Self-Adjusting Brakes. Do They Work?

[@mikechamplain2425]

Really good video, thank you for not having music and unnecessary intro junk

[@buffalosoutdoors]

Love your channel. Thanks for all the information on trailer brakes. I've learned a lot from you.

[@TheTrailerSmith]

Glad to hear it! Thanks for watching!

[@michaelthompson3679]

Your videos are the best I haven’t seen any other videos that explain everything as well as your videos thank you for sharing them and for the time and effort you put into them they are awesome stuff!!!

[@TheTrailerSmith]

I appreciate that! Thanks for watching!

[@rlarajr2001]

I'm going to tackle servicing my brakes. This video was very helpful.

[@davekintz]

You've made the mystery of trailer brakes very clear and easy to understand for me. Thanks.

[@danwhaley5619]

Awesome help with solving my brakes issue. Have 4 new brakes and burnished as directed. I can tell they are working properly. I received a good education, using multiple video lessons. Thank you Trailer Smith!

[@davidahrens12]

Your videos are just what I needed prior to replacing my brake components. Great job.

[@robertallen7186]

Thank you for the video, great job. I had some interesting conversations awhile back with two gentlemen; one works for a well known company that sells trailer components online, the other a local RV mechanic. The conversation centered on WHO IS RESPONSIBLE for the final brake setup when you buy a brand new travel trailer. The trailer manufacturer? The dealer? The buyer? Bottom line: do NOT assume that if you buy a brand new travel trailer that the brakes have been initially adjusted. This was certainly the case with my brand new trailer which came with Lippert self-adjusting brakes. The brakes were never initially adjusted to the correct 'starting' position. One side self-adjusted more or less correctly, the other did not. So braking was uneven until I finally figured out what was happening. I'll never buy self-adjusting again.

[@kevincameron8437]

You said it right...the brake will do it's job and work as advertised. but we as owner/operators, it's ultimately up to us to do regularly scheduled inspections to make sure the equipment is still good to go. Which is why owners are supposed to pull the hubs and inspect you running gear...Great info for us to learn from. Thanks for sharing.

[@mnscouter1]

Thank you for your videos about trailer brakes / bearings! I have been an an auto mechanic for 30+ years and your videos are the best. I had no idea how they worked. I just purchased a trailer and now I will do some maintenance.

[@rkttime]

Another great video and information, thanks! I was already planning to replace my 3.5K axle brakes with self adjusting and will continue down that path. With annual bearing maintenance and brake inspections, should never have a problem.

[@martindalhover5224]

Glad I saw this. My brakes were way under adjusted. My magnet was worn out and there was no wear on the brake shoes. Thank you

[@mooseman3136]

Thank you! Love your straight no BS info and no fluff. The only video that explains and compares self and manual adjustment brakes. Because I had the chance to buy self adjusting sets from a truck parts wholesaler at cost, I replaced all of mine on my tandem 7K travel trailer. I'm a maintenance whore but when travelling, it's not easy or convenient to do the manual adjusting. Although I haven't travelled a lot with them yet, this video puts my mind at ease.

[@michaelobrien1839]

I do a lot of dump trailers thank you for the info. Good job.

[@TheTrailerSmith]

No problem 👍 Thanks for watching!

[@Isomage2010]

Thank you! Very good videos from you on brakes. Old tech but new to me and great explanations. Thanks again ... really appreciate it.

[@davidanderson6304]

Great videos. I’m newish to the fifth wheel campers, really enjoy your experience

[@ghostpepperrides4805]

Outstanding training video. You should market these videos to a school shop. I have done self adjusting vehicles and a few trailers I’ve owned. At 70yo I know I have to stay on top of my new RV maintenance. ??? Does it make a difference? Backup hit brakes to adjust? Thank you.

[@tallbikercat]

I love the videos. Thanks for the informative breakdowns. They help confirm what I already know, and I usually pick up a few new nuggets of wisdom in each video. You mentioned that with the self adjusting brakes that you should inspect them every 3,000 miles to make sure that they are still adjusting. How do you inspect those without completely disassembling the wheel? Are you simply meaning spinning the wheels and listening to ensure the shoes are lightly dragging? And if so, how do you differentiate the sound of the magnet lightly dragging from that of the shoe lightly dragging?

[@mrjoehimself]

Great video, very nice audio and video quality. Great teaching, thank you!

