1984 carriage brake magnets

[RRRDAD]

Hi. I have a 1984 carriage fifth wheel camper and I need to replace the brake magnets . The brake magnets have a little different look to them they are not the typical round or oval look does anyone know where I can find this type of magnet or have any suggestions on other magnets I can use? In addition if anyone knows how to post a photo on here I can sure do that to help out

[Gdetrailer]

RRRDAD wrote:
No luck.

Using the link provided by the moderator, you can drag and drop your pix to the hosting app. It will upload the photo and provide a URL link below the preview photo.

Select and copy the entire text in that window (just click on any place of the URL and it should highlight in blue and copy that to your clipboard.

Now in the forum software you can simply paste that entire link you copied from the host app directly into your text of the post you are writing.

This can be done via the quick post at the bottom of the page or through the advanced editor.

Main key is the URL that is generated already has the proper formating the forum software will recognize as a photo without the need to use the advanced editor and the related photo button on the advanced editor..

[RRRDAD]

No luck.

[RRRDAD]

Ok thank you. I’ll try it

[Y-Guy]

A fast and easy way to include a photo in a forum post. Just drag-n-drop a photo, and copy-n-paste the image link in your message post. Uploads photos directly to IMGUR.com servers. Automatically resizes photos to the max recommended by the Open Roads Forum. Includes a thumbnail preview, and also provides an optional link to permanently delete the photo. http://photoposting.is-great.net

[RRRDAD]

I have photos of the brakes how do I load them?

[Gdetrailer]

Typically the brakes are sized according to axle weight.

The drum size gives you an idea as to the axle weight.

Being you have a 5th wheel, you could have 10" drums for 3500 lb axles.

You could have 5,000 lb axles which use larger 12" drums.

But that is assuming that you have Dexter or Dexter compatible axles..

Very good possibility you may have Lippert axles and not all of theirs are 100% compatible with Dexter parts..

Lipperts 4,400 lb axles are one of the oddballs which you may run into that only Lipperts parts will fit.. They look like 3,500 lb Dexter axles with 10" drum but the backing plate has a different bolt placement.

If you have the original drums perhaps see if you can find any casting part numbers and or manufacturers name which may help narrow this down.

Axle manufacturers were supposed to include a tag on one side of the axle which states brand and axle weight specifications but that tag often gets lost with time.

[RRRDAD]

Of course I ordered the wrong brakes
The trailer brakes bolt pattern is about 3 1/4 center to center bolt holes with four studs. Studs just like a stud on a vehicle tire hub. Any suggestions?

[Gdetrailer]

time2roll wrote:
As long as you are looking at replacing the entire backing plate..... consider going right to disk brakes.
Huge improvement.

:R

Kind of like "throwing the baby out with the bath water" kind of extreme?

$250 in backing plates vs $1K plus labor for disc conversion :E

Drum brakes can often perform just as well as discs at much less cost, they often get a bad rap but that is because RV manufacturers often use undersized wiring which creates a huge voltage loss.. As much as 20% loss of braking power due to the resistance by using 14 Ga wiring compared to using 8 ga wiring.

Replacing original 14 ga wire is a very low cost upgrade without the need to spend $1K plus multiple weekends.

[time2roll]

As long as you are looking at replacing the entire backing plate..... consider going right to disk brakes.
Huge improvement.

[Ron3rd]

Gdetrailer wrote:
You are much better off, replacing the entire brake assembly back plate.

Some of the older axle manufacturers have been bought up or gone out of business making finding exact parts for that brake assembly difficult or impossible to find.

New backplates gets you not only new magnets but shoes plus all the mechanicals and is fully assembled. Just remove 4 nuts holding the backplate to the axle and the old assembly falls off.

You will need to get a left and right assembly, don't mix them up.

This one in the pix is for 3,500 lb axles which use 10" drum 2.5" wide brake shoes.



Found HERE for $130 for a pair (Left and Right)

Back plate assemblies are fairly universal and fits quite a few different axle manufacturers (including old defunct axle manufacturers).

Select via the size of the brake drum, typically 2,000 lb axles will have 7" drums, 3,500 lb axles will have 10" drums, 5,000 lb axles will have 12" drums..

Whatever you decide to do, do BOTH L and R sides at the same time, otherwise you will have uneven braking which will pull to one side.

X2.

[Gdetrailer]

You are much better off, replacing the entire brake assembly back plate.

Some of the older axle manufacturers have been bought up or gone out of business making finding exact parts for that brake assembly difficult or impossible to find.

New backplates gets you not only new magnets but shoes plus all the mechanicals and is fully assembled. Just remove 4 nuts holding the backplate to the axle and the old assembly falls off.

You will need to get a left and right assembly, don't mix them up.

This one in the pix is for 3,500 lb axles which use 10" drum 2.5" wide brake shoes.



Found HERE for $130 for a pair (Left and Right)

Back plate assemblies are fairly universal and fits quite a few different axle manufacturers (including old defunct axle manufacturers).

Select via the size of the brake drum, typically 2,000 lb axles will have 7" drums, 3,500 lb axles will have 10" drums, 5,000 lb axles will have 12" drums..

Whatever you decide to do, do BOTH L and R sides at the same time, otherwise you will have uneven braking which will pull to one side.

[Sagebrush]

Are they Dexter brand? Here is a sight with some measurements: https://trailerparts.com/products/brakes/electric-brake-parts/trailer-brake-magnets.html

[Lynnmor]

RRRDAD wrote:
Hi. I have a 1984 carriage fifth wheel camper and I need to replace the brake magnets . The brake magnets have a little different look to them they are not the typical round or oval look does anyone know where I can find this type of magnet or have any suggestions on other magnets I can use? In addition if anyone knows how to post a photo on here I can sure do that to help out

So what is the shape? A photo would help. Here are some photos: Photos

[agesilaus]

Try Rock Auto online they have all sorts of parts for extinct vehicles

RockAuto