I found out my trailer brakes had been activated with the breakaway cable.
I found one of my tires has all the tread worn off on one side.
Now I'm not sure if the brakes even work.
Should I tear into the break actuator?
Or simply replace it. They are less than $200 from Overtons.
These are questions a neighbor has asked me. Since I have never owned a trailer with brakes, I can not answer his questions. So I turn to some of you gentlemen for answers.
Thanks for your interest.
Bob
If the breakaway has been tripped, you have to partially disassemble the actuator to reset it.
Uneven tire wear could be a bent axle, a result of running the wrong pressure or an underrated tire.
If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity,
nothing else matters.
If you have a UFP actuator, all that is needed to be sure the brakes are off is to push up on the L shaped brake release lever just behind the ball socket on the bottom of the actuator. If it springs up and down freely, the brakes are off. The cable serves one purpose, your 3rd line of defense against losing the trailer. If the trailer came off the ball, and if your chains were not crossed to create a cradle, and the trailer did break away from the tow vehicle, then the breakaway cable yanks on the pushrod internally to apply the brakes and slow the trailer to a stop. If you pulled the cable completely out of the actuator and reset the brakes, they should still operate normally without your 3rd line of defense. To check to see if your brakes are working, simply unplug the trailer and try to back up a slight hill. If the brakes are working, they will lock up the tires.
I dont know where you got your price on the acuator but for 200 it better include installation and bleeding the brake system!! I got mine with the backup solenoid for around 100!!
Wes Billings
FTC/SS USN Retired
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