Can Manual and Self-Adjusting 12 x 2 Electric Brakes be Mixed

Question:

I have a dual axle 5th wheel RV. I would like to replace the entire brake plate with the self adjusting style on one axle this year and the other axle next year. For one year, I would have self adjusting brakes on the front axle and manual adjusting on the rear axle. Would this be ok? The axle is a Lippert 366978.

asked by: Brian

Expert Reply:

You can mix manual adjusting and self-adjusting 12" x 2" electric brakes and get away with it, so technically yes, it's OK. But it will also lead to your brakes being adjusted differently on each axle as opposed to being uniform, as the brake shoes of the manual adjust brakes would not always be aligned. This can lead to suspension and braking issues and it is something I recommend against.

If you keep them constantly re-adjusted then it will be better, but the better option is to have the same brakes on both axles, so for 12" x 2" brakes you'd need either of the following:

- Electric Trailer Brake Kit - Self-Adjusting - 12" - Left and Right Hand Assemblies - 5.2K to 7K # AKEBRK-7-SA

- Electric Trailer Brake Kit - 12" - Left and Right Hand Assemblies - 5,200 lbs to 7,000 lbs # AKEBRK-6

Both would also require Mounting Bolts and Hardware for 12" Brake Assemblies # BRKH12.

expert reply by: Kyle S