Brakes on both axles?

[BroRobin]

We have 2011 Eagle Superlight 318RLS. I need a clarification.

Are there or should there be active brakes on both the front and rear axles?

On a recent trip to a campground we pulled into a supermarket parking lot. As I do whenever I stop in route, I “shot” the tires and axle hubs with my laser thermometer. The front tires and axles read within 3 degrees of each other. The rear tires and axles also read within a few degrees of each other, HOWEVER the rear differed from the front by almost 25 degrees higher.

My only explanation is that the rear brakes had been working properly and the front was not.

How do I check/troubleshoot the brakes on the two axles?

[Murff]

I'm no mechanic but much as a car or truck's front brakes wear out before the rears, wouldn't the front axle's brakes work harder stopping the trailer than the rears?

Murff

[BroRobin]

Originally Posted by Murff

I'm no mechanic but much as a car or truck's front brakes wear out before the rears, wouldn't the front axle's brakes work harder stopping the trailer than the rears?

Murff

You would think so, that’s why I was assuming the front brakes are not activated seeing they were so much cooler than the rear.

[vwprostock]

A trailer won't have the 70% front/30% rear bias that most cars due since the weight is more even, and the trailer doesn't nose dive in a stop like a car/truck.

My guess would be, more likely you have an electric brake wire that has broken between the front and rear axle or the one is just out of adjustment.

[norty1]

The power to trailer brakes are wired in series and the rear axle is usually the last 2 brake assemblies that get power. That would tell me that you need to verify that you are getting 12vdc to each assembly.

A visual inspection may indicate if there is a wiring problem. Most are easy to see if you can inspect the connections.

[RedHorse1]

It sounds like they had been recently working since taking their temps is part of your routine so external damage sounds like a good place to look. If a visual inspection doesn’t yield anything jack the rear tires off the ground one at a time and see if the brakes are working at all. Time to get into the hub?

[Grumpy]

If you're rig's not riding level and you don't have the weight evenly distributed the rears could be be working harder too.

[dhinkle57]

Maybe the front brakes need adjusting.

[Jagiven]

I have not shot my brakes for a while. But I'd be happy with 25 degree difference between the hubs. My tt brakes are always fluctuating which hub is the warmest.

Have you ever pulled the drums and cleaned and inspected them?

I found as the self adjusts adjust, the resistance on each brake varies hence, more or less heat is created.