Brake magnets, round or oval?

If lining are thin/cracked badly and you need magnets -the complete assemblies are the way to go. Typically a set of shoes and magnet are more cost than assemblies. Assemblies are easier to install too.

EasterMarine right now has better prices than etrailer.com for Dexter brand assemblies. I did not factory shipping.....IM experience the Dexter system works a little better than the ALKO or Hayes style. Nev-R-Adjust is way to go if the cash is available. I would use 7K rated assembies, too as that gives you a little more stopping power.... If you had ALKO brakes OEM they were 7K rated magnets and friction.

Eastern Marine electric brakes

Less then 1/2 of new 2 years ago. Hopefully doing a mid-west from Az trip next summer so I want to make sure stopping is not a issue.

roller183 wrote:
The ones I'm looking are dexter and have white wires and the magnets, after looking closer are not a "true round" and apparently according to Al-ko will work. Its the whole assembly in one piece.

I was always under the impression that Dexter was top of the line, yet Al-KO sell the same assembly for almost twice as much...Is there THAT big a difference?

Map-guy, the pads are down pretty low. Drums looked good last time I checked. Now that I have the 2013 RAM with the improved exhaust brake, once I install these brakes, should be good till the walls of the RV fall off.

How thin? How much heat checking (cracks). The heat checking is a real issue. As the lining bond to metal shoe fails if thin and lots of heat checks. My concern with thin linings is heat fade resistance, when you actually need the brakes.

The ones I'm looking are dexter and have white wires and the magnets, after looking closer are not a "true round" and apparently according to Al-ko will work. Its the whole assembly in one piece.

I was always under the impression that Dexter was top of the line, yet Al-KO sell the same assembly for almost twice as much...Is there THAT big a difference?

Map-guy, the pads are down pretty low. Drums looked good last time I checked. Now that I have the 2013 RAM with the improved exhaust brake, once I install these brakes, should be good till the walls of the RV fall off.

Just looked at my 12" 6K plates.....They are a more round, larger diameter oval shape with white wires. Where the 7K's are more flat top/bottom with rounded ends and black wires. They kind of look like I have seen on all 3.5K plates.

I have never seen the style of magnet that is on my 6K plates in the 22 years of working on trailers.

Dexter doesn't have round magnets on 5.2, 6 or 7K-12x2 brakes unless it was a mobile home axle.....

D52 and D60, both manual adjust and Nevradjust, use a white wire magnet Kit K71-105-00. They also have different friction sets between the 5.2K and 6K.

D70 with both manual adjust and Nevradjust, use the black wire magnet Kit K71-125-00 plus a different friction set than the 5.2K and or 6K rated assembly.

Each brand of 12x2 brake, Dexter, Alko, Hayes, plus others are interchangeable as complete assemblies but not all individual parts are interchangeable between brands...

Dexter 12x2

Al-KO

My 6k Dexter Never Adjust plates had round magnets. The 7k's have oval. What color wires do yours have?

Dexter used round magnets on pre 1988 mobile home axles. These won't work right in place of a newer oval magnet.

How are your shoes? How about the wear surface in the drum that the magnet rides. Are the magnets worn out or wires bad....if worn out the shoes and springs should go, too. Drum replacement is usually a better value than having drums resurfaced on two surfaces by someone that knows how.

IMO if magnets are worn out. It is time for new brake assemblies as the shoes a probably nearing end of life, too. Springs are probably heat fatigued, too. If cost is your concern ...6K magnet is about $25-$30. At etrailer.com you can buy complete 7k rated manual adjust 12x2 for $45 each -free shipping over $50

Yes it will be costly on a triple axle rig to go thru the brakes completely but it is the right thing to do in regards to safety. Your signature trailer is old enough to need a careful look at the brake system.

I'm looking at buying some but they are round and I have ovals now.

X2 on buying the whole assembly. I was fortunate to buy four of them for mine for about $180 delivered. Try etrailer. I had them in two days. That is great service. And don't forget new seals.