Parts Needed to Add Hydraulic Drum Brakes to a Trailer

Are you thinking about adding hydraulic drum brakes to your trailer that has no brakes? Or perhaps you want to change from electric drum to hydraulic drum brakes. In either case, you will need some basic information to build a system that will stop your trailer safely and dependably. The following article and tables provide information about your options and will help you find parts that will work together. If you just want to find parts quickly, see our Parts Reference Table, below.

Why Go with Hydraulic Drum Brakes

Hydraulic drum brakes can provide a safe and secure braking system with strong stopping power for your trailer. And because a hydraulic braking system lacks electrical parts, a trailer with hydraulic brakes can safely be backed into water. This makes hydraulic brakes perfect for boat trailers.

Parts Reference Table

Parts for Adding Hydraulic Drum Trailer Brakes
	Trailer
Part	Brake Mounting Flange	Spindle	Drum Brake Assembly	Hub and Drum	Hydraulic Drum Brake Actuator	Brake Line Kit
Consider	Axle diameter	Bearing and seal dimensions B - C - D - Axle capacity -	Bearing spindle seal Wheel bolt pattern	Hub diameter Hub bolt pattern	Select Hydraulic Surge Brake Actuator	Type of axle Number of axles

Trailer Brake Mounting Flanges

To operate the brakes, your trailer's axle must have a brake mounting flange attached behind the existing hub assembly on each side. Most axles have these, and if your trailer already has brakes (electric or hydraulic) it will. But if your trailer has no brake mounting flanges, you have two options.

1. You can replace the axle with a properly rated one that already has brake flanges welded in place. Ordering a new axle complete with hydraulic disc brakes may actually cost less than buying separate parts. However, to order a complete axle you will need to know the axle capacity, wheel diameter, wheel bolt pattern, spindle type (whether it is drop or straight) and type of brake assembly - in this case, hydraulic. You will also need to know the distance between your trailer's leaf springs, center to center, and between the hub faces.

2. You can purchase brake flanges and have a qualified welder weld them to the axle. When a brake mounting flange is welded to an axle, it must be welded square and concentric. This usually requires a jig to hold both parts in position. A trailer shop should have the equipment and personnel to weld brake mounting flanges to your axle.

Pictured (above, right) is the most popular brake mounting flange. It's a square, four-bolt pattern that is used on most axles up to and including 3,500 pounds. The next-most-popular flange is the five-bolt design, which is commonly used on 5,200, 6,000 and 7,000 pound axles. The pattern of the holes in the flange is standard, so all you need to note is the axle diameter and the number of holes in the mounting flange.

Trailer Hub-and-Drum Assemblies

If your trailer axle has brake flanges and you plan to add the other brake components separately, you must select hub-and-drum assemblies that are compatible with the trailer spindles. The numbers stamped into your trailer's existing bearings and seals will help you determine the proper hub-and-drum assemblies. You will also need to know the wheel bolt pattern of your existing hubs so that the new hubs will match up with your existing wheels. For help with determining wheel bolt pattern, see our article, Determining the Bolt Pattern of Your Wheel. If you cannot find part numbers for the bearings and seals, you can measure the spindles (see spindle diagram) at the inner (C in diagram) and outer (D in diagram) bearing surfaces, as well as the seal contact surface (B in diagram).

This is our most popular setup for a 3,500-lb axle. Notice the tapered spindle. It uses L68149 inner bearings (dimension C) and L44649 outer bearings (dimension D). The 10" hub-and-drum with a 5 on 4-1/2" wheel bolt pattern is also pictured.

If you're switching from electric drum brakes, you should be able to use your existing hub-and-drum - just note its inner diameter.

Hydraulic Trailer Brake Assemblies

Once you've selected a hub-and-drum, you can choose a compatible hydraulic brake assembly. You need to know that the brake assembly is compatible with the brake mounting flange and with the drum's diameter and depth. The labeled drum shows the measurements that you need to know to select a brake assembly.

