Braking issue, need help troubleshooting.

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by mn777, Aug 12, 2025.

  1. mn777

    mn777 Bobtail Member

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    On my FLD120, when coming to a stop, right before fully stopping it feels like the brakes fully stop working for a split second — even though I’m holding the brake pedal with the same stable pressure, its long enough where if I had to stop very close to a car in front I would most likely rear end them. Then, less than a second later, the trailer wheels grab hard and sometimes lock up. This just started happening after switching to a different trailer.
    Trailer is fairly new and has an inspection sticker from a month ago. I’m 1200 miles from home, what can I do to narrow down the potential issue?
    Thank you in advance!
     
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  3. JB7

    JB7 Heavy Load Member

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    "This just started happening after switching to a different trailer." So the problem is highly likely to be in the trailer. Do you own or lease the trailer? If not you call and tell them that the trailer is unsafe and needs to be looked at and/or repaired. If you have a spare cord I would swap that and see if it makes any difference.
     
  4. Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    I'm wondering why being 1200 miles from home is important.

    Different trailer and brakes acting up.
    Maybe water in the trailer brake lines?
    Water does not compress but it can move around, perhaps causing erratic behavior.
     
  5. mn777

    mn777 Bobtail Member

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    Now that you mention it, it did start doing it after a night of heavy rain, what would be the best way to check for this?
     
  6. TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    Does your truck have a trailer hand brake?
     
  7. Deere hunter

    Deere hunter Road Train Member

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    Your anti lock is acting up.
     
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  8. mn777

    mn777 Bobtail Member

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    Yes
     
  9. buzzarddriver

    buzzarddriver Road Train Member

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    Have you drained any condensation from your trailer air tank back above the rear axle?
     
  10. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    The trailer is new. That means the brakes and drums are new.

    The truck is old. The brakes aren't working. Out of adjustment. Warped worn out drums. Cam bushings.

    The trailer doesn't require much pressure to make new brakes work. The truck requires more pressure to stop. The truck struggles. The trailer locks up. The trailer is doing most of the stopping.

    I once drove a truck that was so bad. It didn't have much of a chance stopping without the trailer.
     
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  11. Brandt

    Brandt Road Train Member

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    The FLD120 does it even have ABS ? Just guessing it doesn’t and the new trailer will have ABS. The new trailer might have disc brakes also. If you’re driving FLD with ABS or not working ABS. Then pulling a new trailer with ABS and maybe disc brakes could make for interesting stopping experience when empty. Like other said it sounds like the trailer ABS is activating.
     
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