Electric Brakes

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Electric Brakes

Postby Karen Clancy » Thu Jun 22, 2017 6:12 pm

Have a 5x8 tear with a Dexter 3500 lb axle been tossing the thought a round about adding electric brakes . Has anyone done this install and how hard was it . Is it really noticeable with stopping distance . Besides the brakes them self I believe I only need to run a additional wire to the trailer plug . I have a brake controller in my truck from the factory . Look for thought on this . TIA Kerry
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Re: Electric Brakes

Postby elcam84 » Thu Jun 22, 2017 7:47 pm

Essentially yes just change the connector on the trailer ro a 7 pin and run the brake hot wire from the connector to one wire on each brake.

As for the trailer... I also have that axle on my utility trailer. Unfortunately mine does not have the brackets. If you dont have them you can weld them on but they have to be 90* and concentric to the axle. Its usually cheaper to buy a new axle with brakes than it is to buy the parts to upgrade an axle.
I have quality trailer here in town (rockwell) but their products are nowhere near as common as dexter. I think im going to end up going with a new torsion axle for mine. The roads are not the smoothest here but the big issue is that they dont know how to pave intersections here. They put massive dips at every intersection and nasty dips at driveway cutouts here in TX. So my trailer tends to get beat to death here.

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Re: Electric Brakes

Postby dancam » Fri Jun 23, 2017 1:41 am

Im in the middle of doing this. Just switch to 7 pin. Or 5 or 6 or 9 if you like odd stuff, but just run a wire to the brakes. The brakes have 2 wires and will depend on the ground right? so make sure you run a good ground wire right to the brakes, or at least make sure the connection to the frame will never corrode.

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Re: Electric Brakes

Postby Dale M. » Fri Jun 23, 2017 7:38 am

Big question is does your present axle have flanges to bolt brake backing plates on to....

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Should be square plate like in picture... If it does you are good, if not you will need to add them or replace axle with one that does have them...Simple look behind hub (on axle) will tell you if you have them or not...

With an axle with flanges you will have to buy new backing plates and hub with brake drums... Readily available and places like E-trailer... Pretty much bolt on adaptation...

Brakes assembly (an example)
https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Brakes ... RK-35.html

New hubs (an example) ..
https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hubs-a ... -35-K.html

With new hubs be sure your wheels will fit brake hub bolt pattern...

As for wiring...

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If you your wiring is a flat 4 connector now, you will probably want to step up to 7 pin (RV style) connector on trailer and tow vehicle... Also may want to consider a "break away kit" so if trailer gets loose from tow vehicle it automatically applies trailer brakes....

A whole world of information here on trailer brakes, enough to make you want to go hide under the bed...

https://www.etrailer.com/info.aspx?prod ... r%20Brakes
https://www.etrailer.com/info.aspx?prod ... away%20Kit
https://www.etrailer.com/info.aspx?prod ... Controller
https://www.etrailer.com/info.aspx?productgroup=Wiring

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Lives his life vicariously through his own self.

Any statement made by me are strictly my own opinion.
You are free to ignore anything I say if you do not agree.

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Re: Electric Brakes

Postby Karen Clancy » Fri Jun 23, 2017 9:08 am

Yes the axle has the flange for the brake plates , Should I get self adjusting or manual brakes , Do they make a big difference in braking ??
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Re: Electric Brakes

Postby elcam84 » Fri Jun 23, 2017 9:39 am

Karen Clancy wrote:Yes the axle has the flange for the brake plates , Should I get self adjusting or manual brakes , Do they make a big difference in braking ??

Self adjusting. Less to mess with. Basically has the same adjuster as drum brakes on cars. Only reason for manual adjustment is on a dual axle and offsetting when the brakes apply which is rarely done.

All this talk of brakes reminds me of the macgreggor 26X trailer with hydraulic surge brakes. Those were awful and to back up you had to jam a bolt in the mechanism to keep the brakes from locking up. It didnt have the reverse lockout solenoid...

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