[@Zack-fk8oz]

Hi, i just came across your youtube channel and love the invaluable wealth of information that you provide. I also have recently been offered a job to help build and service custom trailers. Im planning on watching everyone of your videos to help prepare for this job opportunity. Also to help get ready for this job i need to get a tool cart together. I consider myself a very mechanically minded and involved type of person. I already have thousands of dollars in tools. And i know you have listed some tools in yours videos, but could you by any chance do a tool box tour? Maybe its just me, but im struggling to find any tool box videos specifically for the type of trailers you service. Diesel and tractor trailer toolbox tours keep showing up. Thanks again for posting these invaluable videos! You do a great job at clearly explaining yourself!

[@TheBuddy1939]

“Trailersmith” great description for your channel. Thanks for letting me be an apprentice on your channel😅

[@timothyculliver1993]

Great Job explaining the concept. Thanks

[@scottscornerrd]

Would you explain in a video how to back off self adjusting brakes. I just learned yesterday that the magnet hits the teeth on the adjuster making it almost impossible to back off. Had to disassemble to figure that out. Now I know to push the magnet towards the drum just to back brakes off on a 3500# axle. Thanks for the videos!!

[@AlanDeLaO-ik6dy]

The way I do it is with a thin screw driver and brake spoon. Use a thin one so you’re able to fit it in more easily in the slot and for easier prying. Use the screw driver to lift the adjusting plate that sits on the star wheel so that you can back off on the wheel with the spoon. Don’t try to hold the plate with the screw driver as you adjust with spoon as the slot is really small to fit both. Lift the plate until it’s not touching star wheel then with the spoon back off two to three clicks and then reset the plate which will usually bring the star wheel back one click. Repeat until it’s backed off enough to your liking. Don’t try to keep backing off with the spoon without resetting the plate as the plate will get stuck and the star wheel will be pushing back against the screw driver.

[@MIGHTYX2010]

Good information here 💪👍

[@samuelolivas8531]

Hey brother I have a question? I have a 2 7k axle on my dump trailer and I been thinking if is positive to upgrade the breaks from 2” to 3.5” drums break pads. I have a 8k axle and have a 3.5” drums breaks. You think is possible the upgrade????

[@TomCrossley-s2v]

How about a video on maintenance on the Curt independent suspension that are on many campers.

[@enarandyr9122]

Nice job explaining how these auto adjusters work. Can you do a video on converting these to oil bath vs greased? Maybe why or why not to convert to oil bath.. Thank you!

[@cwqrpportable]

Thanks for all the work you put into these videos, much appreciated! Question: what's the minimum thickness of brake pad before you need to replace the brakes?

[@garycompton9716]

Excellent information!!

[@TheTrailerSmith]

Thanks for watching!

[@paulrosa6762]

Smartly Done Video, Thank You!

[@valvestroke1]

Appericiate your content! Keep it coming!!

[@troyturner-ve1zj]

Really appreciate this video! I have tandem 7000lbs axles. While doing bearing service noticed 1 wire wore on one of my magnets. Decided to change all 4 with thoughts of thinking magnets may be weaker than the new one. Drum surface did show magnet wear, i deglazed this surface. Problem I have now it’s my breaks are horrible and set to 10, I have been adjusting brakes tighter and now to tight and weak breaking..would the poor braking be from the grooved surface?

[@blackfootjbd]

This world needs more people like you that inform people. THIS WORLD IS FULL OF CROOKS. GOD BLESS, GOOD HEALTH AND MAY YOU PROSPER...

[@TheTrailerSmith]

Thanks for that vote of confidence. I like to think that there are still lots of wonderful people in the world! Thanks for watching the channel! Many blessings to you.

[@lmajeff1577]

Question: I had my dual axle camping trailer inspected and they used a jack on the back side of the break plate to raise it to test my break away and inspect the break pads. That summer the inside of the tires on that axle wore down to needing replacement but not the front axle that he did not lift. Could he had changed the bend in the axle enough to cause this. I carry a pull-on or back-on ramp in the event that I need to change a flat tire. Also I would like to commend you on great videos on the maintenance on trailers.

[@TraconWizard]

I need to rewatch the adjusting video. I used calipers to measure shoe thickness. When should I replace? Before YT, where was I supposed to learn this?

[@rickhamm3962]

Just bought a new trailer. is there a way to tell if you have manual or self adjusting brakes by looking at the back of the backing plate. Great info in your videos. Thanks again.

