trailer brakes wont set

Discussion in 'Peterbilt Forum' started by bobbycalfee, Jul 25, 2014.

  1. bobbycalfee

    bobbycalfee Bobtail Member

    1
    0
    Jul 25, 2014
    0
    I have a 387 and when I pull the dash valve the truck breaks will set but the trailer breaks wont, and it does it with all trailers. they will set if I get out and break the airlines. I cant figure this out.
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. 201

    201 Road Train Member

    12,796
    26,336
    Apr 16, 2014
    high plains colorado
    0
    Hi bobby, could be moisture in the system, try draining the air tank on the trailer, otherwise, there's a distribution valve above the trailer axles, unit with 4 air lines, one going to each wheel, could be stuck. If anti-lock is involved, I can't help ya.
     
  4. freightlinerman

    freightlinerman Road Train Member

    1,287
    536
    Mar 4, 2011
    Florida
    0
    HE says this happens with all trailers. It would seem to be a tractor specific problem. I'd start with the red valve, that's where air comes in and air goes out. There should be a vent where the air exhausts, all the plumbing is on your firewall. Good luck.
     
  5. 201

    201 Road Train Member

    12,796
    26,336
    Apr 16, 2014
    high plains colorado
    0
    Oh yeah, duh, I see that now.You are right, something is preventing the air to be released. My 359 had a valve under the cab that the emergency line came from, maybe that's bad. I never had a red button valve go bad, but it's possible. Plugged line? Once, I helped a guy with brake problems, we took the line off a brake chamber, he pushed on the brake, and all this oily water jiz came shooting out.
     
  6. GrapeApe

    GrapeApe Road Train Member

    2,215
    2,212
    Jan 7, 2013
    0
    Sounds like you have a QR valve not working, or a probem in the dash valve itself. I had one doing this once and found that the QR valve on the back of the cab (Sterling) was replaced with a check valve. The QR valves were known to leak on those and someone must have thought it was a check valve. It was not letting the air out of the trailer.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.