10k axle electric brake not working on one side, any thoughts

mid 90's big tex gooseneck with 2 dexter 10k axles

it has very, very little miles on it but the front axle has the original brakes. they are 12 1/4" x4"

the shoes (pads) on both sides have heaps of life left,, it's like they were not used,,

the rear brakes will practically lock up when my 2019 ford f350 dash image shows "3" it goes from 1-10. this ford has the brake controller built into the dash and when used, the instrument cluster has a digital graphic display showing how much brake is being applied.

but the front brakes,, the drivers side is still not locked up at "3" and the passenger side doesn't work at all.

the wiring looks fine and i checked the ground wire that goes to the frame it is good as well.

i can visually see the pads thru the gap of the backing plate and they are adjusted the same as the rear.

i have worked on electric trailer brakes before on 5th wheels. these 10k brakes are bigger of course

full disclosure, i have not removed the drum yet to check them out,,,i ordered some oil seals (these are oil bath hubs) because as long as i have them out i will replace seal. it's not leaking but it must be old.

appreciate any input

 

It's been so long since I worked on electric brakes, but the problem is probably in your wiring or in your magnets.

Make sure you don't have any broken wires using an ohmmeter whatever just make sure all your connections are live. Make sure you have electricity from the controller and the front and the back wheels are live to one another

I'm not sure that the magnets themselves ever go bad but I think everything has to be really clean in there.

When you pull the wheel off you may find them covered in dirt or whatever.

There is not much else to them aside from the magnets and electricity and the brake adjustment.

 

Rust is a major problem with them things and the magnets can wear out from people running too high of a setting on the brake controller. You can't be certain what you're dealing with until you pull it apart. I just replaced mine on a 22GN and it was $1,400 for all 4 self adjusting brakes/magnets with seals.

One of mine was seized from rust and on another the brake lining was completely disintegrated from oil contamination. Each time I pulled a drum off there was a different issue.

I don't think the previous owner ever considered that brakes might be an important factor...

 

Check for power and ground when actuated. Easy enough. You can usually hear the magnets humming. If power and ground is good, you know it's inside.

If you need to replace, just buy new backing plates.

They're gonna lock up pretty easy without a load.

 

i was under there while i had son push controller and i could hear them humming,,, maybe i have old ears but was hard to hear which one was humming, however, it did seem like the one that was not working was not humming or had diminished humming at least.

 

the guy i bought the trailer from,, had replaced the rear brakes already just to make it back from missouri where he brought the trailer from (he at least knew the original owner, cousin, and how he used the trailer) but he had bought both the front brake assemblies and included them with the trailer so i guess it's an easy replacement i was just hoping i could adjust the front ones.
i was shocked when i looked online at the prices of the brakes,, they were 600-700 for a pair.

my fifth wheels did not seem to be that expensive,, i guess prices have gone up

 

when you say buy new backing plate,, you mean,, but the entire assembly together rather than just the magnet? assuming it is magnet?

 

Yes. Shoes, adjuster, magnet, all together on the backing plate.

I saw for 250$ a pair online

 

wow,, i haven't seen that anywhere,, where was it?

 

Most of those lighter duty trailers are wired up so poorly from factory its amazing the lights and brakes work to begin with. Would not be one bit suprised if you had wiring issues.