diagnosing trailer brakes

[kernst52]

Last fall I removed one of the axles to rotate it 90 degrees (factory installed incorrectly). I rotated all the brake parts 90 degrees also so they would be oriented correctly like the other axle. Put it all back together. Now this Christmas I hooked the trailer to the truck and there are no brake, even using the manual slide on the controller. I did a visual check on all the connections from the controller to the axle and it looks fine.

I have some experience with electrical but much with electric trailer brakes. Is there a post that deals with diagnosing brakes? Any suggestions on how to begin diagnosing would be appreciated. I have a digital multimeter if that is necessary.

Thanks.

Ken

[Witch Doctor]

Pull your drum off and check you didn't break a wire. Have someone apply the breaks and see if you are getting 12V and the magnet is engaging. They might just need readjusting from you turning them. lets hope so.

[retiredcamper47]

Are you getting 12v to the brakes? Easy test is to hold a compass by the wheel and have someone apply the brakes. The needle on the compass will "dance" around if you are getting 12v to activate the magnets.

Bob

[BigBaron]

Check your ground wires. A weak or bad ground is often the problem. I just hook the brakes directly to a 12V battery to see if there is connection. There is no polarity on electric brakes, so you can't hook them up "backwards". One wire goes to the 12V source, the other to ground.
eTrailer has good info on wiring.
eTrailer wiring diagrams