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  1. Trailer Brakes
  2. Dexter
  3. Electric Drum Brakes
  4. 10000 lbs Axle
  5. 12-1/4 x 4 Inch Drum
  6. 16 Inch Wheel
  7. 16-1/2 Inch Wheel
  8. 17 Inch Wheel
  9. 17-1/2 Inch Wheel
Dexter Nev-R-Adjust Electric Trailer Brakes - 12-1/4" - Left/Right Hand Assemblies - 10K

Dexter Nev-R-Adjust Electric Trailer Brakes - 12-1/4" - Left/Right Hand Assemblies - 10K

Item # 23-438-439
Our Price: $837.90
Trailer Brakes
Shipping Weight: 41 lbs
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Trailer Brakes 23-438-439 - 12-1/4 x 4 Inch Drum - Dexter
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These brakes automatically adjust as you tow so you don't have to crawl around on the ground to do it manually. 12-1/4" x 4" Assemblies fit 16" or larger wheels. Backing plate has a 7-bolt pattern. Made in the USA. Great Prices for the best trailer brakes from Dexter. Dexter Nev-R-Adjust Electric Trailer Brakes - 12-1/4" - Left/Right Hand Assemblies - 10K part number 23-438-439 can be ordered online at etrailer.com or call 1-800-940-8924 for expert service.
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  • Reviews (6)
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Dexter Trailer Brakes - 23-438-439

  • Electric Drum Brakes
  • 10000 lbs Axle
  • 12-1/4 x 4 Inch Drum
  • 16 Inch Wheel
  • 16-1/2 Inch Wheel
  • 17 Inch Wheel
  • 17-1/2 Inch Wheel
  • Standard Grade
  • Self Adjust
  • Dexter

These brakes automatically adjust as you tow so you don't have to crawl around on the ground to do it manually. 12-1/4" x 4" Assemblies fit 16" or larger wheels. Backing plate has a 7-bolt pattern. Made in the USA.


Features:

  • Self-adjusting brakes let you maintain optimal braking power at all times
    • Ensures reliable contact between the brake shoes and drums
    • Prevents uneven wear on brake shoes
    • Allows for the perfect setting thanks to the fine-tooth star gear
  • Easier to install and gives you more control than hydraulic brakes
    • Requires only an electric brake controller (sold separately) - no actuator or hydraulic lines needed
  • Long-lasting brake pads offer excellent braking torque
    • Fully bonded to shoes for more consistent braking compared to riveted pads
    • Tapered edges help minimize stuttering and brake lockup
  • Durable magnets ensure consistent braking power
    • Encased in a stamped steel housing
  • Left-hand (driver's-side) and right-hand (passenger's-side) brake assemblies included
    • Mounting bolts and hardware sold separately
  • CSA certification ensures quality
  • Made in the USA


Specs:

  • Application: most standard hub-and-drum assemblies, including etrailer, Dexter, and Lippert (LCI)
  • Dimensions: 12-1/4" diameter x 4" wide
  • Mounting flange bolt pattern: 7 bolt
  • Wheel size: 16" or larger
  • Axle rating: 10,000 lbs
  • Limited 5-year warranty


Quick Tip: There's really not a whole lot to getting new drum brakes. If you've confirmed that all of the specs listed above line up with what you need for your trailer, you can be pretty sure these will work for you.


High-Quality Brake Pads

Riveted brake pads will always give you a screeching reminder to replace your brake shoes. That's because the rivets will scrape against your drum as the friction material wears down. You won't have that noisy problem with bonded brake pads. You'll also get a little more friction pad contact because there aren't any cutouts for rivets. And more friction means more stopping power.


A close-up shot of a drum brake shows a tapered brake pad.

These pads are also tapered, which should help to prevent any broken, crumbly bits of material from rotating inside the drum as the pads wear over time. Brakes without these tapers are more likely to create a jarring braking experience that could cause the brakes to stutter and lock up.


