INSPECTION, SERVICE & MAINTENANCE
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.
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WARNING
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.
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 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
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 and the breakaway
pin is pulled. The other brake is an electric braking system that acts whenever the brakes of the
tow vehicle are applied.