INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

SHOE AND LINING KITS FOR 12-1/4” ELECTRIC BRAKES
K71-496-00: 12-1/4” X 2-1/2” Electric Shoe and Lining Kit, Manual (RH)
K71-497-00: 12-1/4” X 2-1/2” Electric Shoe and Lining Kit, Manual (LH)
K71-498-00: 12-1/4” X 3-3/8” Electric Shoe and Lining Kit (RH)
K71-499-00: 12-1/4” X 3-3/8” Electric Shoe and Lining Kit (LH)
K71-500-00: 12-1/4” X 4” Electric Shoe and Lining Kit (RH
K71-501-00: 12-1/4” X 4” Electric Shoe and Lining Kit (LH)
K71-502-00: 12-1/4” X 5” Electric Shoe and Lining Kit (RH
K71-503-00: 12-1/4” X 5” Electric Shoe and Lining Kit (LH)
K71-981-00: 12-1/4” X 2-1/2” Electric Shoe and Lining Kit, FSA (LH)
K71-982-00: 12-1/4” X 2-1/2” Electric Shoe and Lining Kit, FSA (RH)

2.

Inspect the brake magnet, drum, seal, bearings, and spindle
for excessive wear or damage and address any issues prior to
reassembly of the brake. Best repair practice includes drum
replacement or resurfacing the interior of the drum brake lining wear
surface to the Dexter’s recommended tolerances.

3.

Clean the brake assembly with an appropriate evaporating brake
cleaning solvent to remove loose brake dust and any lubricant
contamination.

4.

Readjust the brake shoes to their full retracted position by
rotating the adjuster star wheel until the adjustment screw is at
the minimum possible length. You may need to slightly lift the
adjustment lever up off the star wheel to be able to rotate the star
wheel in the reverse direction.

5.

Remove the locknut from the brake anchor post and set it aside.

6.

Lift off the cable anchor bracket from the anchor post by pulling
slightly on it to resist the cable tension. After removing the bracket
from the post, release the tension on the cable and remove the
cable from around the pulley on the rear facing brake shoe and the
adjusting lever hole, and set the parts aside.

7.

Lift the magnet lever arm up off the pivot and temporarily move
the arm to the side without disconnecting the brake wire, unless
replacing the magnet as part of the repair.

Replace all four shoe/linings on the axle at the same time to ensure
balanced brake performance. Manual adjust brakes follow a similar
procedure, with the differences detailed in the manual brake sections.
Only complete one brake at a time, using the other brake for reference.

!

CAUTION

Do not lift or support the trailer on any part of the axle or suspension
system. Never go under any trailer unless it is properly supported on
jack stands which have been rated for the load. Improperly supported
vehicles can fall unexpectedly and cause serious injury or death.
Appropriate installation procedures are essential for the safe, reliable
operation of all running gear as well as the personal safety of the
individual doing the work. This sheet provides general directions for
performing installation with tested, effective techniques. Following these
guidelines will help assure reliability. Installer must wear proper safety
gear to protect themselves.

Disassembly:

!

CAUTION

Protect the magnet brake wiring through the backing plate, gray
retractor spring, and on the arm leading to the magnet when
replacing the shoes. Ensure the wire is undamaged and properly
rerouted after the repair to avoid potential loss of brakes, which can
result in property damage, serious injury, or death.
1.

Remove the wheel and drum from the spindle, leaving the brake
exposed.

©2000-2021 Dexter Axle Company | www.dexteraxle.com

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059-653-00 Rev. C | 2021.04

8.

9.

Manual Adjust Brakes Disassembly:

Use the vice grips to stretch the yellow spring at the adjusting lever
enough to remove the spring from the lever, and set the spring aside.

Follow all disassembly steps for self-adjusting brakes above excluding
disassembly steps 6, 8, 9, and 10 to remove the brake shoes and
hardware. In place of step 10, use locking pliers to stretch the red
adjuster spring on the overhand hooked side and remove the spring
from the brake shoes. Spread the brake shoes apart enough to pull the
adjustment screw out of the bottom of the brake. Follow the remainder
of the disassembly steps from step 11-14.

Slide the adjusting lever until the brake shoe post is at the large end
of the slot in the lever, lift the lever off the post and set the lever aside.

