Inspection, Service & Maintenance
! WARNING
Broken or damaged fasteners or welds can cause injury or
damage to trailer and contents.
Inspect for, and repair all damaged parts at least once a year.
TRAILER BRAKES - ELECTRIC
10.2.1.3 Brake Shoes and Drums
Properly functioning brake shoes and drums are essential to ensure safety. You
must have your dealer inspect these components at least once per year, or each
12,000 miles. Brake adjustment is not covered under the axle warranty.
The brake shoes must be adjusted after the first 200 miles of use, and each 3,000
miles thereafter. Most axles are fitted with a brake mechanism that will
automatically adjust the brake shoes when the trailer is “hard braked” from a
rearward direction. Read your axle and brake manual to see how to adjust your
brakes. If you do not have this manual, contact your dealer for assistance.
10.2.1.4 Manually Adjusting Brake Shoes
Some braking systems are not automatically adjusted by hard stopping. These
brakes require manual adjustment. The following steps apply to adjust most
manually adjustable brakes. Read your axle and brake manual to see how to
adjust your brakes. If you do not have this manual, contact your dealer for
assistance.
Jack up the trailer and secure it on adequate capacity jack stands.
Be sure the wheel and brake drum rotate freely.
Remove the adjusting-hole cover from the adjusting slot on the bottom of the
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brake backing plate.
With a screwdriver or standard adjusting tool, rotate the starwheel of the
adjuster assembly to expand the brake shoes. Adjust the brake shoes out until
the pressure of the linings against the drum makes the wheel very difficult to
turn. Note: Your trailer maybe equipped with drop spindle axles. See axle
manual for your axle type. You will need a modified adjusting tool for adjusting
the brakes in these axles. With drop spindle axles, a modified adjusting tool
with about an 80 degree angle should be used.
Rotate the starwheel in the opposite direction until the wheel turns freely with a
slight drag.
Replace the adjusting-hole cover.
Repeat the above procedure on all brakes.
Lower the trailer to the ground.
10.2.1.5 Brakes, Electric
Two different types of electric brakes may be present on the trailer: an emergency
electric breakaway system, which acts only if the trailer comes loose from the hitch