How to Install Electric Brakes

Electric brakes are a special type of brake shoe assembly for trailers.The brakes connect to the brake pedal on the tow vehicle and and receive an electric current that uses a magnet to apply the brakes. Most trailer brake kits come pre-assembled with the shoes and magnets. You will need to install their backing plates onto the trailer's wheel and axle, and then wire the brakes to the towing vehicle.

Instructions

1

Raise the trailer and support it on jack stands, then remove the wheels with your lug wrench.

2

Pry the dust cap off the hub with a flat screwdriver and hammer. Remove the cotter pin or metal clip off the hub nut and then remove the nut, washer and bearing and slip off the hub.

3

Slide the electric brake assembly onto the axle. Make sure you have the correct plate for each side. The magnet on the backing plate must be on the bottom and the brake assembly arm must point toward the front of the vehicle.

4

Install the lock washers onto the mounting bolts at the rear end of the backing plate, then apply the nuts on the bolts and washers with your wrench.

5

Reinstall the hub with its washer and nut. Turn the hub as you tighten the nut to about 40 foot-pounds with a torque wrench, then stop turning and loosen the nut to finger-tight. Install a new cotter pin or metal clip.

6

Run a length of two conductor double jacketed wire from the front truck plug to one of the two brake assemblies and connect the wire at the brake backing plate. Run the wire along the axle to the other brake and connect it.

7

Connect one part of the conductor wire to the blue terminal on the truck's front plug, and connect the second wire to the white terminal.

8

Reattach the wheels and lower the trailer.