I just replaced the brakes on my travel trailer and I'm having a couple problems that I hope somebody can help me with.

When I apply the brake controller (Prodigy), I can feel the brakes apply however they don't pull very hard. I then adjusted the star wheel to the point that they are dragging and now the brakes do pull harder but not as good as the old brakes did. They are dragging too much so I will need to back it off a bit which will mean my breaking will be diminished again.

Also, the brakes are becoming quite hot and are putting off a burned brake smell. Is this normal? Do I just need to let the brakes break-in?

I noticed on the new backing plates, the pads aren't as thick as the old ones. Do backing plates come with different thickness leves on the brake pads?

Any ideas will be appreciated.

 

I just had mine done this season. I went through some of the same symptoms. Dealer told me to drive on them for a little while. I have the prodigy also and had to back of the boost and gain after about 100 miles.

The smell is probably shoes dragging. Back off the star wheels and let them wear in.

Give it a little time and you should be fine.
tom

 

On the shoes you removed, do either of the shoes have the media ending an inch or so from the end of the brake shoe? while the opposing shoe has media all the way to the end? It's been a while, but I think my last set of shoes, either the trailing shoe or the leading shoe had less media. What I'm asking, is there any chance the leading and trailing shoes are installed backwards?
Nat

 

I'm not sure if I understand the question, but yes, one of the shoes on the old backing plate is smaller than the other side. I wonder if I possibly could have put the wrong backing plate on the wrong side of the trailer.

 

When the electric brakes are engaged, does only one side of the drum get pushed out or do both move out? When I take the old one and move the arm that has the magnet, only one side moves.

 

Thanks for the replies this far. One thing I forgot to mention is that I did adjust the level on the prodigy to send more current back but even on the highest level it was doing as much as the old brakes would.

 

Sounds like you may have the answer to your problem then... or not?
Nat

 

... only one side moves out UNTIL it contacts the drum, then the opposing side expands into the drum. So while the drum is off, you would only see one side move, the one with the least friction I imagine.
Nat

 

I'll have to check the numbers on the back with the place that I bought them to make sure I have them on the right side. I'm positive that isn't it so I may just need to let them break in. Thanks for the info!

 

As far as making sure they are on right, the arm that the magnet rides on should be toward the front of the trailer.

Drag wise, Dexter says to adjust the star wheel until the wheel is very difficult to turn, then back off until it turns freely but will still have a light drag.

Al-Ko says turn the adjuster out until there is heavy drag (with wheel on), then back off the star 3/4 to one turn. Al-Ko also says it is normal to need to adjust the brake controller as new shoes wear in.

Both Al-Ko and Dexter have good manuals in Acrobat for free download.

http://www.dexteraxle.com/

http://www.al-kousa.com/

 

Thank you!!!!!