Why do trailer brake shoes cost so much?

[fj12ryder]

Another post that talked about his oddly cracked brake shoes got me thinking about maybe changing mine out this spring. After doing some checking I've discovered how expensive those darned things are!

We're talking around $28 per wheel for two(!) brake shoes, just for the lousy shoes. I can get the shoes for the rear of my truck for under $20 for both wheels. And there is at least twice as much material on the shoe too! Around $200 for my triple axle is outrageous. IMO anyway.

Oh well, whatcha gonna do.

[fj12ryder]

Well, I don't know, just a quick look but Dexter shows the same part number for brake shoes for both the 6,000 and 7,000 lb. axles, 5200 lb. axles not listed. And Etrailer shows the same part number for all three sizes. Go figure.

Okay, I now have to praise Etrailer for quick service. I ordered grease seals for my trailer yesterday at 3 pm, and they got here just a few minutes ago. Granted Etrailer is located only across the state near St. Louis, but that is really quick service. The prices were excellent and shipping was cheap. I'm a very happy camper. 🙂

[mapguy]

fj12ryder wrote:

Chum lee wrote:
A lot has to do with volume. Widely available, one size fits many applications and/or mass produced products are usually cheaper than "specialty" items. As Mexicowanderer says, where you buy the items also has an influence on the ultimate price you pay.

Chum lee

Very true, but if you think about how many wheels/brakes are out there for that brake shoe. It's a common size for all Dexter 5200, 6000, and 7000 lb. axles. That has to cover a whole lot of trailers/wheels. But the other size of the coin, how often do you hear people talk about changing the brake shoes on their trailer? I would imagine most people own their trailer for quite a few years and have never changed brake shoes. Mine is 7 years old and this is the first I've considered it.

yes the shoe size between the 5.2k, 6k, & 7K is the same but the lining material is different between all three -at least on the Dexter brand.....

[fj12ryder]

Chum lee wrote:
A lot has to do with volume. Widely available, one size fits many applications and/or mass produced products are usually cheaper than "specialty" items. As Mexicowanderer says, where you buy the items also has an influence on the ultimate price you pay.

Chum lee

Very true, but if you think about how many wheels/brakes are out there for that brake shoe. It's a common size for all Dexter 5200, 6000, and 7000 lb. axles. That has to cover a whole lot of trailers/wheels. But the other size of the coin, how often do you hear people talk about changing the brake shoes on their trailer? I would imagine most people own their trailer for quite a few years and have never changed brake shoes. Mine is 7 years old and this is the first I've considered it.

[fj12ryder]

I did check with the local AutoZone store and they wanted $35 for the shoes. Just crazy.

[Chum_lee]

fj12ryder wrote:
Another post that talked about his oddly cracked brake shoes got me thinking about maybe changing mine out this spring. After doing some checking I've discovered how expensive those darned things are!

We're talking around $28 per wheel for two(!) brake shoes, just for the lousy shoes. I can get the shoes for the rear of my truck for under $20 for both wheels. And there is at least twice as much material on the shoe too! Around $200 for my triple axle is outrageous. IMO anyway.

Oh well, whatcha gonna do.

A lot has to do with volume. Widely available, one size fits many applications and/or mass produced products are usually cheaper than "specialty" items. As Mexicowanderer says, where you buy the items also has an influence on the ultimate price you pay.

Chum lee

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Go to a small airport and buy a part that is also available at an auto parts store. Same for marine stores. The town I worked in had a brake relining shop. I advised a customer to send stripped brake shoes to the shop, get rivet holes drilled, then send the shoes to a hot galvanizing facility in Los Angeles. He got super lining for his 3-axle surge brakes boat trailer and it lasted him many years then we broke contact. He also sent his backing plates in, then bolted zincs to the backing plate. Sometimes, a do-it-better job really pays off.

But I will be damned if I'll pay fifteen dollars for a six dollar bottle of Meguiar's plastic polish.

[j-d]

agesilaus wrote:
Well here's a place selling Dexter parts, cheap. I don't know anything about them and beware of shipping costs: Trailer Parts Superstore

I've bought boat trailer parts and a boat trailer disc brake setup from them. Also some RV parts. They are one of the few places that seems to know something about the stuff they sell. Actually went to inventory and pulled measurements on some parts I thought I could adapt to my boat trailer. So I can recommend them. You can subscribe to an email list, and they put full brake assemblies on sale fairly often.

I learned from the boat trailer brakes that at least some disc trailer brakes use automotive pads, and that can make the replacement cost a lot lower than "marine trailer brakes." I don't know if the shoes for drum brakes are organized the same way.

[fj12ryder]

time2roll wrote:
Yes for the same reason I am going to install disk very soon.
All my other vehicles are disk so the trailer may as well be same.

Yeah, I'd like to have disks, but spending over $2000 to put disk brakes on a 7 year old trailer when it's original brakes still work is not very sensible. And I'm cheap. 🙂

[agesilaus]

Well here's a place selling Dexter parts, cheap. I don't know anything about them and beware of shipping costs: Trailer Parts Superstore

[time2roll]

Yes for the same reason I am going to install disk very soon.
All my other vehicles are disk so the trailer may as well be same.

[fj12ryder]

They're off the Dexter 7,000 lb. axle with EZ Lube hub. A 12" by 2" brake assembly, I believe.

Actually it's the idea that you can buy the whole assembly for not much more than the shoes cost that irks me too. And I hate drum brakes too. But I just can't cut loose with a couple thousand dollars for disc brakes. These work, but I hate working on drum brakes.

And I do appreciate the advice and commiseration. 🙂

[RLS7201]

Tell us what size the shoes are. I have a source, maybe.

Richard

[agesilaus]

Just buy the whole assembly new. I think there are three or four easy to remove bolts thru the backing plate that holds the whole thing on. Then You splice the electric wire and that's it, job done. I HATE working on drum brakes myself.

Just one example from Amazon

Make sure you get the right size and the right side. I bought them from a local RV place and didn't pay this much IIRC, may have been $35. Check Rock Auto, tho I'm not sure they carry RV parts or other online vendors.