axle, replace it... . I've more than once seen the wires in the axle worn off... run the wires on the outside.....

2 - take a volt meter and open the connections at the axle, and put the volt meter across the wires... . have someone fully press the brake controller and see if you get 8-12 volts at the axle... if so its in the wheels or connections if not its back towards the truck...

3 - are you aware there is a separate fuse for the brake circuit on the truck and sometimes there is a fuse in the trailer as well...

4 - could you have put the backing plates on the wrong side... . there is a left and right..... and they don't hardly work on the wrong side... .

5 - did you adjust up the "star adjuster" before you lowered the wheel to the ground... . worn drums with new shoes means you need to adjust the brakes until they lightly drag before you install them... .

Just for the fun of it... share with me what you paid for them... we sell a lot of these in 10 x 2 and 12 x 2 and have wondered what the other guys sell them for...

 

[DieselFiend]

I'm having a similiar issue with my controller. My trailer isn't getting any voltage to the brakes, however, the manual level applies the brakes just fine but when I step on the pedal... Nothin. The prodigy isn't showing any malfunction but does go to sleep while I'm towing because it doesn't sense anything going on when the traile is connected. I metered out the red wire to ground and got 91. 4 milli volts when the pedel IS NOT depressed and 91. 0 MV when it's depressed. I'm not sure what that means but I know there's a problem. Oh, I've also got 12 volts to the black wire.

 

[Hoefler]

Check your ground, also check all splices, connections, and taps, etc. . If you have the crimp on splices out the Scotchloc wire taps, replace all of them with a soldered connection and heat shrink. The aluminum in these connections will corrode and give you a very high resistance to no connection at all.