Parts Needed to Add Electric Drum Brakes to 3500-lb Axle on Pace Cargo Trailer

Question:

I have a 07 Pace cargo trailer6x12. It has the Dexter 3500 axle single but it has no brakes. Do you sell a kit to convert this so it will have braking power. A complete kit with drums, brakes,wiring, etc.

asked by: Chris

Expert Reply:

We can help you with the parts and information needed to add electric drum brakes to your 2007 Pace 6 x 12-foot cargo trailer that has a 3500-lb axle. A good place to start is the linked article that explains the parts needed to make this addition to your trailer. The article has a table that lists the parts and that includes links to each.

If your axle already has brake flanges welded on to the spindles then this will be a big advantage. If you need to add them we offer them, but this is NOT a typical DIY type job. Brake flanges MUST be welded on perfectly straight and perfectly concentric and this requires specialized jigs and welding experience. If they are needed installing them is best left to an experienced trailer shop.

The next thing to confirm is the set of bearings used in your original idler hubs. The new hub/drums that you will install must use the same inner and outer bearing as your existing idler hubs in order for them to fit on your spindles. On 3500-lb axles the most popular bearings are inner bearing # L68149 and outer bearing # L44649. We offer many hub/drums with these bearings and in several wheel bolt patterns including the most common, 5-on-4-1/2, such as part # AKHD-545-35-K. This hub assembly comes with bearings, races, seal, grease cap and lug nuts. 3500-lb hubs are linked for you.

With this hub you can use either manual-adjust brakes like # AKEBRK-35 or self-adjust brakes like # AKEBRK-35-SA. All 3500-lb brake kits are linked too.

You will also need to install new 7-way wiring on the trailer. The easiest way to do this is to use a 7-way kit with junction box, such as # HS381-9000. You will need ring terminals and some 10-gauge wire to connect the new brakes to the junction box. The trailer will also need a breakaway kit to activate the brakes in the event of a vehicle/trailer disconnect.

Finally, on the vehicle side you will need a 7-way type wiring setup like what can be installed using kit # ETBC7 and also a trailer brake controller like the easy-to-use Prodigy P2 # 90885.