Trailer pulling to one side on braking...

[RobertN]

I would recommend look at the wiring too. I had weak breaking on my 5th wheel; found I had low voltage at the brakes. Fixed it by cleaning ground points and redoing all wire connections.

Yo may have a marginal ground or positive connection the is resistive causing weak brake on one side.

Most of the time issues I have seen have come back to a marginal ground...

 

[civilian]

Fluke Clamp Meters, Amp Meters and Clamp On Ammeters or similar (Fluke will be expensive).

Just clamp it over the power or ground (not both) for a given brake (or whatever). When the wire is energised the meter will display current.

Most multimeters can be put in series (cut wire, splice the meter inline) & measure current as well. They are usually limited to 10@ at best. And it can be quite a pain to get the meter wired inline.

Thanks for the reply/explanation. I am aware of that style of Flukes used in industry for AC amp draw. I didn't realize DC amp draw is checked the same way. Jon

 

[wwinter]

I agree on the electrical check.

 

[DDA40X]

I checked everything suggested in this thread except amperage. Everything checked OK. I left the amperage until last because the wiring is a pain to get to and the magnets are brand new, meaning a bad magnet is unlikely.

I fiddled around with the manual adjustments (tightened and then backed them off again) then took it for another test drive. It brakes evenly now. The adjuster on the left side is kind of wonky and that may have been the culprit or at least a contributing factor.

I really appreciate all of you who offered comments and suggestions. Thank you!

 

[Morning Wood]

Just to be clear on the wiring. You said the magnets were new. But you did not say the wiring running from the connector at the tongue to the brake assemblies was new as well. That was what I was recommending checking. The way to check the wiring would be measuring the resistance in the wiring. Multimeter could probably do it.

Glad you seemed to have figured out your problem. Nick

 

[joeu235]

I have a trailer with one slow leaking oil bath wheel bearing and it pulls to one side because of oil on the brakes. Yes, I know it needs to be fixed.