You might not really think much regarding that tiny trailer brake magnet clip until your brakes start acting up to steep downhill grade. It's one associated with those "small part, big problem" situations that every trailer owner eventually works with. If that small piece of springtime steel loses the tension or snaps off entirely, your entire braking system may go from reliable to wreck-inducing in a matter of miles.
Most people focus on the best stuff—the brake drums, the shoes, or the controller inside the particular truck. However the truth is that the particular electric brake assembly is really a chain, and that clip is usually a vital link. It's the primary thing keeping your own magnet sitting get rid of against the armature dish. In order to fails, the magnet starts dancing around, and that's once the real head aches begin.
Exactly why This Tiny Clip Actually Matters
Let's talk regarding how these brakes work for another. When you strike the brake your pedal inside your truck, a good electric current flows back to the particular magnets inside your trailer's wheels. That will current turns the magnet into, nicely, a magnet. It then grabs on to the side of the rotating drum. This particular "grabbing" action brings a lever supply, which pushes the particular brake shoes contrary to the drum to slow you down.
The trailer brake magnet clip is the unsung hero that will holds that magnet onto the handle arm. It's usually a little, horseshoe-shaped or circular wire clip that snaps straight into a groove. In the event that it's loose, the magnet doesn't sit flat. If it's missing, the magnet can literally drop off the arm and start jumping around inside the drum. I've observed drums that looked like a grenade went off included just because a fifty-cent clip made the decision to give up the ghost.
If you hear a weird rhythmic scraping sound coming from your trailer tires while you're hanging around down the road, there's a good chance that clip has let proceed. It allows the magnet to move against the carol even when you aren't braking, which generates a lot of warmth and wears out your parts prematurely.
Signs Your Magnet Clip Is usually Giving Up
It's not usually obvious if a clip is failing, especially since it's hidden away inside the hub where a person can't see it. Nevertheless, your trailer may usually try to tell you something is usually wrong if you're listening.
One of the particular most common symptoms is uneven brake. If you feel the trailer "tugging" to one side whenever you apply the brakes, one of your magnets might be out of line because the clip is bent. Another red light is a clicking sound when you're moving at low speeds. That's often the magnet wobbling on its post because the clip isn't holding this tight anymore.
You should furthermore keep an vision on your brake controller's output. If you notice a person have to maintain cranking up the particular gain to get the same stopping power, it may not be the sneakers wearing out. It could be that the magnet is sitting at a good angle, making poor contact with the drum. A fresh trailer brake magnet clip costs next to nothing compared to a full brake job, so catching this early is really a massive win for the wallet.
Replacing the Clip Without Losing Your Brain
If you've determined that a person need a fresh clip, you're going to need to pull the hub. We know, it's a messy job with the grease and the bearings, but it's the only way to get in there. As soon as you've got the drum off, come to understand the magnet set up.
Replacing the trailer brake magnet clip is normally pretty straightforward, but it can be a bit "fiddly. " You'll want a good pair of needle-nose pliers or a small flathead screwdriver to pop the particular old one away from. Be careful not to let the springtime behind the magnet fly over the garage—those things have a brain of their very own and love in order to hide beneath the heaviest workbench within the shop.
Once you slip the new clip on, make sure it seats fully in to the groove upon the mounting write-up. You should listen to or feel a distinct "snap. " If it feels mushy or even loose, it's not on right. Give the magnet a small wiggle; it need to be able in order to move around in and out contrary to the spring pressure, however it shouldn't become floppy or tilted.
Don't Forget the Magnet Spring
While you're in there messing with the clip, look into the spring that sits behind the particular magnet. These 2 work as the team. The spring pushes the magnet toward the drum, and the clip keeps it through falling off. If the spring is definitely rusted or flattened, a brand-new clip won't fix your braking issues. Many of the time, if you're purchasing a replacement package, it'll come along with the magnet, the particular spring, and the particular clip completely. It's usually worth just replacing the entire collection if the brake systems are a few years old.
Cleaning the Lever Arm
Just before you snap that new clip directly into place, take the second to clear the post on the lever supply. Road grime, brake dust, and outdated crusty grease like to build up best in which the clip rests. When the groove is definitely full of junk, the particular clip won't seat properly, and you'll be doing this whole job again in a 30 days. A quick hit which includes brake cleanser plus a wire clean goes a long way.
Standard Mistakes to Prevent
One of the biggest mistakes I realize people make is attempting to reuse an old trailer brake magnet clip after taking the brakes apart intended for a routine examination. These clips are constructed with spring steel, and once you bend these to get them away from, they lose the bit of their particular tension. They're intended to be single-use items. With regard to a couple of dollars, just put a new one on. It's inexpensive insurance.
Another classic blunder is installing the clip upside down or backwards, depending on the specific style of your brake brand name (like Dexter or even Lippert). If the particular clip has the specific orientation, make sure it matches the one a person took off. If you're unsure, check the particular other wheel—assuming that will one is still come up with correctly!
Also, please don't try to use the generic hardware shop E-clip or cotter pin unless it's an absolute emergency. The clips created for trailer brakes are made to handle the heat and stoß of the road. A standard zinc-plated clip from the particular local bin may lose its mood (the metal kind, not the furious kind) when the brakes get hot, leading to a failing when you really need your brakes probably the most.
Where to Find Dependable Replacements
You are able to usually find a trailer brake magnet clip with any decent RV supply store or even trailer parts storage place. If you're shopping online, they're frequently sold in packages of four or included in a "magnet retainer kit. "
It's a good idea to keep a few of these inside your "oh no" box in the particular truck. You know the one—the plastic bin with the extra bearings, grease, plus bulbs. If you're on a lengthy trip and the magnet starts performing up, possessing a spare clip may be the particular difference between a fast roadside fix plus an expensive tow to some repair store.
When purchasing, just make sure you know the dimension of your brakes. A clip for a 7, 000-lb axle (12-inch brakes) isn't the same because one to get a several, 500-lb axle (10-inch brakes). Usually, the particular clips are somewhat universal within all those size categories, but it never damages to double-check the particular specs.
Keeping Everything Running Effortlessly
The bottom level line is that your trailer's braking program is just as great as its smallest part. The trailer brake magnet clip might become tiny, but it has a huge job. Regular servicing is the essential here. Each time you pack your bearings or adjust your own brakes, take a close look at those clips. Look regarding indications of rust, thinning hair metal, or reduction of tension.
If you remain on top of this, you'll avoid that will sinking feeling you get once you strike the brakes plus nothing happens—or even worse, when the trailer starts doing its own thing behind you. Towing is stress filled enough as it is; don't let a tiny bit of wire be the reason your weekend gets ruined. Maintain it clean, keep it tight, and replace those clips whenever you have the drums away. Your trailer (and your nerves) will thank you.