12x2" Brake differences

An outfit called Eastern Marine has lots of trailer products and periodic specials on brakes. I've bought mostly boat trailer parts including drum-to-disc kits, and found them very competitive on price AND knowledgeable of their merchandise. They actually went to their warehouse and took measurements for me.

My experience and opinion--your may vary:
According to Dexter customer service the difference between 5200, 6000, and 7000 brakes in a 12x2 is only the aggressiveness of the lining--no difference in the magnet. I have switched from Lippert 4400 lb. axles with 10" hubs to Lippert 5200 lb. with 12x2 hubs trying to get better braking. While that helped, the trailer still did not brake its share. So, I had the backing plates replaced with Dexter 7,000 lb. auto adjust units. So far, it's braking a little stronger but still not as much as I would like. I would like to be able to adjust the brake controller down from its maximum setting. Before someone else asks, yes I re-wired the trailer with much heavier brake wire. My trailer weighs 9400 lb. loaded so 4 7,000 lb. brake linings ought to pull it right down, but so far, not. I'm done--don't want to spend any more money. For me, the next trailer, if there is a next trailer, will just go straight to disk brakes. The Dexter auto-adjust backing plates cost little more than a non-adjust, so if replacing why not just go with the auto-adjust.

I also have been in contact with Dexter axle group with this emailed question just last spring ;

Dexter email;
Your online website says;

"The Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) of your running gear is determined by the lowest rated component in the assembly. The capacity of the wheel, tire, axle, brake, springs/rubber and hub are all considered."
However the 5.2k/6k and 7k axles show 12" x 2" brakes. What is the determining brake spec differences in those three axle ratings ?
I've looked at Dexters online brake part specs and see different part numbers but that doesn't say the 6k axle brakes have more braking performance than the 5.2k axle brakes.
Thanks....xxx

Mr. xxx,
While the 5.2, 6 & 7K brakes are all 12x2 in size they do have different lining material, magnets and reinforcement of the metal backing plates.

Thanks ......Jim Miller / Dexter Axle

OP I would contact Dexter axle group and ask them what components you need to do the job you want with tour particular axles.
Like you mention you want equal braking performance.
Uneven brakes can cause flat spots on the tires and poor stoping ability and certain brakes locking up especially on wet pavement.

I've had several 5ers with Dexter 12" brakes and heavier wiring and 7k plates made little improvement. I'm getting ready to move so I bought a 34' cargo gneck with 3-6k torflex axles and the brakes are awesome. I pulled the wheels for packing and inspection and I saw these brakes have different magnets than any of the RVs had. They are much larger and they are oval and I think the wires are white. I looked them up on the Dexter site a long time ago but I don't remember the pt. #. I will check into using those magnets if I ever have trouble with 12" drums again, before changing to discs. Craig

$1550 to go disk on two axles

How much are you spending already?

Last year, I went through my own nightmare - my controller was applying voltage to my Al-KO (brand) 10x2 4400 lb axles.

Long and short, I ended up doing an axle swap and went from 4400 to 6000lb axles, 12x2 self adjusting.

I've never looked back. I also upgraded my controller to a Prodigy P3.

This afternoon I returned from a ride in the desert - and as usual the LA traffic sucked. A couple of times I had to dig into the brakes and between the controller (being set slightly aggressive), the 5er was stopping the truck more than the trailer when I really had to dig into them.

I would recommend Jason from Best Trailer in Missouri (I can look them up). He's the one who pointed out the backing plates, new drums and bearings were almost the same as new axles.

Oh - don't be discourage because it's an axle swap. That was easier than changing the backing plates on my 10x2 4400's and repacking the bearings and pulling the drums off! I had my 16 year old son out there doing the swap with me.

Total time was less than 2 hours and most of that was getting the wiring set correctly, he shrinked, and in a place where it won't bind.

One last thing. I upgraded all the wiring from the tongue to the brakes to 10 gauge wiring. That way there's little resistance to the magnets because I upgraded the wiring.

Your Mileage may vary..

Josh

time2roll wrote:
$1550 to go disk on two axles

How much are you spending already?

Good question. I'm not sure. I re-wired the brakes and hooked up the tow vehicle and the controller seems happy. The problem might not happen until the brakes get applied when the trailer is moving. new Fully stuffed backing plates is probably ~200.

What about the quality of the actuators with these. It seems like you could get stuck in the middle of nowhere with no brakes if an actuator went bad.

jodeb720 wrote:

One last thing. I upgraded all the wiring from the tongue to the brakes to 10 gauge wiring. That way there's little resistance to the magnets because I upgraded the wiring.

Yes, I just did this. Replaced the OEM 14 gauge wire. I also found a wire nut in the middle of the straight run from the tongue to the axles. It looked like someone must have cut one wire in the pair by mistake and then decided a wire nut was the best fix.

I still need to go for a test drive to see if the shorting problem is resolved. I didn't find anything during the rewiring that leads me to believe I fixed my short unless something was going on inside the axle tube.

unless something was going on inside the axle tube.

Very likely. I'd suggest to pull the original wiring and wire the brakes using a Star configuration. That is one pair of individual wires to each axle end. Connect the pairs near the tongue on a terminal strip. Guys say they use 10 ga wire using the original daisy chain but I'd bet my Star layout carries amperage just as good using 14 AWG.

You may be past this, but adding to the above quote...

I'm told the inside of the axles develop rust and the rust flakes chafe through the insulation of the brake wires. Better to run them on the outside. On my boat trailer, I've found electrical tape lasts longer than ZIP ties for holding the brake hoses to the axles. I suspect same'd be true for wires.