[@cruze1953]

Sometimes the axle decal actually indicates "auto adjust" but to be sure know that it is indicated in the build # on the axle.

[@6gatornation]

can you put something on the threads of the adjuster so they won't freeze up I always got a couple that don't want to turn

[@wayneholmes4207]

Do you ever change from drum brakes to disk brakes to avoid all this? Also, I have an out of balance issue on my tandem axel boat trailer. Took the tires to my local tire store for balancing. They were OK. So one of my drums is out of balance? What are my options?

[@dustengrier2817]

I just put a new hub, break and bearing on 1 of my dexter 8k axels. Why would my magnet have constant power to it even with the truck off. The hub and wheel were super hot even after just a short test rub after repairs

[@12974andrew]

Great info got all my info right here

[@dustensnyder]

Do you ever put high temp never seize in the adjustment threads?

[@dustensnyder]

Great video by the way!

[@JamesJimenez-uc9zh]

Good afternoon. I have some 4741 brake assemblies. The left side are the only 2 that the brake drum is getting hot, the hubs are not. That is telling me that its the magnet and or brakes dragging. Would you have any suggestions on anything else to look for?

[@dalenelson3707]

What is a typical drum temperature on an RV with 3500# axles? I’m trying to keep an eye on them with a thermal monitor , I know there will be a lot of variables. What is too hot?

[@martinparmer]

I just installed new brakes all around on my camper to never adj. 3500lb dexter. I took it out to burnish them in and could get very little braking. Do you have to do an initial manual adjustment before you burnish them in? Thank you

[@RichardSpeights]

I have a long, straight pick. It'll work just as well as a sharpened welding rod.

[@paparentman]

What are thoughts on disc brake conversion?

[@TheTrailerSmith]

If installed correctly and properly maintained, they are a much better option. More stopping power. You just have to run oil or a disc brake approved grease. Great question!

[@brentwelty1999]

Excellent! Thank you!

[@TheTrailerSmith]

You are welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@LajNyob]

Very good video

[@enarandyr9122]

Also,where are you located and what services to you provide for fifth wheels? Should I ever be in your area and need services.

[@awbrigham8191]

At minimum stay safe is the best advice if you know you won't check them often enough please get at minimum the auto adjust ones. I've been a master mechanic for 2 decades and please be safe in the road it's my family your driving towards

[@stevecalderman457]

When you're cutting the break wire to put the new wire on, is there a certain way to put the new wire on,any certain way, color wise .

[@Aj-hp3yy]

Doesn’t matter

[@ronhiggins6629]

Thank u always no bs info

[@carl2591]

Maybe drill some inspection holes in 7k down

[@IsmaelC-yi8qq]

Good make more videos

[@tdkendall]

My TT has 4.4K axles. Dexter whole NEV-R replacement brakes are $200+ EACH. Found them for $170, not Amazon. Still crazy price. So did I hear you say that your shop uses china made replacements? You are OK with using non-Dexter? Thx great video!

[@TheTrailerSmith]

The 4.4k is a specialty axle so the parts are expensive & hard to get. We carry both import & domestic parts. We give our customers the option on which direction they would like to go. They generally make their decision based on cost of the parts. We do try to source the best imports that are available through our suppliers and not all of them are from China. Even Dexter & Lippert both use import brakes & drums on their axle beams when domestic parts are not readily available. Happens all the time. And in 2024, the parts supply chain is still not what it was before 2020. Thanks for watching!

[@anthonya1505]

Do self-adjusting brakes need to have an initial adjustment before running them for the first time? If so, how is that done?

[@anthonya1505]

@thetrailersmith

[@valvestroke1]

Fo real brother!

[@juct0483]

That might be the 1st self adjusting brake ive ever seen work long enough to wear out the shoes. Seems like they always sieze about half life. Ive lately been seeing alot of the star wheels just wearing the teeth off, even when the screw isnt too bad. I also tell clients without self adjusting brakes that its a good indication they need a brake and bearing service if the brakes feel out of adjustment.

[@lmajeff1577]

Looks the same as the rear drums on my mid 60s Fords

[@mikeadler434]

👍👍

[@valvestroke1]

Lotz of rubber gloves, grease and towels. Live in the grease 😂

[@Bierdaddy1]

“…or sometimes you can’t afford them.” Amen. Would love to support US products, but can’t afford US prices at 3rd world wages. 😕🇺🇸