Brake Line Kits for Trailers

Next, you will need a brake line kit to plumb the trailer from the hydraulic surge actuator to the drum brake assemblies. Brake line kits are selected according to the number of axles on the trailer. If your trailer has a torsion axle, you will need to get a brake line kit that includes flexible lines to the brake assemblies. This will allow the line to flex with the movement of the axle.

Hydraulic Drum Brake Actuator

Another item your trailer will need is a brake actuator, a device that applies pressure to the brake lines to activate the brakes. The actuator is bolted or welded to the trailer at the tongue and connects to the ball on the hitch of the tow vehicle. The actuator works by compression. When the tow vehicle slows, the trailer pushes against the actuator, thereby causing it to apply the brakes.

When selecting a brake actuator you must select one that meets or exceeds the GTWR of the trailer. The actuator must also match the size of the hitch ball on the tow vehicle. You can also select manual or electric reverse lockout options if you would like to prevent your actuator from applying your trailer brakes when you back your trailer.

You should also select a brake actuator that is designed for drum brakes. Hydraulic drum brakes operate at a lower pressure (1,000 psi) than disc brakes (1,500 psi), so make sure you select a compatible actuator.

Common Combinations of Trailer Brake Components

Typical Components by Axle Capacity for Adding Hydraulic Drum Brakes
Axle Size	EZ Lube Option	Brake Flange	Bearings	Seal	Brake Assembly	Hub/Drum and Bolt Pattern	Surge Actuator	Brake Line Kit
2,000-lb Axle 1-3/4" Diameter	Standard	4-34	Inner - L44649 Outer - L44649	10-9	LH - 7" x 1-3/4" RH - 7" x 1-3/4"	4 on 4" - 8-276-5 5 on 4-1/2" - T1554500042	T4332900	Single axle - T4829900
	EZ Lube	4-34	Inner - L44649 Outer - L44649	10-60	LH - 7" x 1-3/4" RH - 7" x 1-3/4"	5 on 4-1/2" - 8-271-7UC3-EZ	T4332900	Single axle - T4829900
3,500-lb Axle 2-3/8" Diameter	Standard	4-35	Inner - L68149 Outer - L44649	58846	LH - 10" x 2-1/4" RH - 10" x 2-1/4"	5 on 4-1/2" - 84546UC3	T43329007K T43397007K	Single axle - T4829900 Double axle - T4830000
	EZ Lube	4-35	Inner - L68149 Outer - L44649	10-19	LH - 10" x 2-1/4" RH - 10" x 2-1/4"	5 on 4-1/2" - 84546UC3-EZ	T43329007K T43397007K	Single axle - T4829900 Double axle - T4830000
5,200-lb and 6,000-lb Axle 3" Diameter	Standard	4-44-1	Inner - 25580 Outer - 15123 or LM67048	10-1 or 42385	LH - 12" x 2" RH - 12" x 2"	6 on 5-1/2" - 42656	T2477600 T2478100	Single axle - T4829900 Double axle - T4830000
			Inner - 25580 Outer - 02475 or 14125A	10-1 or 42385	LH - 12" x 2" RH - 12" x 2"	8 on 6-1/2" - 42866UC3	T2477600 T2478100	Single axle - T4829900 Double axle - T4830000
	EZ Lube	4-44-1	Inner - 25580 Outer - 15123 or LM67048	10-10 or 10-36	LH - 12" x 2" RH - 12" x 2"	6 on 5-1/2" - 8-201-5UC3-EZ	T2477600 T2478100	Single axle - T4829900 Double axle - T4830000
			Inner - 25580 Outer - 02475 or 14125A	10-10 or 10-36	LH - 12" x 2" RH - 12" x 2"	8 on 6-1/2" - 42866UC3-EZ	T2477600 T2478100	Single axle - T4829900 Double axle - T4830000

Updated by: Raymond P.

Last updated: 7/6/18