Self-Adjusting Brakes Don't Require Routine Maintenance

With standard electric brake assemblies, you need to manually adjust them every now and then to make sure you're getting the shortest stopping distance every time you tow.


A trailer drum brake with a red callout shows the location of a tension cable and pulley on a self-adjusting trailer brake.

With self-adjusting brakes, though, you'll always have peak stopping power - simple as that! As the brake pads wear over time, a tensioning cable will automatically keep the pads in alignment so they'll consistently make contact with your drum when you brake. You won't have to do tedious manual adjustments anymore.


Thoroughly Tested for Safety

Dexter invests a lot of resources to ensure that these brakes meet the requirements for certification set by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). Basically, a CSA certification tells you that these trailer brakes are well built and safe for use on the road.


How to Break In New Brakes

Once you get these brakes installed, you'll need to break them in. First, find a long stretch of road or a big, empty parking lot. Once you're there, set your brake controller to its maximum setting and get moving. Speed up to about 40 mph and brake to slow to about 20 mph. Repeat this 15-30 times. The goal is to get the brake shoes and magnet properly seated into your drum. You'll know you've done that when it feels less jerky (and more consistent) each time you apply the brakes.


Note: The brakes will be very hot after doing this, so after every 10 stops you'll want to wait about 10 minutes to let the brakes cool off before continuing. If you don't, you might cook and crack the pad material.



23-438 Dexter Electric Brake Assembly - LH - Driver Side - 12-1/4" x 4" - Self-Adjusting - 10,000 lbs

23-439 Dexter Electric Brake Assembly - RH - Passenger Side - 12-1/4" x 4" - Self-Adjusting - 10,000 lbs





Customer Satisfaction Score:


Customer Reviews

Dexter Nev-R-Adjust Electric Trailer Brakes - 12-1/4" - Left/Right Hand Assemblies - 10K - 23-438-439

Average Customer Rating:  4.8 out of 5 stars   (6 Customer Reviews)

These brakes automatically adjust as you tow so you don't have to crawl around on the ground to do it manually. 12-1/4" x 4" Assemblies fit 16" or larger wheels. Backing plate has a 7-bolt pattern. Made in the USA.

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Great quality and price!



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All good



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See what our Experts say about this Dexter Trailer Brakes

