Replacing brakes - Montana Owners Club

flacamper · 01-30-2023, 07:24 PM

Hi all, I am replacing the brakes on my 385bh and was wondering if anybody has used any other brakes besides dexter when replacing them and what their experience was. I am not interested in spending the money for disc brakes, just seeing if paying double the price is worth it. Thanks

rohrmann · 01-30-2023, 08:21 PM

You can put USA made Dexter or the cheap Chinese brake assemblies. It all depends on how much risk you are willing to take to stop. etrailer is one place that will ship, another is Red Neck Trailer supply that I've used many times, and prices, like everything else has gone up from several years ago.

Theunz · 01-30-2023, 08:47 PM

Are you replacing everything or just the shoes? If shoes only I would definitely pay extra for dexter.

Ram Montana High Country · 01-31-2023, 12:06 PM

I'd replace backing plate and all - everything is new and its faster..

Hblick48 · 01-31-2023, 01:20 PM

Get self adjusting brakes. Only a few bucks more, but brakes are always adjusted. I got mine from Etrailer (made in China).

Foldbak · 01-31-2023, 02:20 PM

Definitely go with the whole backing plate assembly with self adjusters!

dieselguy · 01-31-2023, 05:58 PM

A agree about the backing plate assy ... 5 bolts, two wires and your near ready to slap the brake drum back on. One thing I'd suggest though if you go with the complete packing plate ... if the brake drum's surface where the magnet grabs onto the inside is really scored and grooved ... get that resurfaced as you would the actual brake shoe surface itself. A grooved-up magnet surface leaves less actual contact for the magnet to grab hold of and actuate the shoes. Or ... just buy new drums depending on your degree of wear. By that time moneywise though, you should rethink going disk. There is no comparison in stopping power.

What I might add is just replacing brake shoes might avoid potential metal on metal contact, but you might end up with less stopping power than you started with. It just depends on how scored up your drums are.

Bruce in DFW · 02-06-2023, 03:18 PM

I recommend using Lippert complete brake assemblies. They are direct replacements for the Dexter assemblies and are much less expensive. I ordered 2x of the Lippert 296651 and 2x of the 296652 part #s. They worked perfectly. Those were the 12" self-adjusting. I purchased mine at the rvupgradestore.com in Sept 2021.

flacamper · 02-06-2023, 04:39 PM

Thank you for the info, I ended up using redneck trailer supply which is now owned by Dexter and bought the redline brand, I will see how those work thanks again.

dieselguy · 02-06-2023, 07:36 PM

We have Redneck Trailer up here in Wichita. I've use some of the Redline brake parts including shoes in the past with no regrets. I think you'll be fine. I'll mention it again ... if the shoe or magnet surfaces are really scored ... have them ground just like you would on your car or truck rotors.

Lee-CI · 02-07-2023, 06:17 AM

^^^ What DieselGuy said ^^^
His advice was spot on important for good success. Good luck with your brake replacements.

dadnjesse · 02-28-2023, 05:43 PM

I feel you get what you pay for most of the time. Some shoes are riveted and some are held on with glue.

dieselguy · 03-01-2023, 06:14 AM

I agree, cheap brakes and or the compounds create alot of dust and don't last as long. However, it's been a long time since I've seen riveted brake linings on cars, light trucks, campers, and boat trailers. Most for several years have been bonded.

ep4me · 03-01-2023, 06:56 AM

I just called and got new brakes direct from Dexter, they were $64.00 each wheel, that was pre-assembled with backing plates and all ready to bolt on. bearing kits were $18.00 a wheel. Freight was $40 by fed ex
You just need to tell them your axle serial number.

The guy was great even sent me build specs on my axles when there were made and shipped to keystone not sure if need that but I thought it was great customer service.

All the parts are branded redline.

P.S we were talking about disk brakes and his feedback or opinion was that if you keep your drum brakes in good working order, disk brakes are not worth the money no difference between the two. I thought was interesting.

dieselguy · 03-01-2023, 07:18 AM

In reference to your ps, those of us who have swapped our drums for disc brakes will beg to differ with his opinion. There is no comparison between drum and disc, disc is infinitely better. Most any car or light truck nowadays has both front and rear disc brakes. Drums have slowly been phased out.

rames14 · 03-01-2023, 07:34 AM

I will second what dieselguy said. I know at least one idiot that is alive today because of disk brakes on mine. He decided to pass me in curves coming down the mountain. Car coming head on in the other lane and he cut between me and a Motorhome. With drum brakes it would have been a multi fatality accident. Thanks to disk brakes the idiot doesn’t know how close he came to the pearly gates.

rohrmann · 03-01-2023, 03:29 PM

This is a quote from Performance Trailer Braking site. https://performancetrailerbraking.com/

Canadian Standards Tests show our brake system stopping a 15,500 lb. trailer needs only 179 feet, using trailer brakes only with no truck brakes applied. This is a 100 feet shorter stopping distance than using truck and electric trailer brakes!

I will never have another trailer without this upgrade, it really is amazing how well the truck and trailer stop with the electric over hydraulic disc brakes.

Lee-CI · 03-01-2023, 05:55 PM

Folks that make statements like "there is no difference between drum brakes in good condition and disc brakes" obviously never grew up in the era where passenger cars and truck had four wheel drum brakes. Life's experiences indicates otherwise..... Our disc brake package should be ready in a couple of weeks for our MHC

Foldbak · 03-01-2023, 07:14 PM

Disk brakes are definitely better! HOWEVER I have to admit that trailer drum brakes have come a long way! Every time I hit the road I test my trailer brakes by stopping using the brake controller and it always amazes me how well they stop the entire rig. I'm not saying that it stops fast but it stops. I've had a couple a*% hole drivers cut in front of me and the brakes seem to work. Surely better then the old school drum brakes that always need adjusting. I haven't had lock up once. Don't get me wrong if I could afford it I'd upgrade...

ep4me · 03-01-2023, 07:22 PM

Hey guys I'm just repeated what he told me and he is a Dexter employee, not saying i agree or anything but they still are not like disk brakes on you truck that are hydraulic with vacuum booster or hydraulic boosted from the power steering pump, you still have electricity with an electric pump to operate them. My boat has surge disk brakes they are great very simple system no electricity required.

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