How to Release the Brakes on a Trailer

Over time, excessive use of trailer brakes can cause the brakes to wear down. Once the trailer brakes wear down too far, they will damage the brake drums. Damaged or grooved brake drums can cause the brakes to form uneven wear. The uneven wear can cause the brakes to get stuck inside of the grooves of the brake drums. As the damage to the brake drums and the brakes get worse, it will cause the brakes to get stuck inside of the drums more often. Check the brake wear on a consistent basis to prevent damage to the drums.

Instructions

1

Park the trailer on a level surface and apply the trailer brakes.

2

Place the wheel chocks in front of and behind each rear trailer wheel.

3

Release the air to the trailer brakes. Slide under the back of the trailer and locate the trailer brake slack adjusters that are mounted to the rear trailer axle. There are two slack adjusters -- one on the driver side of the rear axle, the other on the passenger side of the rear axle.

4

Locate the adjustment bolt on the back side of the driver side slack adjuster. Position a ratchet and a socket onto the adjustment bolt. Push the head of the ratchet inward against the adjustment bolt to release the spring loaded plate around the adjustment bolt. Turn the ratchet counterclockwise one to two full turns to release the brakes from the brake drums.

5

Shine the flashlight through the backside of the wheel hub until you can see the trailer brakes inside of the brake drum. Make sure that the brakes are completely free of the brake drums. If the brakes are still applied to the drum, continue to turn the adjustment bolt counterclockwise until the brakes are free of the drums. Move to the passenger side slack adjuster and repeat the same process to release the trailer brakes.