Truck drivers depend on their trailer brakes to ensure the safety of their passengers and cargo, as well as the other people and vehicles on the road. Trailers can weigh thousands of pounds, so it is essential that these brakes work properly and effectively. Understanding how trailer brakes work on a pickup truck will help you maintain your trailer carefully and keep your journey safe.
Types of Trailer Brakes
The two most common types of brakes used in trailers are electric drum and electric disc. The electric drum brake is the older style, which uses a friction surface inside a drum to create resistance when the brake pedal is applied. Electric disc brakes are newer technology, and they use a caliper with pads squeezing against a rotor to slow down the trailer.
How Do Trailer Brakes Work?
When you press the brake pedal in your pickup truck, it sends hydraulic pressure through an air-actuated valve and into the trailer’s braking system. This pressure pushes against an actuator in each wheel, activating either the electric drum or electric disc brake.
Once activated, the wheel’s friction surfaces interact with each other to slow down or stop the wheel from rotating. As you press harder on your truck’s brake pedal, more pressure is applied to the wheel’s friction surfaces, resulting in increased braking force.
Safety Considerations
It is important to remember that trailer brakes are designed to supplement your pickup truck’s main braking system. Therefore, you should ensure that your pickup truck’s regular brakes are working properly before attaching a trailer.
If you notice any vibrations or sounds coming from your trailer when you apply its brakes, it could be a sign of worn-out parts or poor alignment. If this happens, take your trailer to a qualified technician for inspection as soon as possible.
Conclusion
Trailer brakes play an important role in keeping trucks safe on the road by providing additional stopping power for heavy loads. Understanding how they work can help truck drivers maintain their trailers properly and stay safe while driving.
How Do Trailer Brakes Work on a Pickup Truck?
Trailer brakes use hydraulic pressure sent from pressing on the pickup truck’s brake pedal activating either electric drum or electric disc brakes which use friction surfaces inside a drum or caliper with pads squeezing against a rotor to slow down or stop rotation of wheels. It’s important to ensure that your pickup truck’s regular brakes are working correctly before attaching a trailer for additional safety considerations.
