TT Brakes Grabbing.

[RVPP]

Greetings and Happy New Year.
At the start of our trip south from NJ,last Sunday, the TT brakes would grab the first couple of stops I made then cleared up and I assumed it was a dampness issue. Fast forward to yesterday in sunny hot Fl. a mile or so from our winter home and the problem returned with a vengeance.
My thought is the break controller unit. I had it installed last summer, 2014, when we bought our TT. This is the first issue in about 5,000 miles of travel.
TV is a 2013 F-150 and our TT is a 2004 FR Surveyor (SV-230). This is the first issue in about 5,000 miles of travel. Oh, I had the breaks inspected last summer,'14, when I had new tires put on.
Thanks in advance.
Paul

[GlenZ]

What do you have the gain on the break controller set at?

[RVPP]

GlenZ, I have a unit with a digital display. I normally leave it set at 15. If I'm in hill country I might bump it up to 20. When this started I was at low speed +/- 10mph, on level ground.
I did have one time, a few days ago, when again I was going slow and the brakes grabbed several times without my foot near the brake pedal.

[caper]

Check for a wire touching the frame under the TT. If you have a bare wire it could be grounding out causing the brakes to come on.

[jpforsyth]

Your brakes may need to be adjusted out. When TT brakes wear down they seem to grab.

[ykdave]

wouldnt be a wire grounding on the frame, theirs nothing to ground out if their is no power (no brake application) and that would only cause the brakes to fail to operate if it was on the hot side (ground side would have no effect on function)

Check any junction boxes that their is in the trailer wiring, make sure somethings not rattling around in there loose, and in the trailer plug as well (one of the wires could have come loose and is touching the 12v trailer feed or the clearance light post)

As well, like mentioned make sure the shoes are adjusted properly. electromagnet brakes do some funky things and i have also seen "sticky" brakes due to them being out of adjustment.

Last but not least its not uncommon for the brake linings to fall off of the shoes and periodically jam up in the drum. must have done a dozen sets this year where linings have come unglued. If that is the case, dont replace just the shoes, dexter sells the complete backing plate assembly CHEAP, its the only way to go!

[emm-dee]

Originally Posted by ykdave

......................
.......................... If that is the case, dont replace just the shoes, dexter sells the complete backing plate assembly CHEAP, its the only way to go!

Amen on just replacing the entire assembly. Cost is higher but it's a much easier job.

[RVPP]

RESOLVED!
Ended up at a U-Haul on SR-60 in Brandon, Fl. The brake controller was a U-Haul supplied product, installed by them in NJ. A nice gentleman by the name of Bryan needed about 5 minutes to diagnoses and taught me a few things in the process. 20 minutes and a new controller and I'm on my way. Good job Bryan.