Very weak brakes I have adjusted a couple of times and they have improved very little. I have to max the gain out to get any braking. The voltage is good and the magnets are working. I had a 2020 Imagine XLS 22RBE and the Brakes were great on it. The new trailer is heavier but not by a lot. I took the hubs off and discovered the New trailer came with non-Self adjusting brakes this is very disappointing I would think a new trailer would have self adjusting brakes. Any ideas other than replacement would be appreciated. I think they will have to be replaced with better brakes.
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Weak Brakes on New 2022 Imagine 2500RL
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Originally posted by kharris733 View PostVery weak brakes I have adjusted a couple of times and they have improved very little. I have to max the gain out to get any braking. The voltage is good and the magnets are working. I had a 2020 Imagine XLS 22RBE and the Brakes were great on it. The new trailer is heavier but not by a lot. I took the hubs off and discovered the New trailer came with non-Self adjusting brakes this is very disappointing I would think a new trailer would have self adjusting brakes. Any ideas other than replacement would be appreciated. I think they will have to be replaced with better brakes.
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Neil Citro
2018 Reflection 28BH Pepwave
2019 F350 6.7L Long Bed Crew Cab
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Originally posted by kharris733 View PostVery weak brakes I have adjusted a couple of times and they have improved very little. I have to max the gain out to get any braking. The voltage is good and the magnets are working. I had a 2020 Imagine XLS 22RBE and the Brakes were great on it. The new trailer is heavier but not by a lot. I took the hubs off and discovered the New trailer came with non-Self adjusting brakes this is very disappointing I would think a new trailer would have self adjusting brakes. Any ideas other than replacement would be appreciated. I think they will have to be replaced with better brakes.
My 2020 Reflection came with the manual adjusting brakes and have not been an issue. However, it took about 500 miles of use before the brakes shoes seemed to seat (conform to drum), but when new the brakes were very weak.2020 Reflection 273MK
2005 Dodge Ram 2500 CTD
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Just in case you dont have a copy. https://www.dexteraxle.com/user_area...ice_manual.pdf
It really doesnt take the adjustment to be off by much to give the kind of poor performance you describe. Assuming the shoes are not contaminated with grease and the seals were intact I would review the adjustment procedure and make sure they are tight enough.
If those brakes are clean and adjusted properly they should stop that trailer very well and require minimal adjustments.2021 Reflection 337RLS, 2021 Silverado 3500HD 6.6 gas. Nellie the wonder boxer
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Originally posted by kharris733 View PostVery weak brakes I have adjusted a couple of times and they have improved very little. I have to max the gain out to get any braking. The voltage is good and the magnets are working. I had a 2020 Imagine XLS 22RBE and the Brakes were great on it. The new trailer is heavier but not by a lot. I took the hubs off and discovered the New trailer came with non-Self adjusting brakes this is very disappointing I would think a new trailer would have self adjusting brakes. Any ideas other than replacement would be appreciated. I think they will have to be replaced with better brakes.Mike and (RIP Karen)
2021 2600RB
2011 Tundra 5.7 DC
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Originally posted by AZMike View Post
I agree with what has been stated about the fact that it will require a few hundred miles for the shoes to wear enough to have the entire area of the shoes contact the drum (conform to the drum). I had the same issue with my trailer when it was new. You will have to adjust the brakes a number of times during this brake in period but you will notice that the braking will get progressively better. Do yourself a favor and buy a brake spoon, it will make the task of adjusting much easier. I do mine every few thousand miles at any campsite that I happen to be at. I just use the bottle jack from my truck and raise one wheel at a time about 1'. As far as the lack of self adjusters, I'm glad I don't have them. As a brake mechanic in a prior life when drum brakes were the norm, I have seen far too many problems with self adjusting brakes on cars.
Ottertail, Minnesota
2022 Imagine 2500RL VIN 573TE3029N6637046
2022 Ford F-150 Lariat, SuperCrew, long box, max tow
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Originally posted by AlexPeterson View Post
Mike - thanks for this info. We only have pulled our 2500RL about 60 miles from the dealer to home, but the brakes were almost non-existent. I was able to adjust them a fair bit, so we'll see the next time I'm on the road with it. Re lifting with a bottle jack - do you raise the axle or the frame? I read where one is only supposed to raise on the frame, but, with a properly placed and shaped (vee of some sort) block under the axle, I don't see a problem.Mike and (RIP Karen)
2021 2600RB
2011 Tundra 5.7 DC
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Bear in mind that your trailer was also towed from Indiana to wherever your dealer is.
While your under there its a good time to check the torque on the U-bolts
See page 67 https://www.dexteraxle.com/user_area...ice_manual.pdf2021 Reflection 337RLS, 2021 Silverado 3500HD 6.6 gas. Nellie the wonder boxer
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I lift the tires individually with a bottle jack directly on one of the U-bolts. When I do this, I have the trailer sitting on its stabilizers to help minimize load on the axle. you could even bump the stabilizers up a bit (do not try to lift the trailer) as every fraction of and inches the stabilizers lift the trailer is a direct release of load on the axle (it will end up fully loading the jack eventually).Joseph
Tow Vehicle: 2024 GMC K3500 Denali Ultimate Diesel
Coach: 303RLS Delivered March 5, 2021
South of Houston Texas
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