Thread: trailer axle brake electric turnback

I thought the limit was 750???
brakes are good--
any brakes are better than no brakes--

as for the turnback??

edit;

Justin I've just looked through the Vehicle Components cattledog,,
(do you want a 4mg email?)

nothing jumps out in the axel section,,,

edit2,
part number 07 3102 OLD
lugs welded in situ,, one for round, one square,
easy enough to buy-- can you weld an axel??

there are arguments either way for electric brakes off-road...

i went mechanical disc as i can fix mechanical myself and have only been in one situation off-road where i wished i had electrical and that was when the brakes in my old disco overheated coming down a very steep slope.

electric can help you get a trailer back in-line if it steps out which could come in handy occasionally

cant help with the turnback, sorry.

Hi Utemad,

Don't know why Alko insists on an "electric turnback" whatever that is.
Trailer brake backing plates usually are attached to flanges welded to the axle. You buy the flange to suit the axle shape (round versus square) and size.

If you buy a brake kit the flanges are included.

I'd talk to someone like http://www.marshall-eng.com.au/. Describe your existing axle when you talk to them.

I have a trailer which is probably just under the weight limit where brakes are required - I'm thinking of fitting electric brakes for the same reason - increased stability and reduced braking distance.

regards
JRH1946

just in case my previous question gets lost in the clutter--

can you legally weld axels?




would make your job much cheaper justin,,

I have no idea what the "turnback" is, however I have fitted electric brakes recently.

The backing plate for the brakes mounts onto a square mounting flange which has a large hole which is centred by the round machined part of your axle and is welded in place.

How you do that is affix the mounting flange onto the backing plate. Then assemble the hub/bearings (no seal) with backing plate in the vertical position onto the stub axle and do up the retaining nut. This will align everything and tack weld the mounting plate on 4 sides. Remove the backing plate and hub and complete the welding.

There are 2 types of electric drum brakes, regular and off road which have better retaining of the magnets onto the backing plate. Get the off road design which will stand up to corrugated roads better.

I have had a very bad experience with Couplemate mail order service however they are in Brisbane (Couple-Mate Pty Ltd, 1/136 Glenora Street, Wynnum. 4178. Brisbane. Queensland.Australia Tel : 07 3348 3822 Fax : 07-3348-2939) give them a ring ask your turnback question and you can pick up orders direct from them. Which is a very poor recommendation for a mail order company.

Electric brakes are excellent on the road, far far better than override mechanical/hydraulic. And as Incisor says can (an have) bring you back in line in an emergency or for poorly or difficult balanced loads

Diana

Okay to give some more info.

I have never heard of the electric turnback either and google returned zero hits.
What ALKO described it as was an extra machining on the axle to accept the backing plate. Just looking at the pic (not that I can at work) the surface the grease seal runs on (the black mark just before the brown dirt) extends back a fair way and I thought that having seen pics of the weld on backing plate that this would be where it welds on to.

As for electric/override my dad (mechanical engineer) has always said that override brakes are the brakes you think you have when you don't have brakes. Although his trailers have usually had hydraulic override brakes.

I saw ALKO had offroad versions of their electric drums but didn't know what was different for sure so thanks for that.

Someone in our club told me of how they limped their Hilux down a mountain using only their electric trailer brakes as their brakes had failed.

I'm assuming you can weld axles as the backing plates have to be welded on.

My trailer is stamped as being 520kg so I don't need brakes by law yet but the 850kg figure was a guesstimate of being loaded with full water tank and a couple of jerries and gas bottle. Probably not that heavy but maybe would be on a really big trip with another spare tyre and tools etc.

My main reason for wanting brakes is for fast dirt and off road. I have had a few moments when I have been coming downhill on a dirt road and tapped the brakes to have the trailer push the tail of the Disco offline. I would have thought electric would be better for this situation as you can have them come one exactly he same time as the car brakes whereas override would require the car to slow before the trailer would brake itself and if the trailer has already pushed the rear of the car offline then it probably isn't going to have enough pressure on the ball to activate the brakes.

Pedro I think I have the file you are talking about somewhere if you downloaded it from their website. Thanks anyway.

I have all measurements at work with me except the diameter of the stub that the seal rides on. So will have to wait till I get home to measure that bit again.

Thanks for the info. I'll have a look at the Couplemate website too.

Just as an aside in relation to seals, there are an alternate seal (I think designed for marine use) where there is a stainless steel cup which presses into your hub and the rubber seal sits on the stub axle and mates onto the S/S cup to form the seal.

Much better design than the traditional style that run on the non-hardened and often worn, machined surface of the axle.

The brake backing plates don't weld onto the axle - just the flanges. You can then remove the plates if damaged etc.

Diana

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

The brake backing plates don't weld onto the axle - just the flanges. You can then remove the plates if damaged etc.

Diana

yep that is what I meant.

Another question.
Does fitting drum brakes change your wheel track?