CPC
San Fernando Valley, USA
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Joined: 06/28/2002
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After we came back from Yosemite I took the 5er in because I thought it felt like the brakes were grabbing. The mechanic called me and said that I must have had the controller set to high because I fried the brake shoes. They were black with large, open cracks running length ways. It looked like a disaster waiting to happen. They had to change the shoes, the backing plates and the magnets. I've had this controller (a Tekonsha Sentinel) for several years and have not had this problem before. We've been doing a lot of mountain driving and I have set the controller a little higher because I want to be able to stop quickly in an emergency. Does anyone else set their controller higher for mountain driving? Should I not bother doing this?
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bkick
Bonita Springs Fl
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Joined: 03/24/2005
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I would suggest checking the TV brakes also. It may be that your rode the brakes more than you think and you damaged them all. Trailer brrakes are not built to the high standards that most vehicles have and may have been damaged. Would not hurt to check and be sure.
Bkick
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Herculez
North Carolina
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Joined: 08/13/2006
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Your brake controller is fine.
Here is my advice for you.
Switch all your brake shoes to brake Pads.
I sell brakes for a living and also pull trailers everyday for work.
Most of my trailers use shoes but brake pads will out last and out perform shoes any day.
Britt
Bkick, has good advice. Heat kills brake shoes fast. ( I will be down your way at Christmas )
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CPC
San Fernando Valley, USA
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bkick; I did have the truck's brakes checked and they we still very good, lots of pad life left. That's why I was wondering about the controller setting.
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Herculez
North Carolina
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CPC,
The setting of your controller at higher levels will generate more heat. Brake shoes do not handle heat as well as Pads do.
Going down mountains will burn up brakes.
Down shifting to a lower gear is a must.
Britt
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kaydeejay
SE Michigan, USA
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Herculez wrote:Switch all your brake shoes to brake Pads.
Surely he will need a disc brake conversion in order to switch to brake pads. Or do you have "pads" that work with drum brakes?
Keith J, Retired from GM Engineering
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Terryallan
NC
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As mentioned. Gear down coming down. Don't rely on the brakes to hold you back. Drop to 2nd, and if that isn't enough. Drop to 1st.
Terry & Shay
Pioneer 23T6
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Herculez
North Carolina
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kaydeejay wrote:Herculez wrote:Switch all your brake shoes to brake Pads.
Surely he will need a disc brake conversion in order to switch to brake pads. Or do you have "pads" that work with drum brakes?
No, just assumed the poster would know that it would be a conversion.
Pads do not work on drums, you will need rotor conversion.
Britt
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Uppercrust
Wisconsin
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Joined: 05/31/2003
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I had the same concern driving down the Big Horn Mountains on our way to and from Yellowstone a few weeks ago. I adjusted the gain on my brake controller just a little to make sure I had enough grab to slow down the trailer and then I let the tow/haul mode on the truck take it the rest of the way. Shocked me a bit when she downshifted to 2nd (and 3500 RPM) but it helped get us safely down the 7% grade we were experiencing.
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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I've never turned up my controller for mountain driving. There should seldom be any reason to use the brakes excessively but you need to learn to use the transmission for MOST of your braking.
2004 F-150 HD 3,050 lb. payload
Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
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