10. Grasp the brake shoes at the bottom using both hands. Spread
the shoes simultaneously apart far enough so that the adjustment
screw can be removed from the brake assembly. Pivot the silver
zinc retainer clips on both sides rotating the adjuster and clips
downwards and out. The adjuster retainer clips should pivot out of
the shoes without any damage.

Reassembly:
The primary (front facing) replacement shoe is the one with the shortest
brake lining length. The secondary (rear facing) replacement shoe has
the longer lining length and also has the small pin extending up from
the shoe web at the shoe bottom.
1.

Prior to reassembly, screw the adjuster screw assembly apart and
lubricate the threads with high temperature brake lubricant or antiseize grease. Then screw the adjuster screw assembly all the way back
in to the shortest possible length. Also lubricate the brake anchor
post, pivot arm, and the brake shoe alignment pads on the backing
plate where they will come in contact with the brake shoe web.

2.

Hook the gray retractor spring into the rear (secondary) shoe and
install that shoe into the rearmost backing plate alignment pad.

3.

Hook the gray extractor spring into the front (primary) shoe. Then
pivot the front (primary) shoe on the anchor post outward to
extend the gray spring. Then the shoe can be slipped into the frontmost backing plate alignment pad.

4.

Install the silver zinc retaining clip onto the threaded end of the
adjusting screw assembly, snapping into place over the head of the
slotted screw.

5.

Slide the adjuster retainer end into the end of the primary shoe
bottom. The clip and adjusting screw will be facing downward from
the rear shoe bottom.

11. Press the shoes in at the bottom to take some tension off the
small orange centering springs. Use a combination of small vice
grips and a flat blade screwdriver to pull and lift the springs from
their holes in the brake shoes and set the springs aside.

12. Pivot the front (primary) shoe forward on the anchor post enough
to extend the gray extractor spring so that the shoe clears the
fingers on the backing plate, then pivot the shoe back on the
anchor post until the extractor spring tension is released. The shoe
then can be removed from the spring and off the backing plate.

13. Remove the gray extractor spring from the rear (secondary) shoe
and pull the shoe out of the backing plate. Leave the magnet wire
connected inside the spring and magnet arm temporarily supported
unless replacing the magnet. Dispose of the original shoes.
14. Clean the brake springs, loose parts, adjuster screw assembly/
threads, and brake backing plate with appropriate brake cleaner.
©2000-2021 Dexter Axle Company | www.dexteraxle.com

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059-653-00 Rev. C | 2021.04

6.

Install the opposing end of the adjuster retainer, already attached
to the adjuster, into the hole at the bottom of the secondary shoe.

7.

In one motion, spread the brake shoes apart. Align the brake shoes
so that the adjuster can slide into the retainer clip as they are
pushed back together while being held by the backing plate.

8.

Ensure the slots at the end of the adjusting screw are fully seated
on the bottom tabs of the shoes. (Right hand brake shown, left
hand brake is opposite.)

9.

Install the orange centering springs into the holes in the backing
plate and brake shoes. Ensure the hooked ends of the springs are
fully seated and secured on both holes.

13. Hook the end of the adjusting cable underhand into the hole in the
adjusting lever alongside the yellow return spring hook. Route the
cable around the grooved pulley on the rear shoe, and hook the
looped end over the tab on the cable anchor bracket. Pull on the
bracket to extend the cable, lever arm, and adjuster spring to slide
the bracket down over the backing plate anchor post on top of the
magnet lever arm.

14. Install the anchor post locknut and torque to 200 in.-lbs. After the
nut is tightened, the cable anchor bracket and magnet arm need to
be able to pivot 20-30 degrees under the tightened nut.

10. Install the adjusting lever over the pivot pin in the rear (secondary)
shoe and slide the lever in until the pin is inserted into the narrow
end of the slot.

15. For a functional check of the automatic brake adjuster lever, tug on
the cable enough to raise and lower the lever. This should move the
adjuster screw. If you over adjust the drum will not go back on.
16. Remount the brake drum over the brake assembly. Carefully avoid
getting the bearing lubricant on any of the brake linings. Install/
adjust bearings per Dexter’s instructions.

11. Hook the long end of the yellow adjuster spring and into the
same hole in the web as the forward facing (primary side) orange
centering spring. Stretch the short end of the yellow adjusting
spring hook into the adjusting lever hole.

!

