Help... Our new trailer squeeks/squeels.... are our brakes compramised?

[ihealthi]

OK... so we just drove about 3k on our new tt.  We knew that they squeeled soon after we picked it up ( we thought it was a new thing sound_ , but really didn't pay attention until we heard it again echo-ing off the buildings that we were passing in slow mo today). 

So now what do we do? I have to contact the dealer in Cali regarding other stuff, but how can we protect ourselves from future probs? 

In other words.... if we had this squeel for the past 3k miles, are our brakes comprimised?????

Help!

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Most trailer squeaks come from the hitch and that is generally not a problem. Hard to say what yours are without being there to hear them. Can you have somebody pull the trailer for 50 feet while you walk alongside and listen where the noise comes from? Find a big parking lot to do this.

Brakes don't usually squeak or squeal when the brake pedel is not being applied. They would have to be severely out of adjustment to do that and you would likely have had major brake/wheel problems by now if that were the case.

 

[ihealthi]

We tried and did apply the hand brake (in the truck) at slow speed and it stopped the trailer and truck with no squeek.  But when we slowly pulled out, the trailer (near the axles) once again started to squeek.  It is defintiely coming from the axles of the trailer. 

Sooooo, this has happened for at least 3k miles or plus.  Are we screwed?  Should we be prepared to ask the dealer to change the brakes?  Do you change the brakes on a tt?  what should we be prepared for when we let the dealer know of this problem?

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Still more likely to be squeaky springs than bad brakes. But yes, the electric brakes on a trailer can be changed/replaced. Either individual parts or the entire brake assembly. I wouldn't panic yet.

 

[Lou Schneider]

Electric trailer brakes work by dragging an electromagnet along the face of the brake drum as the wheel rotates.  The drag then goes through a mechanical linkage to apply pressure to the brake shoes and apply the brakes.

It's possible you're hearing the magnet continuing to scrape against the drum after you release the brakes.  If so, it's really nothing to worry about.

 

[edjunior]

It's possible you're hearing the magnet continuing to scrape against the drum after you release the brakes.  If so, it's really nothing to worry about.

However, it can be very annoying.  Since you are heading to the dealer anyway, have them find out what it is for sure, and have them fix it now while it's under warranty.  It could be just a simple adjustment, or it could be something that is really out of whack.  Either way, it needs to be fixed, that's what the warranty is for.  Keep us posted...inquiring minds want to know.

 

[ihealthi]

K....  thanks!  We will be heading down to the dealer in early November.  We live about a 3 1/2 - 4 hour drive away, so we plan to do some camping down there also