Are you sure you're not talking about the inertia brake? Whacking it with a hammer will make no difference at all. Is it an IFW box? If it is there should be a grease nipple to lubricate.
 
Talking a foreign language to me. I see there are 2 grease nipples to the rear of the rubber convoluted boot. Will grease these up but I think it needs a drive test to check everything.
 
Have to tow it there anyway so if its ok then is it worth it getting them checked?
 
Once the brakes are working you might also want to check if the system includes 'auto-reverse' (which is unlikely at that age of 'van) in which case don't forget to flip the curved plate over the gap in the 'van's tow hitch before backing up, otherwise you'll just apply the brakes ;)
 
mind if I ask a trailer "noob" question, what exactly do the brakes on a "braked trailer" consist of? I've had trailers with brakes that operate manually on the handbrake and with the emergency brake away cable that'll pull the handbrake on if the trailer coupling brakes, is this all that you get?
 

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