Upgrading Dexter Self Adjusting Brake Assemblies to Disc for Better Reliability

Published 11/13/2019

Products Featured in This Question

Replacement Spring Kit for 10" and 12" Manual-Adjust Electric Trailer Brake Assemblies

(52)

$12.85

Hydrastar Electric Over Hydraulic Actuator Kit for Disc Brakes - 1,600 psi

(231)

$1218.25

Kodiak Disc Brake Kit - 12" Hub/Rotor - 6 on 5-1/2 - Dacromet/KodaGuard - 5,200 to 6,000 lbs

(24)

$513.28

Question:

I have a 2011 Airstream 25 FB with the #23-458 and459 brakes on 6000 lb axles. At approximately 30000 miles the RR magnet mounting broke off and the floating magnet presumably damaged the rest of the brake mechanism. Dexter replaced all 4 brake backing plates under warranty. At about 10000 miles later both right side brakes magnets broke off with similar damage as previously. Again Dexter replaced all 4 backing plates under warranty. In August of this year traveling through Newfoundland with 16000 miles on the replacements, the RR brake came apart with severe damage to shoes, adjusting screw and melted the grease in the Nev-R-Lube bearing. The magnet mounting hole was enlarged and the mount rounded allowing the magnet to come off. This time I was able to retrieve the spring at the bottom that surrounds the the adjusting screw and holds the bottom of the brake shoes together with adjusting screw. in between. The spring hook portion on the shorter straight portion is gone and the other hook has a worn spot where the hook meets the sharp corner of the hole where it goes through the brake shoe. I have concluded that the spring breaking has been the cause of all the above described incidents. Why the spring breaks is conjecture but I think it it is a too small of gauge compared with the manual adjust spring, poor quality and may be getting fatigued due to more action caused by the more frequent front moving adjustment. I The current replacement is a manual adjustment backing plate while I try to figure out what to do such as replace all with Dexter manual adjust backing plates or replace all with Axle Tech backing plates. Before either I want to try the spring from Axle Tech on the rest of the existing Dexter backing plates. I would like 4 of the springs but cannot find them on your website. So after this long essay that i s my request of you to see if you can sell them to me. Thank you for your help.

asked by: Ronald H

Expert Reply:

We have the Axle-Tek/etrailer brake assembly spring replacements with the part # AKBRKR-SP which fits the 10 and 12 inch brake assemblies. I can't really guarantee this will solve your problems or even work properly since it's for a different brand.

Your ultimate solution would be to convert to a disc brake setup. In general disc brake setups perform better and last much longer due to superior parts and design.

For a kit to replace the hub/drums you have now with a disc setup we have the Kodiak part # K2HR526DKG which fits your current 6k spindles. Then for an actuator setup you'd want the HydraStar Electric Over Hydraulic Actuator Kit for Disc Brakes # HBA16-252-82 which comes with everything you'd need to convert the trailer to electric over hydraulic.

I know this is more money that you were considering spending but for how much your trailer is getting used it's a very solid upgrade that is worth the money. I attached an install video for this kit for you to check out as well.

expert reply by: Jameson C