  • Availability of 10,000 lb Axle Dexter Trailer Brake Assemblies
    The only option we have for 10k axle rated Dexter electric brake assemblies is the part # 23-438-439 that you referenced. 10k trailer axles with drum brakes just aren't as popular as other options so there isn't as much competition for this size.
    view full answer...
  • Will Dexter 12-1/4" x 4" Brakes Fit in Place of Old Brakes with Stamped Backing Plate
    Provided that your existing brakes are 12-1/4" x 4" and use the same 7-bolt mounting pattern then you can use Dexter Electric Trailer Brake Kit # 23-438-439. I have included a link to a video review of this kit for you.
    view full answer...
  • How to Tell if 10K Dexter Nev-R-Adjust Electric Trailer Brakes Are for Driver or Passenger Side
    Hi Chad! There are 2 ways to tell the difference between driver side and passenger side Dexter Axle brake assemblies; the first is by looking at the sticker on the inside, and the second is by looking at the brake assemblies as a whole. For example, the 10K Dexter Nev-R-Adjust Electric Trailer Brakes # 23-438-439 have the magnet arms on different sides of the assembly so you just have to compare what you have with the attached photo. If you have something else please let me know! The...
    view full answer...
    Image 1 for
  • Are The Dexter Trailer Hub and Drum Assembly # DX68QR Sold as a Set Or Individual Quantity?
    The Dexter Trailer Hub and Drum Assembly # DX68QR is for a single hub. These are not sold as pairs as they do not always have to be replaced as a set. We do offer the brakes for this either as a Set # 23-438-439 or the Left # 23-438 and Right # 23-439 separately.
    view full answer...
  • Brake Assembly for Dexter 10k Axle with 12 1/4 x 4 Brakes
    I have a solution for you but part # AKEBRK-10 is not what you are looking for. Instead the Dexter Electric Trailer Brake Kit Left/Right Hand Assemblies part # 23-438-439 is the set you need. The others are just a little too narrow for your application.
    view full answer...
  • Replacement Brake Assemblies for Rockwell 10k Trailer Axle
    Rockwell trailer axles use standard trailer brake components so yes a 10k Dexter brake assembly like the Dexter Electric Brake Kit - Self-Adjusting - 12-1/4" - Left/Right Hand Assemblies - 9K to 10K # 23-450-451 if your hubs are 12-1/4 by 3-3/8 inches. If your hubs are the 4 inch width, then you will use the Dexter Electric Trailer Brake Kit # 23-438-439.
    view full answer...
  • Recommended Brakes for a Dexter 10,000 lbs Axle
    Thanks for the information! I just heard back from Dexter and your axle has a 10,000 lbs capacity. For brakes you will want the Dexter Nev-R-Adjust Electric Trailer Brakes item # 23-438-439.
    view full answer...
  • Replacement Brake Assemblies for Trailer with Dexter 10k Axles
    If you can measure the width of your current brake assembly pads I can get you the correct brake assembly set for your Dexter 10,000 lb axles. If the pads are 3-3/8 inches wide you'd want the part # 23-450-451 or if they are 4 inches wide you'd want the part # 23-438-439. I tried looking up the numbers on the tag you sent a picture of and was not able to find anything.
    view full answer...
    Image 1 for
  • Replacement Recommendation for AL-KO 12-1/4" Electric Brakes
    To replace your 10K AL-KO electric brakes you'll need the Dexter Electric Brake Kit # 23-450-451 which are self-adjusting 12-1/4" x 3-3/8". These are also available as 12-1/4" x 4" brakes with the kit # 23-438-439 instead. Dexter Axle owns AL-KO so while these are branded as "Dexter" brakes, they are essentially the same thing. Attached are some videos for you to check out.
    view full answer...
  • Electric Trailer Brake Assembly for 10k & 12k Axle
    To find the correct electric trailer brake assembly for your 10k or 12k axle, you need to know what brake mounting flange bolt pattern you have, and the inside diameter and depth of your drum. The only option for 10k and 12k axles we have are from Dexter and each has a 7-bolt brake mounting flange. The 10k is 12-1/4" diameter x 4" wide (so that's the size drum it fits) while the 12k is 12-1/4" diameter x 5" wide: - 10,000 lb Brakes: Dexter Nev-R-Adjust Electric Trailer Brakes # 23-438-439 -...
    view full answer...
  • Replacement Brake Magnets For Dexter 10,000 lb Electric Brakes
    The D1012 is a Dexter 10,000 lb axle, so it'll have 10,000 lb Dexter electric brakes like the Dexter Electric Trailer Brake Kit # 23-438-439. Many do not work, as they do need specific brake magnets, and the correct replacement brake magnets for these brakes is the following: - Replacement Magnet Kit for Dexter 12-1/4" Electric Brake Assembly # BP01-301
