Skittish Brakes

gemib · 12-09-2015, 08:14 PM

Our brakes are nuts!!!!!
Since day one, our Jay Feather 22FQSW has had very quickly reacting brakes. This has happened in spite of any setting in our brake controller. They lock-up at the slightest touch of the pedal, and this results in a jerky, annoying ride. Has anyone encountered this issue? Any suggestions? Thanks!

Grumpy · 12-09-2015, 08:23 PM

Could be a bad controller.

gemib · 12-09-2015, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpy

Could be a bad controller.

Grumpy, thank you for your suggestion. The problem could be the controller, but it worked perfectly with our previous TT, though it was a smaller one. If I cannot find any other brake issue, I may have to replace it.....

SouthCo · 12-09-2015, 08:57 PM

Need more info. What controller? Did you take the gain setting to zero and work up? Maybe the smaller trailer brakes never worked very good?

Jhowemca · 12-09-2015, 09:02 PM

If the brakes are way out of adjustment it could cause them to lock prematurely.

Another thing, the controller could have a setting for small trailers and another for larger ones.

gemib · 12-09-2015, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthCo

Need more info. What controller? Did you take the gain setting to zero and work up? Maybe the smaller trailer brakes never worked very good?

SouthCo, the controller is a Draw Tite Activator II, which is a time system. It worked very well with the previous trailer. I have now adjusted the output (braking power) to level 3, so the trailer brakes can slow the tow and trailer assembly. I have adjusted the sync control (reaction time) to the lowest level, to soften the way the brakes reach full output and avoid a too fast braking action. It seems to work at the start of a trip and moving at slow sped, but after half an hour on the road, when we slow down and stop at a traffic light, we are in circus mode. brakes lock un-evenly, and we have noisy, jerky stops. How can I determine if it is an electric brake mis-adjustment, or if it is time to get another controller?

gemib · 12-09-2015, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jhowemca

If the brakes are way out of adjustment it could cause them to lock prematurely.

Another thing, the controller could have a setting for small trailers and another for larger ones.

Jhowemka, you could be correct. How can I check brake adjustment? Can it be done on the road? Thanks!

BrentB · 12-10-2015, 07:07 AM

I have the same problem. I have a Tekonsha P3 controller. Sometimes brakes work fine, other times they slam on, jerking us to a stop.

RoyBraddy · 12-10-2015, 07:22 AM

You can mechanically adjust the brakes just like on your truck using the brake tool inserted into the slot on the brake drum. Rotate the tire and adjust until they just start to grab then back off a notch.

My electric brakes also jerk some when I first start out with them, I suspect it is moisture... I always stop my trailer at the first stop I come to when starting out just using the manual slide lever. I think this heats up the brakes pretty good. After that they work just fine...

Roy Ken

Jhowemca · 12-10-2015, 10:40 PM

Like RoyBraddy said to adjust the brakes...

I thought of another thing that could affect braking. The wheel bearings could be out of adjustment causing them to grab erratically.
Kinda a far shot but if you're having the breaks adjusted by a shop its not much more work to adjust the bearings at the same time.

I use a techonsha P3 controller. It's regarded as one of the better controllers.
But it does get very jerky at slower speeds if I don't adjust it down. So I'll set it for highway travel then when I get off the highway I'll have to adjust it to a lower setting. I don't think it should be this way but but for now that's how is is.

Good luck!

gemib · 12-11-2015, 07:54 AM

I appreciate all your suggestions. I will take the TT to the dealer for brake and bearings adjustment, as it is fairly new. I will share the outcome......
THANKS!

Jhowemca · 12-11-2015, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gemib

I appreciate all your suggestions. I will take the TT to the dealer for brake and bearings adjustment, as it is fairly new. I will share the outcome......
THANKS!

If it's new and you've never adjusted the bearings then it could be the problem. My trailer needed them adjusted after about 600 miles. It may have needed it earlier but I checked them at 600 mi.

Again good luck!

mike837go · 12-11-2015, 10:30 AM

Also make sure that the brake linings are not grease contaminated.

It is counter-intuitive, but contaminated shoes grab suddenly and then provide weak overall braking.

Ask anyone who's had a axle seal fail on their truck what braking was like until the repair was done.

oldmanAZ · 12-11-2015, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike837go

Also make sure that the brake linings are not grease contaminated.
... snip...

What he said.

Seems unlikely with a newer trailer, but you should have the dealer check that, too, when they do the brake and bearing adjustment.

Jagiven · 12-11-2015, 02:38 PM

Does not sound completely normal. It is normal for them to be grippe when you first start out. Usually mine calm down after a mile or so and a couple stops. I have decided they need to warm up, and any surface corrosion (aka rust) needs to wear off, otherwise they act up.

Can you tell if it is one tire that is locking up, or if it is all of them? If it looks to be one tire, the brakes may not have been assemble correctly, have a loose bearing nut, allowing the wheel to wobble, inturns makes the brakes not seat properly. It should be looked at.

I should not say this, but I have 10K miles on my HTT, and have never checked the brakes or bearings. Summer of 2014, my brakes felt weak; this past summer they were spot on. Never touch the controller, not sure why.

Personally, if you are handy at all, I would pull the wheels, and drums, check them over and repack the bearings manually.

gemib · 12-16-2015, 04:50 PM

UPDATE:
Brake problem has been resolved. As mentioned above, it was an adjustment problem. The amount of braking power in the controller compounded it.
Thanks to all for your help!

oldmanAZ · 12-16-2015, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gemib

UPDATE:
Brake problem has been resolved. As mentioned above, it was an adjustment problem. The amount of braking power in the controller compounded it.
Thanks to all for your help!

And thank you for the update!

Jhowemca · 12-17-2015, 07:40 AM

Great! Glad you got it worked out!

Jagiven · 12-17-2015, 07:39 PM

Awesome news

Raugustin · 01-12-2016, 01:19 PM

I noticed that the plastic adjuster slot plugs were missing on my Pinnacle and contacted the dealer who basically told me that Dexter has discontinued using these plugs on some drum assemblies. I contacted Dexter and they did confirm that these plugs became obsolete on their brake assemblies a few years ago.
Has anyone had issues with moisture and dirt getting into the brake assemblies as a result of the open adjuster slots?

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