floridatrailrider
Tampa Bay
New Member
Joined: 08/29/2009
View Profile
 Offline
|
I need help. I noticed after the last trip that I used the manuel over ride to see how the trailer brakes were working there was very little response. My P3 gives no indication of any trouble codes, I can feel the brakes work, just not much. I bought the 06 trailer used so I have no prior history. How can you tell if the brake pads are worn or if the drum needs replacement?
|
Center Pin
Fort Langley, BC
Senior Member
Joined: 04/15/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
Looks like they only need adjustment.
Trailer: 07 Tango 299BHS
TV: 2004.5 Dodge 610 CTD 3500 QC 48RE 2wd Laramie SRW, FP Gauge, FASS 95/95, Rhino Lining, Hensley Arrow, Reese Signature Series 5er Hitch, Air Bags & Compressor, Canopy, AL Boat Rack.
Been running B100 home brew June 2008!
|
floridatrailrider
Tampa Bay
New Member
Joined: 08/29/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
I did click the star wheel once and the drum got fairly snug. So from what I have read you get the drum snug and then back off 8 or so clicks. So I am wondering if I loosen the shoes up will that increase the braking?
|
Paw Paw Festus
Borger TX
Senior Member
Joined: 03/08/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
Looks like a little scratching and cleaning is in order.
That is,, take some emory cloth or sand paper and clean the glaze off of the pads, the magnet and both points of contact on the drums. (Where the pads drag AND where the magnets drag)
When you get done sanding the grime and glaze off, be sure and wash the assembly with soap and water and dry with pressured air.-- If you don't wash the metal dust away and dry everything before it rusts,,, your brakes will squeak later.
Also: I couldn't tell by your pics how much your magnets have beveled. The flatter they are accross the contact surface,, the better they drag and perform. When they round over too much, they just don't grab the drum very well. If they don't grab and pull the rib bone,,, you don't get much drag from the pads to the drums either.
I've performed this little ritual so many times, I can do it in my sleep.... Good luck
|
floridatrailrider
Tampa Bay
New Member
Joined: 08/29/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
Can I reuse the old seals or do I need new ones?
|
|
|
Paw Paw Festus
Borger TX
Senior Member
Joined: 03/08/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
I thought I would edit a couple of your pics and give a basic electric brake lesson for folks who don't understand how most electric brakes work.
When you apply braking, it sends an electic pulse to the magnet which brings it from a lazy dormant position to an active magnet. It grabs the inside wall of the drum creating drag. This drag causes it to pull the rib bone in the direction of the rotating wheel, which twists a flat wedge between the top of both shoes, pushing them outward and in contact with the inside drum surface. slowing the vehicle.
The adjustment wheel is on the bottom. Spreading it closes the available gap on the top the rib bone is responsible for.
After a while the magnet wears the edges off and becomes rounded on the ends, taking away surface contact area, which reduces the down stream braking power at the pads.
Hope some of you find this helpful. Its as basic as I can describe it.
|
Paw Paw Festus
Borger TX
Senior Member
Joined: 03/08/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
floridatrailrider wrote:Can I reuse the old seals or do I need new ones?
Unless I tear one up pulling the bearings, or the seal is dry, crusty and cracked,,, I don't bother replacing them. Its a grease bearing, so there's no oil in there. Just smear it with a little grease and slap that dude back on.
Of course, they are fairly cheap. Some people feel better replacing them every time they pull a wheel off. If it gives you better peace of mind, -- by all means, yank em out and tap new ones in.
|
Chuck&Gail
In the Colorado Mountains
Senior Member
Joined: 06/16/2004
View Profile
|
Is the P3 set up properly per manual? The override only brakes as high as your setting, so if it is set wrong, braking will be wrong also.
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Lovely Australian Shepherd
1999 Mercedes ML320 TV
2003 Wanderer 187TB Toybox, 3620# UVW, 4800# loaded
Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories
I can't be lost because I don't care where this lovely road is going
|
floridatrailrider
Tampa Bay
New Member
Joined: 08/29/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
I checked the P3 by cranking up the voltage as high as it would go, 12. something, the brakes grabbed a little more but not much.
|
cwit
new york
Senior Member
Joined: 07/20/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
A p-3 may not lock your break up. Where is your boost set? On your frist picture the frist picture shows a deep grove where the magnet rides. Is it there or just the picture?
|
|
|
