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P a g e
BRAKE
SYSTEMS
(CONTINUED)
Electric
Drum
Brakes
The
electric
drum
brakes
on
your
RV
are
similar
to
the
drum
brakes
on
an
automobile.
The
basic
difference
is
that
your
autmotive
brakes
are
actuated
by
hydraulic
pressure
while
your
electric
trailer
brakes
are
actuated
by
an
electromagnet.
Electrical
current
is
fed
into
the
system
by
the
controller,
it
flows
through
the
electromagnets
in
the
brakes.
The
electromagnets
are
energized
and
become
magnetically
attracted
to
the
rotating
armature
surface
of
the
drums
which
moves
the
actuating
levers
in
the
direction
that
the
drums
are
turning.
This
force
causes
the
actuating
cam
block
at
the
shoe
end
of
the
lever
to
push
the
primary
shoe
out
against
the
inside
surface
of
the
brake
drum.
The
force
generated
by
the
primary
shoe
acting
through
the
adjuster,
moves
the
secondary
shoe
out
into
contact
with
the
brake
drum.
Increasing
the
current
flow
to
the
electromagnet
causes
the
magnet
to
grip
the
armature
surface
of
the
brake
more
firmly.
This
results
in
increasing
the
pressure
against
the
shoes
and
brake
drums
until
the
desired
stop
is
accomplished.
Hydraulic
Disc
Brakes
(If
Equipped)
When
equipped,
disc
brakes
have
a
fixed
caliper
setup.
This
setup
uses
pistons
situated
on
both
sides
of
the
rotor.
During
actuation,
hydraulic
pressure
pushes
against
the
pistons
to
apply
the
inboard
and
outboard
brake
pads
equally
to
decelerate
the
spinning
rotor.
The
caliper
is
fixed
and
stays
stationary
during
brake
actuation
and
brake
adjustment.
Brake
pad
to
rotor
clearance
is
maintained
as
lining
wear
occurs
via
the
brake
piston
and
internal
caliper
seal.
