Trailer Brake Magnet Wiring (Practical Guide)
Content
This article will be useful to those who have problems connecting the trailer brake magnet.
Are you experiencing weak or skipping brakes on your trailer? When this happens, you can replace the entire brake assembly. But truth be told, you don't have to. The problem could be the trailer brake magnet. And replacing the magnet is much easier and cheaper. However, you will need to choose the right wiring. I'll talk AZ about trailer brake magnet wiring and share some tips I've learned over the years.
As a general rule, to connect a trailer brake magnet:
- Gather the necessary tools and parts.
- Raise the trailer and remove the wheel.
- Record the column.
- Disconnect the wires and pull out the old brake magnet.
- Connect the two wires of the new magnet to the two power wires (it doesn't matter which wire goes to which as long as the wires are power and ground connections).
- Reattach the hub and wheel.
Read the guide below to get a clearer idea.
7 - Trailer Brake Magnet Wiring Step by Step Guide
Even though this article will focus on wiring the brake magnet, I will go through the entire process of removing the wheel and hub. In the end, to connect the brake magnet, you have to remove the hub.
important: Let's assume that for this demonstration you are replacing a new brake magnet.
Step 1 - Gather the necessary tools and parts
First of all, collect the following things.
- New trailer brake magnet
- Jack
- Tire iron
- ratchet
- Power socket
- Screwdriver
- Hammer
- Putty knife
- Lubrication (optional)
- Crimp connectors
- Crimping tool
Step 2 - Raise the trailer
Loosen the nuts before lifting the trailer. Do this for the wheel where you are replacing the brake magnet. But don't remove the nuts just yet.
Quick-Tip: It is much easier to loosen the lug nuts when the trailer is on the ground. Also, keep the trailer turned off during this process.
Then attach the floor jack close to the tire. And lift the trailer. Remember to place the floor jack securely on the ground (somewhere that can support the weight of the trailer).
If you have difficulty using the floor jack or cannot find one, use the tire change ramp to raise the trailer.
Step 3 - Remove the wheel
Then remove the nuts from the wheel with a pry bar. And pull the wheel out of the trailer to expose the hub.
Tip of the day: Never remove more than one wheel at a time unless necessary.
Step 4 – Capture the hub
Now it's time to remove the hub. But first, take out the outer cover with a hammer and spatula. Then take out the bearings.
Then use a screwdriver to unscrew the hub from the brake assembly. Then carefully pull the hub towards you.
Step 5 - Pull out the old brake magnet
By removing the hub, you can easily find the brake magnet. The magnet is always at the bottom of the base plate.
First, disconnect the wires of the old magnet from the power wires. You can find these wires behind the back plate.
Step 6 - Install the New Magnet
Take your newly purchased brake magnet and place it on the bottom of the base plate. Then connect the two magnet wires to the two power wires. Here you don't have to worry about which wire goes to which. Make sure one of the power wires is for power and the other is for ground.
The wires coming out of the magnet are not color coded. Sometimes they may be green. And sometimes they can be black or blue. In this case, both are green. However, like I said, don't worry. Check the two power wires and connect two wires of the same color to them.
Quick-Tip: Make sure the grounding is done properly.
Use crimp connectors to secure all connections.Step 7 - Reattach Hub and Wheel
Connect the hub, bearings and outer bearing cap. Finally, connect the wheel to the trailer.
Quick-Tip: Apply grease to bearings and cover if necessary.
Where do power wires come from?
The trailer socket provides connection to the trailer's brakes and lights. These two power wires come directly from the trailer socket. When the driver applies the brake, the connector supplies current to the electric brakes located in the hub.
Electric brake mechanism
The burst magnet is an important part of the electric brake. Therefore, understanding how an electric brake works will help you understand brake magnets.
As you already know, the brake magnet is on the base plate. In addition, the skid plate is home to most of the other parts that make up the brake assembly. Here is the complete list.
- Reactor spring
- Basic shoes
- Secondary footwear
- Drive lever
- appraiser
- Regulator spring
- Shoe clamp spring
- Bursting magnet
The magnet has two conductors connected directly to the trailer wiring. Whenever you apply electricity, the magnet gets magnetized. Then the magnet attracts the surface of the drum and starts to rotate it. This moves the drive arm and presses the shoes against the drum. And the pads do not allow the hub to slip, which means that the wheel will stop spinning.
Quick-Tip: Primary and secondary pads come with brake pads.
What happens when a trailer brake magnet fails?
When the brake magnet is defective, the magnetization process will not work properly. Consequently, the braking process will begin to falter. You can identify such a situation by these symptoms.
- Weak or sharp breaks
- The gaps will begin to pull in one direction.
However, visual inspection is the best way to identify a worn brake magnet. But some magnets can fail without showing signs of wear.
Can brake magnets be tested?
Yes, you can test them. To do this, you will need a digital multimeter.
- Remove the brake magnet from the brake assembly.
- Place the base of the magnet on the negative battery terminal.
- Connect the multimeter wires to the battery terminals.
- Check the reading on the multimeter.
If you find any current, the magnet is broken and needs to be replaced as soon as possible.
Take a look at some of our articles below.
- Check trailer wiring
- How to connect ground wires to each other
- Where to connect the parking brake wire
Video links
