Recommended Brake Assembly Backing Plate Bolt Installation

Updated 09/30/2025 | Published 12/07/2017

Products Featured in This Question

Mounting Bolts and Hardware for 12" Brake Assemblies

(220)

$35.98

etrailer Electric Trailer Brakes - Self-Adjusting - 12" - Left/Right Hand - 5.2K to 7K

(3026)

$186.02

Powerbuilt Dual Drive Torque Wrench - 3/8" and 1/2" - 10 to 150 ft-lb

(52)

$59.61

Question:

What is the torque specs for these 3/8 bolts/nuts that attach the backplates to the axles 5-bolts.

asked by: D. W

Expert Reply:

The attachment bolts for a 5-bolt brake assembly should be torqued to 30-50 foot/lbs. This will ensure your brake assembly # AKEBRK-7-SA is secured correctly.

If you don't have a torque wrench, I recommend the Powerbuilt Dual Drive Torque Wrench - 3/8" and 1/2" - 10 to 150 ft-lb # ALL944001.

expert reply by: Jason S

Larry

9/29/2025

Jameson, I decided to go with the Hydrastar Trailer Brakes - HSE7K-T1 and have run into a problem. I'm mounting the caliper mounting plates. In attempting to torque the nuts to the recommended 50 foot/lbs, I have striped three nuts. The problem appears to be that the plate is thicker than the old drum brake plate and when the nuts bottom out that there is not enough threads in the nuts engaged with the bolt threads. And when attempting to torque the nuts, they are stripping. Have you seen this problem before? Any suggestions? The axles are 7000lb Dexter.

Jameson C.

9/30/2025

@Larry That is not a problem we have seen here but I can see how it might happen as trailer parts aren't always as uniform as we'd like them to be. Best option would probably be to source longer bolts locally. You might take the bolts you have to a hardware store and determine what size they are and just get some a little longer so that the nut will sit flush.

Larry

9/30/2025

@JamesonC Thanks Jameson. I talked to Hydrastar, and they have a kit which includes new longer grade 8 fine thread bolts and nuts to replace the factory bolts just as you suggested.