Selecting Replacement Brakes and Hub/Drums

Question:

My trailer axles come fitment for brakes. I have bought the 10inch brakes but realized the drum brak bearings were too big. I measured the spindle and came up with 1 3/8. The hub I bought was for a 1 1/2inch spindle. Where can I get a 10inch drum brake hub for this spindle? How many pounds would this be rated for. The axles came off a little buddy 20 sail boat trailer. The wheel size is 13. The bolt pattern is 5 on 4.5.

asked by: John L

Expert Reply:

To choose the correct electric or hydraulic drum brakes for your trailer you need to know the axle's weight rating so you can choose brakes with the right stopping power. The plate or sticker on the axle should indicate the weight rating. I linked you to our main pages for both electric and hydraulic 10-inch drum brakes.

To identify the correct 5-on-4-1/2 hubs to fit your spindles you will need to know your existing hubs' inner and outer bearings. The new hub must use the same inner and outer bearing in order to fit on your spindles. Ruler measurements will not be precise enough to find the right hub. If you do not have the original hub you will need to measure the spindle using a precision caliper like # PTW80157 at the points C and D where the bearings ride, as shown on the linked photo.

I also linked our main page for 5-on-4-1/2 hub/drums that fit 13-inch wheels. Once you pull your bearing and find their part numbers just click on them using the filters on the page; you will then see only the hub/drums that will fit your spindles. Be sure to select a hub/drum rated for your axle's weight capacity.

expert reply by: Adam R