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Trailer brake magnet failed

Discussion in 'Towing' started by Saguarobandit, Jun 10, 2020.

  1. Jun 10, 2020 at 2:10 PM
    #1
    Saguarobandit

    Saguarobandit [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2020
    Member:
    #315366
    Messages:
    46
    Just an FYI:
    I bought my teardrop trailer about two years ago. After a few thousand miles I would get an intermittent "no connection" message on my brake controller.
    Thinking it was probably a bad connection at the 7 pin connector or poor ground, I added a ground to the trailer and cleaned up the 7 pin connector.
    That "no connection" message kept coming up intermittently until finally the brakes would not work at all.
    I ended up taking the trailer on several long trips (including Canyonlands NP) with no brakes. Luckily the Tacoma brakes are adequate enough to stop the fully loaded trailer.
    Now at 13,000 miles, I finally took the drums apart and found a broken wire at the RIGHT side brake magnet.
    The LEFT side magnet wire is still intact but the sheath is broken.
    I ordered a new magnet and upon comparison to the old magnet, i noticed the center is worn oblong and also wore out the actuator arm. Seems like the magnets fit too loose on the actuator arms causing too much play.
    My fix is to order two actuator arms and replace both magnets. The new magnet kit came with a magnet retainer clip and new tension spring.
    Both magnets on my trailer didn't have the retainer clips when I took it apart but did have the tension springs.
    The magnets have too much play on the actuator arms, that's most likely why they failed.
    https://youtu.be/YwCBXPrzy4k

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