replacing brakes

[Raab]

Hubby is replacing the brakes on our toyhauler. He asked me to purchase the following: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...ustomerReviews

He then made the mistake of telling me this package is 1/2 the cost of anything he found elsewhere. Now I'm concerned! I'm a believer in "you get what you pay for" and I'm concerned about the quality of these.

So, my question . . . has anyone used these M-Parts trailer brakes and did they hold up?

Thank you in advance!

[bob213]

I don't think they are half the price. They may be fine but he can get them from Lippert or Dexter just as cheap (except for shipping). I got mine here:
https://store.lci1.com/forward-self-...elf-brake.html

[TitanMike]

If you want good brakes with quality materials, especially the linings which actually do the work, I'd go with the Dexter brakes. I just replaced my brakes with Dexter and am very happy.

Cheaper is just that, cheaper. It's rarely as good.

BTW, the Lippert brakes are the cheaper product with just a Lippert name added.

The Dexter brakes I received had premium linings and are Made in USA.

[U.S.ArmyVeteran]

The ratings on Amazon are actually very good. Better than you see on most things Amazon carries.

Having said that I would agree with "you get what you pay for".

I once drove by a brake shop called "Cheap Brakes"! Really! The parking lot was full

As Titan Mike said: "The Dexter brakes I received had premium linings and are Made in USA."

I would not scrimp on brakes.

YMMV

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by U.S.ArmyVeteran

The ratings on Amazon are actually very good. Better than you see on most things Amazon carries.



Having said that I would agree with "you get what you pay for".



I once drove by a brake shop called "Cheap Brakes"! Really! The parking lot was full



As Titan Mike said: "The Dexter brakes I received had premium linings and are Made in USA."



I would not scrimp on brakes.



YMMV

"Cheap Brakes" have been a mainstay in the automotive world since the beginning.

In some states with inspections they provide a way to get the sticker after an inspection has condemned the old ones. Also popular with people who are planning on just driving a few hundred more miles before trading in or selling (to an unsuspecting soul).

Done properly, and with quality parts, a brake job should easily last as long as the original. Cut corners on materials and things like resurfacing drums/rotors will never yield the same reliability or life.

To me, stopping is every bit as important as going and in an emergency it's paramount. At that point few regret what they spent on the brakes.

[Hclarkx]

In my experience, even Dexter replacement brakes are disappointing. On my last set the shoes had not been properly arced (curvature of the lining did not match the drum well). The result was a very long break-in period and very poor braking during the break-in period.

Just a thought from left field; if the budget allows, this would be a good time to upgrade to disc brakes. Mine are not installed yet, but it seems no one that has done a disc brake upgrade is anything but ecstatic about it. Most venders provide a complete kit and will provide ample help over the phone.

[MR.M]

Originally Posted by Raab

Hubby is replacing the brakes on our toyhauler. He asked me to purchase the following: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...ustomerReviews

He then made the mistake of telling me this package is 1/2 the cost of anything he found elsewhere. Now I'm concerned! I'm a believer in "you get what you pay for" and I'm concerned about the quality of these.

So, my question . . . has anyone used these M-Parts trailer brakes and did they hold up?

Thank you in advance!

IMO they'll be just fine . I've seen dexter and lippert brakes disintegrate on new trailers to boot . being assembled by dexter or lippert is not a guarantee of good quality anymore not sure it ever was .

[CedarCreekWoody]

I read these are manually adjusted brakes, not self adjusting. Is this what you want, and what you've compared.
Nothing wrong with manual adjust, just not as convenient. They were the only thing I could find for mine.

[Too Tall]

I don't have any issue with your husband's decision. The only thing that I might do is get the original OEM rear seal. Yea, the picture shows manual adjust. It's a simple thing to do while you are greasing your bearing or whatever. I've got half, self adjusting and half manual on mine. Sometimes self adjusting tends to drag the brakes a little more than I like.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by MR.M

IMO they'll be just fine . I've seen dexter and lippert brakes disintegrate on new trailers to boot . being assembled by dexter or lippert is not a guarantee of good quality anymore not sure it ever was .

It's not just who assembles them. It's also the materials, especially the linings.

[phillyg]

I'm of the opinion that trailer brake parts are almost universal. Many are Chinese-made, even some from Dexter, and the prices are all over the place. Just have him make sure he's ordering the correct replacements. For example, if the originals are Dexter Nev-R-Adjust, the ones pictured would be incorrect.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by phillyg

I'm of the opinion that trailer brake parts are almost universal.

If only that were true.

Biggest issue with brake parts is the actual friction material on the shoes/pads. They are not all the same even though they look alike.

There are also differences in metal parts as well. Springs that lose their "spring", retainers that don't "retain", etc.

A manufacturer (like Dexter) will have a set of material spec's for their suppliers. Even if manufactured overseas they have to meet their standards.

Aftermarket companies go to shows like SEMA, and the huge AAPEX show in Las Vegas, meet with Offshore Mfr's, and merely purchase parts and assemblies that look like the OEM part.

In the years before I retired and attended AAPEX the International Vendor section was wall to wall with one table vendors. Place looked like a flea market in a far away country with everyone promisjng "cheaper, cheaper, cheaper".

[Raab]

Thank you to all for your thoughts! I'm thinking nobody has used "M-Parts" His other thought was going the Dexter route and I'm relieved to see he's now heading in that direction.