    view full answer...
  • Brake Assemblies for Dexter 10k Trailer Axles of 1999 Eager Beaver
    Is there a capacity listed anywhere on the axle? I can give Dexter the serial number of your axle but it may take a couple days and if you could get me the diameter of your axles or the capacity I could much quicker get you what you need.
    view full answer...
  • Replacement Bearings, Seal, and Brake Assembly for Dexter D1012 HD Axle
    The bearings you need for a Dexter D1012 HD axle would be: Inner bearing # 387A Outer bearing # 25580 Oil seal # 10-51 For brake assemblies you'd need the # 23-438-439 which are a 12-1/4 inch by 4 inch wide assembly.
    view full answer...
  • Replacement Drum Brakes Assembly for 10,000 lb Dexter Axle
    We have drum brake assemblies for your 10K Dexter axles. If you want the electric assemblies, we have the Dexter Electric Brake Kit - Self-Adjusting - 12-1/4" - Left/Right Hand Assemblies - 9K to 10K # 23-450-451 if your hubs are 12-1/4 by 3-3/8 inches. If your hubs are the 4 inch width, then you will use the Dexter Electric Trailer Brake Kit # 23-438-439. If you have hydraulic brakes we have the following: # 23-410-411 for 12-1/4 x 3-3/8 inch drum # K23-524-00-2 for 12-1/4 x 3-1/2...
    view full answer...
  • Recommended Brakes, Bearings and Seals for Dexter 10k General Duty Axle
    I reached out to Dexter and found that your axle is a 10,000 lb general duty axle. The correct inner bearing and race is the # 387A and # 382A, the correct outer bearing and race is the # 25580 and # 25520. For a replacement seal you want the # 10-51. For electric brakes I recommend the Dexter Electric Trailer Brake Kit - Self-Adjusting - 12-1/4" - Left/Right Hand Assemblies - 10K # 23-438-439. These are self-adjusting brakes so there will be no need for manual adjustment. I have attached...
    view full answer...
  • Electric Drum Brakes for 10K Axle Conversion from Hydraulic Brakes
    Your choice of electric drum brakes to replace your hydraulics will be based on axle weight capacity. We do have electric brakes rated for 10K axles and these have the same 12-1/4 x 4 dimensions as your current hydraulics. You can see all of these electric brakes on the linked page. For example, Dexter Self-Adjusting brake set # 23-438-439 uses the same 7-bolt mounting pattern as the item you referenced, # AKEBRK-10R, but will properly fit your drums. These brakes work with wheels sizes...
    view full answer...
  • Disc Brake Kit For 10K Dexter Axle
    Disc brakes are only going to be available in a hydraulic application like the Brakes # KD94FR you found. The ones you found are for AL-KO axles and we do have the Kit # K2R1058D11DAC for a 10K Dexter axle. You can use an Electric over Hydraulic Actuator # HBA16 to control the brakes with an electric brake controller. If you can provide me with some additional information about your trailer I can help you determine what all parts you will need including brake lines to replace your Drum...
    view full answer...
  • Replacement Hub/Drums and Brake Assemblies for Dexter 10k Trailer Axle
    Since your trailer has Dexter 10k axles the correct hub/drum you need is the part # 8-430-5UC3 which comes with bearings, races and seal. Since you need shoes and magnets it would be easiest to go with new assemblies altogether like with the part # 23-438-439. Otherwise for shoes you'd need the part # BP04-325 for the left hand side and # BP04-335 for the right hand side. Then for a replacement magnet # BP01-301.
    view full answer...
  • What Is the Weight Capacity Of a Dexter D100G Axle
    The spoke with Dexter and the code "D100G" tells me you have two 10,000 lb trailer axles. I have attached some parts you may need for the axle below. Dexter Trailer Hub Drum Assembly (After July 2009) - part # 8-430-5UC3 Dexter Trailer Hub and Drum Assembly (Before July 2009) - part # K08-288-90 Dexter Electric Trailer Brake Kit (12-1/4" x 4") - part # 23-438-439 Dexter Hydraulic Drum Brake Kit (12-1/4" x 4") - part # 23-404-405 Inner Bearing - part # 387A Inner Race - part # 382A Outer...
    view full answer...

Do you have a question about this Trailer Brake?


Info for this part was:

Employee Lindsey S
Edited by:
Lindsey S
Employee Michael H
Expert Research:
Michael H
Employee Jameson C
Expert Research:
Jameson C
Employee Jeff D
Installed by:
Jeff D
Employee David F
Installed by:
David F
Employee Dustin K
Video Edited:
Dustin K
Employee Wilson B
Updated by:
Wilson B
Employee Alexander C
Written by:
Alexander C
Employee Ryan F
Written by:
Ryan F

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