Dexter Hydraulic Drum Brakes - Parking Brake Ready - Free Backing - Dacromet - 12" - 7K

Dexter Trailer Brakes - DX32KR

Three layers of defense against rust and corrosion: Dacromet, acrylic topcoat, and e-coat shoes. Parking brake ready, free backing brakes let you pick the best time to lock your trailer's brakes. Fits 14-1/2" and larger wheels.

Features:

• Free backing brakes let you back up without locking up
  • Required if your surge actuator doesn't have a reverse lockout
• Marine-grade brakes are great for boat and snowmobile trailers
  • Three layers of corrosion protection: Dacromet backing plates with acrylic topcoat, and e-coat shoes
  • Stainless steel springs are virtually rustproof
• Parking-brake-ready brakes let you park your boat trailer more securely
  • Requires tongue-mounted activating lever and cables (T2385200 - sold separately)
• Periodic manual adjustment required
• Long-lasting brake pads offer excellent braking torque
  • Fully bonded to shoes for consistent braking compared to riveted pads
• Adjuster plugs (included) keep internal components free from dirt, grime, and road debris
• Left-hand (driver's-side) and right-hand (passenger's-side) brake assemblies and mounting nuts included
  • Mounting bolts (BRKH12) sold separately
• Made in the USA

Specs:

• Application: most standard hub-and-drum assemblies, including etrailer, Dexter, and Lippert (LCI)
• Dimensions: 12" diameter x 2" wide
• Wheel size: 14-1/2" and larger
• Mounting flange bolt pattern: 5 bolt
• Axle rating: up to 7,000 lbs
• Limited 5-year warranty

Quick Tip: There's really not a whole lot to getting new drum brakes. If you've confirmed that everything listed above lines up with what you need for your trailer, you can be pretty sure these will work for you.

Reverse Easily with Free-Backing Brakes

Backing up your trailer might be the only time you don't want the brakes to work. Normally, this would be a job for the reverse lockout on your hydraulic actuator. But if you don't have a lockout, you'll need brakes that will you allow you to back up freely instead.

How do they work, you ask?

During normal forward braking, a fall-away shoe expands to catch your brake drum with enough force to bring your rig to a stop. When driving in reverse, however, these brake assemblies prevent the shoes from fully catching on the drums. This takes away your braking control, and allows your wheels to turn, without stopping them completely.

Note: Free backing brakes don't activate when you're in reverse. So, keep in mind that a trailer breakaway kit will not be effective if your trailer were to disconnect from your tow vehicle while you're backing up.

Ready to Roll When You Are

If you're looking to customize your off-road trailer or pop-up camper, these brakes can be a great way to do that.

Installing these brakes is easy, and using them is even easier. Run the linkage cable from your tongue-mounted handbrake (not included) to the lever on the backing plate of the assembly. Then, just pull on the handbrake any time you need a little reassurance that your valuable cargo won't roll away from you.

Superior Corrrosion Protection

If your trailer is routinely exposed to saltwater, snow, or heavily treated salt roads, these are the brakes for you. You'll get the best corrosion protection you can get when it comes to drum brakes for boat trailers. The first layer of anti-corrosion coating is an e-coat primer applied to the backing plates and shoe levers. Next, a Dacromet coating with a 1,000-hour salt spray rating goes on. And finally, an acrylic topcoat that's nearly rustproof is put onto the backing plates. You'll also find the stainless steel springs inside that are virtually rustproof.

How to Manually Adjust Trailer Brakes

The more miles you put on your trailer, the more your brake pads will wear down. As they lose contact with the drum, stopping distances get longer and longer. To keep your brakes working great, it's important to adjust them pretty routinely. For this job, grab a floor jack and either a brake adjustment tool (sold separately) or just a standard flathead screwdriver.

Jack up your trailer enough to get the wheel(s) off the ground. Remove the adjuster plugs from the backing plate on the brake, and insert the flat end of the tool through the back of the assembly.

Push in on the star gear and lift it up. Keep doing this until the brake pads catch on your brake drum. When you can't spin your wheel by hand anymore, back the gear off by about 10 clicks (push down on the star gear). Does the wheel now spin freely (even if it sounds like the brake pads drag slightly on the drum)? Great! Then you're all done with that one and ready to adjust the rest.

How to Break In New Brakes

Once you get these assemblies installed, and your lines flushed with fresh fluid, you'll need to break in these brakes. First, find a long stretch of road or a big, empty parking lot. Once you're there, set your brake controller to its maximum setting and get moving. Speed up to about 40 mph and brake to slow to about 20 mph. Repeat this 15-30 times. The goal is to get the brake shoes properly seated into your drum. You'll know you've done that when it feels less jerky (and more consistent) each time you apply the brakes.

Note: The brakes will be very hot after doing this, so after every 10 stops you'll want to wait about 10 minutes to let the brakes cool off before continuing. If you don't, you might cook and crack the pad material.

K23-340-01 Dexter Hydraulic Drum Brake Assembly with Parking Brake Lever - Free Backing - LH - Driver Side - 12" x 2" - Manual Adjust - 7,000 lbs - Dacromet

K23-341-01 Dexter Hydraulic Drum Brake Assembly with Parking Brake Lever - Free Backing - RH - Passenger Side - 12" x 2" - Manual Adjust - 7,000 lbs - Dacromet