Electric Brake Adjustment

[KICK]

Has anyone heard a logical reason for the ridiculous trailer wire-code standards? Let's see; green is right-turn lights unless it is the marker lights in which case black might be ground unless it is positive which should never be connected to the white because it could short circuit the red wiring in your vehicle.

never found it all that ridiculous or complicated.

gReen is RIGHT

yeLLow is LEFT

It would seem that they had to pick something, that was what they picked... they coulda went to an alphanumeric type system that cross referenced to a color code but why? its a trailer. it usually has 4 wires.

 

[2COR517]

Thanks for the info. I will give it a try. I suspect I will have to pull the drums and see what's going on in there.

 

[Beltzington]

That's what I thought -Green Right - Yellow Left
But then I read this:

Marksrv.com 7 way wiring diagram page

My trailer has a 7-way connector, as does my Jeep. Obviously, this can be sorted out with a volt meter I just found the differences frustrating.

 

[SnowRidge]

That's what I thought -Green Right - Yellow Left
But then I read this:

Marksrv.com 7 way wiring diagram page

My trailer has a 7-way connector, as does my Jeep. Obviously, this can be sorted out with a volt meter I just found the differences frustrating.

That's a handy reference link. It should help a lot of folks. Thanks for posting it.

 

[john_bud]

It's best to adjust the brakes AFTER you run them for a while. You may have some surface rust that makes the brakes grabby. Burn that off, then adjust.

 

[Bird]

It's best to adjust the brakes AFTER you run them for a while. You may have some surface rust that makes the brakes grabby. Burn that off, then adjust.

I didn't think about that, but that sounds like good advice.

 

[SnowRidge]

It's best to adjust the brakes AFTER you run them for a while. You may have some surface rust that makes the brakes grabby. Burn that off, then adjust.

Yep, my 20 ft trailer's brakes always used to grab the first few applications, if I hadn't used it for awhile. I've learned to set the controller very low and brake manually with it as I come down the drive. I do the same thing for a few hundred feet on the road against engine power, then put it back to its normal setting. That cleans the brakes up, and I don't get any more unwanted lock-ups.

 

[Beltzington]

Another Question - My trailer electric brakes have a red and black wire coming from each hub. I am guessing the red should go to the blue brake controller and the black to ground? However since the black on the 7-way connector is a constant positive 12vdc I thought I should ask.

 

[Diamondpilot]

The black on the trailer wire (red/black) should go to the ground. I like to run the grounds all to one central point on the trailer. Eliminates a lot of problems.

Chris

 

[SnowRidge]

Another Question - My trailer electric brakes have a red and black wire coming from each hub. I am guessing the red should go to the blue brake controller and the black to ground? However since the black on the 7-way connector is a constant positive 12vdc I thought I should ask.

The brakes are unaffected by polarity. It doesn't matter which way you hook them up. A lot of trailer brakes have both wires the same color.