Brake info for our 71 Loflyte

Take off the 4 nuts on the back and remove the old backing plate and replace with new assemblys.

If you follow the advice above you will save money, energy, plus wind up with a safe dependable system.
I would buy the entire system, brake assemblies, drums, and bearing seal kit. Take accurate measurements to be sure you are buying the right items.

Do all of the above, then measure the distance between the studs on the backing plates, from center of stud to center of stud.
it is possible that You can get bigger shoes mounted to the new backing plates than what was original, as long as the backing plates will fit the axle.
I went to the local trailer repair shop and got the new backing plates with shoes/magnets mounted and new drums and they came with new bearings and seals.

"Usually" the braking surfaces width within the drum and the drum inside diameter needs to be measured to get the proper shoes.

YUP, thats the predicament I too was in. I wanted to make sure everything would work.
My old backing plates had a shallower off set and so i went with this trailer repair guy here. He really knows trailers, and then if it would not fit I could return them to Him and try something different.
Due to the off set is why I had to get the drums too. The proper off set was built into the new drums and everything fit as it should.
After I got the drums shoved onto the spindles, there was a dragging and clicking noise. I took the problem drum back o Him and He determined that the little electro magnet clip was the culprit. The clip is on the end of the magnets lever for a retainer. Once the drum is loaded onto the spindle the clip is no longer necessary. he told Me to remove the clip and give it a try. I did and it works great.
All told, loaded backing plates and drums with new bearings, races, seals and dust covers was just slightly over 200 bucks.
Having the tech support less than two miles away was worth every penny that I paid over the online prices.

That off set is something to think about if a person is ordering just the loaded backing plates and using their old drums.
If the off set is not correct, the brake shoes will be partially outside of the drums, towards the inside, if the off set it greater.
Or if the off set is the other way, the drums will not fully engage the spindles and the shoes will rub the drums on the inner most circumference.
So be sure before ordering any brake components for trailers that You check the off set of the backing plates.
I even sent one company a message asking them about the off set of their backing plates, they were quick to reply but the off set on their plates was greater than the off set on My old backing plates.

   My man! TEN.. Yeah, been a day or two.. I trust you are well... After surfing and getting some feed back here.. Im going to pull her out of the garage and fit her brakes up. 
   Yes, even though I have been out out of the loop, I thought it would be good to show what is up on our new "To Do"
   list. "THE 71 TOASTER".. Is still being managed and enjoyed. And it's time I brought the brakes up to standard.. 
  I am going to do a 6 or 7 pic spill and show what is up here.. Remember to share your restorations boys and girls.


Peace...for he has risen..
Happy Easter

I finished this project up this past weekend and thought I would share the basics. Even though there are tons of clips and tutorials on this subject, I always like to see their application to my task at hand. Here is the shake down with the backing plate removed. I was prepared to rewired from the axle forward but I got lucky and tested this heavy Red wire casing. It was solid and hot. I don't know if it was add on or standard. Where's the Blue?

<a href="http://s866.photobucket.com/user/crossfire3081/media/Picture%20468.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/ab227/crossfire3081/Picture%20468.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Picture 468.jpg"/></a>

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Next, after cleaning up the axle, I fit the new backing plate up. I was able to wire it before I mounted it. So many of the clips and films of this work is done while the camper is elevated on a rack.. No such luck at my place. The wires are constant, my ground runs all the way forward. I did not ground on the axle as show on many of the film clips.
  

<a href="http://s866.photobucket.com/user/crossfire3081/media/Picture%20470.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/ab227/crossfire3081/Picture%20470.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Picture 470.jpg"/></a>

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After this came the nasty job of hanging the Hub. I cleaned them and sanded the contact surfaces inside the drum. I did not purchased new Drums. In away I wish I had, the inside was not covered with surface rust but it was not a nice milled surface by any means. The finished product lacks a little "Bite" to it when the brakes are applied but I'm still tweaking.



Now the Fun Fun job of wiring. As I mention, there is a Red Casing lead on my camper that ran to the axle wire. There was all so a fist full of original wire that ran to nothing that I removed. Our trailer had been set up with a "Flat Four". And as noted before, wiring to a 7-pole connector is not a Color to Color match. But it's really simple just follow the other instruction by our wiring Gurus her on this forum..



<a href="http://s866.photobucket.com/user/crossfire3081/media/Picture%20475.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/ab227/crossfire3081/Picture%20475.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Picture 475.jpg"/></a>

I purchased the connector box with the 7-wire connector at 10' long. Yes I had to cut it down and I still have plenty, but I wanted the connections of the wire to the camper easily accessible for future work if any is required. The price was right as well.

<a href="http://s866.photobucket.com/user/crossfire3081/media/Picture%20479.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/ab227/crossfire3081/Picture%20479.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Picture 479.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s866.photobucket.com/user/crossfire3081/media/Picture%20478.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/ab227/crossfire3081/Picture%20478.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Picture 478.jpg"/></a>

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In closing I might add that this was a fairly easy project. I hate greasing hubs though. I never feel like  
I have enough grease in there.. The Brake Plates are the Self adjusting type.
www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Brakes/etrailer/AKEBRK-35-SA.html

<a href="http://s866.photobucket.com/user/crossfire3081/media/disc%20one.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/ab227/crossfire3081/disc%20one.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo disc one.jpg"/></a>

The power chord came from etrailer also:
www.etrailer.com/Wiring/Epicord/277-000141.html

<a href="http://s866.photobucket.com/user/crossfire3081/media/chord.png.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/ab227/crossfire3081/chord.png" border="0" alt=" photo chord.png"/></a>

The brake controller was from etrailer and I love it. It was a easy install as the Ram was already pre-rewired for it. I started to get the factory installed controller, but the local Dodge shop did not return my calls and really showed little interest in doing the work at $438.00. This controller was at a good price and came with the converter wire for my application. It brakes gradually as I apply the brakes on the truck.  It does not slap ya..It also has the manual "brake-on" as well and it has some other apps that I have not used yet.. so far so good.


<a href="http://s866.photobucket.com/user/crossfire3081/media/control%201.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/ab227/crossfire3081/control%201.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo control 1.jpg"/></a>

Total price on everything for this job was About $270.00.. I can really feel a difference in the breaking 
distance now.. I actually have some. (lol) After 150 miles or so I am going tighten the "Self-adjusting"
break a little if they do not check up a little bit. It might be the old hubs not taking the "stick & stop" like
a newly milled surface.. but I do have some breaks now. Good Luck and don't be afraid to do this yourself..