CAUTION

When installation is complete, torque the wheel nuts to the trailer
manufacturer’s specifications. Re-torque nuts again at 10, 25, and
50 miles to avoid a possible wheel separation, which can result in
property damage, serious injury or death.

!

CAUTION

To ensure maximum stopping power, brake shoes must be fully
burnished to the drum.
12. If replacing the magnet at this time, follow magnet replacement
instruction sheet 059-511-00. Ensure the magnet wire is secured
to the arm with it’s three clips, the anti-chafing sleeve and wire are
correctly routed through the gray retractor spring. Properly secure
the wire in the plastic strain relief in the brake dust shield. Slide
the magnet arm down over the backing plate anchor post.

©2000-2021 Dexter Axle Company | www.dexteraxle.com

17. Forward self-adjusting brakes are designed to maximize shoe
contact with drum. This process can only occur during a normal
braking event during the lifetime of the brake. Do not attempt to
drag the brakes or falsely attempt to adjust the brake, necessary
adjustment only occurs in each instance where the brakes are
applied then fully released.

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059-653-00 Rev. C | 2021.04

Manual Adjust Brakes Assembly:
1.

2.

7.

If replacing the magnet at this time, follow instruction sheet 059511-00. Ensure the magnet wire is secured to the arm with the
three clips, the anti-chafing sleeve and wire are correctly routed
through the gray retractor spring. Properly secure the wire in the
plastic strain relief in the brake dust shield. Slide the magnet arm
down over the backing plate anchor post.

8.

Install cable anchor bracket over the magnet arm and install
anchor post locknut. Torque to 200 in.-lbs. After the nut is
tightened, the cable anchor bracket and magnet arm need to be
able to pivot 20-30 degrees under the tightened nut.

9.

Remount the brake drum over the brake assembly. Avoid
contaminating the brake linings with bearing lubricant. Install/
adjust bearings per Dexter’s instructions.

Use a hammer to remove the adjusting lever pivot pin from the
bottom of the new rear (secondary) shoe. Support the new shoe
adequately while knocking out the pin to ensure the shoe web is
not distorted or damaged during removal. Discard the pin.

10. Using a brake spoon or flat head screwdriver, tighten the star
adjuster to expand the brake shoes while rotating the wheel/
drum in the forward direction. NOTE: Always spin the drum/wheel
in the forward direction as if the trailer was traveling forward on
the road. Tighten the star adjuster until the drum/wheel reaches a
point where the brake shoes begin to engage the drum. Continue
adjusting the shoes out until the pressure of the linings against the
drum make the wheel/drum difficult to turn.

Prior to reassembly, screw the adjuster screw assembly apart and
lubricate the threads with high temperature brake lubricant or antiseize grease. Then screw the adjuster screw assembly all the way back
in to the shortest possible length. Also lubricate the brake anchor
post, pivot arm, and the brake shoe alignment pads on the backing
plate where they will come in contact with the brake shoe web.

11. Loosen the star adjuster one click at a time while continuing to
turn the drum/wheel in a forward rotation. Continue adjusting one
click at a time until the wheel/drum easily rotates, with a slight
sound of the linings rubbing the drum.
12. Install the rubber access hole plug(s) on the rear of the brake.
13. For best results repeat this procedure for all brakes to ensure they
are set at the same clearance.
14. Install the wheel and torque the lug nuts to the wheel
manufacturer’s specifications.

3.

Hook the gray retractor spring into the rear (secondary) shoe and
install that shoe into the rearmost backing plate alignment pad.

4.

Hook the gray extractor spring into the front (primary) shoe. Then
pivot the front (primary) shoe on the anchor post outward to
extend the gray spring. Then the shoe can be slipped into the frontmost backing plate alignment pad.

5.

In one motion, spread the brake shoes apart. Align the brake shoes
so that the adjuster can slide onto each brake shoe. Attach red
adjuster spring after shoes and adjuster are in place. Please note
the star wheel should be orientated so the wheel is facing the front
of the trailer.

6.

Install the orange centering springs into the holes in the backing
plate and brake shoes. Ensure the hooked ends of the springs are
fully seated and securely in both holes.

©2000-2021 Dexter Axle Company | www.dexteraxle.com

15. Re-adjust the brakes after the first 200 miles of travel and every
3,000 miles thereafter.

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