Tips for Trailer Brake Maintenance

There’s a lot you can do to keep your trailer in peak working condition. The most obvious, of course, is keeping up with routine trailer repairs and maintenance. One of the most important aspects of proper maintenance is taking good care of your brakes. After all, the brakes keep your trailer from slamming into your tow vehicle or causing other issues on the road.

We have gathered some helpful tips on trailer brake maintenance to get you started. If you’d like more help, come talk to one of our experienced professionals at APC Trailers in Tucson, Arizona. They’ll be happy to answer all your questions.

Types of Trailer Brakes

To understand how to take proper care of your brakes, you need to know how your trailer’s brakes function and what might need fixing. There are two primary styles of brakes: electric and surge. Electric brakes rely on a connection between your towing vehicle and the trailer so that the trailer brakes can get a signal when it’s time to stop. This means that when you press the brake pedal in your tow vehicle, the trailer brakes are activated simultaneously.

Surge brakes, on the other hand, are activated when you slow down your trailer and get a forward jolt. The system senses the trailer’s forward motion and triggers the brakes to prevent it from slamming into the back of your towing vehicle. If you spend a lot of time around water, having surge brakes can protect you from dealing with a fried electric circuit.

Inspection

The best way to keep your brakes well-maintained is to check them regularly. Inspect every part of the system from your towing vehicle all the way back to your trailer to look for any signs of damage or disrepair. This means examining the shoes, drums and shoe return springs, in addition to any hardware. 

Think about the kinds of brakes you use and how that might affect the kind of maintenance you need to perform. For example, for electric brakes, you’ll need to check the wiring and connections to ensure there are no breaks or frays. If you’ve got surge brakes, try and push your trailer to see if the braking system activates. If it doesn’t, you might have an issue with the brake fluid or the master cylinder or wheel cylinders.

Make sure nothing is grinding together and that there’s no corrosion. If you discover that your brakes are wearing unevenly when you compare the left and right sides, this may mean you’re not balancing the weight in your trailer properly or that your hitch isn’t adjusted properly.

Periodic Maintenance

Check your brakes at least annually or after you’ve clocked 12,000 miles. Regular inspection is especially necessary if you don’t use your trailer very often. You may want to take your trailer out for a spin every three months, just to make sure that every part stays functional. This will help you avoid any problems that relate to a lack of usage.

While it’s important for you to do these tasks at home to ensure that your brakes function well, it’s also sometimes necessary to have a professional check the entire brake system. You may be able to make some minor repairs, but an expert can quickly diagnose any problems and get to the root of them quickly, saving you valuable time.

Have additional questions regarding trailer brake maintenance? APC Trailers has got you covered. Don’t hesitate to give us a call or visit us for assistance with trailer repair, service, or parts. We also offer financing to help you get exactly what you need. We proudly serve the cities of Phoenix and Casa Grande, AZ.