Axle Solution

TORFLEX®: With Dexter’s Torflex rubber torsion suspension axles, you’ll have no concerns of damage to precious cargo due to road shock. Torflex unique independent axle suspension means a smoother ride for your trailer and a greater peace of mind for you.

• Independent suspension and self-damping
• Rubber cushioning eliminates metal-to-metal contact
• Less transfer of road shock for better cargo protection
• Heat-treated solid steel inner bar with forged torsion arm provides maximum strength
• Precision machined steel spindle and integral cast iron hub-drums
• Axle can be used as a load carrying cross member
• Easy installation with less overall maintenance
• CSA certification on many brake models
• Ten-year limited warranty
• ISO 9001 Certified Production Environment

SPRUNG: From 1,000 lbs. to 27,500 lbs., Dexter light duty, medium duty, and heavy duty leaf spring axles are the trailer industry's benchmark. Backed by an industry-leading, 5-year warranty, Dexter sprung axles are built with durable, wear-resistant components to help keep you on the road longer. Dexter sprung axles are custom built with high strength tube to your specifications with many options available, including:

• Several lubrication options, including E-Z Lube®, Nev-R-Lube, oil, and standard grease, depending on the capacity
• Optional Gal-DEX® coated cast iron hub and hot dipped galvanized axle beam on certain capacities
• Straight or Drop spindles
• Available in drop center V-bend axle beam on certain capacities
• Multiple tube and spindle solutions to safely handle the various overhangs
• Slipper springs suspensions for all light duty capacities
• Double-eye leaf springs suspension up to 8,000 lbs.
• Optional E-Z Flex® suspension components available
• High-quality alloy steel springs in a variety of capacities
• CSA certification on many brake models
• Five-year limited warranty
• ISO 9001 Certified Production Environment

The backbone of the brake is the backing plate. All Dexter’s stamped backing plates and critical components are manufactured in Albion, Indiana from high-quality domestic steel.

BACKING PLATE: Reinforced engineered design stamped from U.S. steel ensures strength and superior performance in all braking applications. Rigid design ensures proper actuation and component functionality while providing a steadfast engagement with the brake flange.

SHOE/WEB: Complete brake shoe & lining assembly is stamped and welded in our Albion, Indiana facility.  Proprietary friction material is blended, formed, cured, and adhered in-house providing consistent performance and long life. Linings are ground to provide improved operation and superior wear.

LEVER ARM: Manufactured in-house with domestic steel ensuring consistent tolerances and actuation.

ANCHOR POST: The anchor post is orbitally welded and meticulously located to ensure a strong and consistent actuation of each brake shoe while engaging with the hub & drum.

MAGNETS: Robotically manufactured under strict SPC standards to ensure strong and dependable magnetic engagement and proper rotation to actuate the lever arm pushing the brake shoes outward against the drum. EVERY magnet is tested to confirm proper performance. EVERY magnet’s surface area is mechanically ground and verified for flatness maximizing contact with the drum surface. Dexter utilizes the latest state of the art robotic equipment when winding our bobbins guaranteeing maximum magnet performance.

All light and medium duty Dexter hub & drums are domestically cast and then robotically machined in-house. By utilizing locally sourced castings, Dexter’s strict vendor certification process guarantees strong metallurgic properties of the hub & drum. This provides drums that will not only remain intact but will also wear evenly ensuring proper magnet and shoe/lining operation.

CASTING: Dexter partners with domestic foundries that pass our stringent supplier verification process and deliver dependable and repeatable castings. Utilizing these sources while machining and controlling quality of the castings in-house avoids defects such as porosity and metallurgical imperfections that can lead to hubs and drums overheating and/or structurally failing.

STUDS: Dexter brake drums utilize domestically sourced studs as opposed to other manufacturers who commonly use imported studs that appear similar on the surface, but have a proven track record for breaking and/or failing leading to costly repairs and compromised safety. Dexter’s studs ensure long lasting wheel attachment.

COOLING FINS: Dexter’s unique cooling fins are specifically engineered to help dissipate heat helping to improve the life and performance of the brake.

MACHINING: At Dexter, we machine our hubs and drums in-house under strict quality standards that go above and beyond ISO 9001.This attention to detail provides exceptional consistency of critical areas such as the inner surface of the drum (ensures brake performance) and the hub bore providing proper bearing fit while preventing grease leaks.

The foundation of any trailer is the axle beam and it is paramount that the most rigorous and repeatable quality standards are in place in order to consistently deliver safe, rugged and reliable products.

FRICTION WELDED TUBE & SPINDLE: Dexter is the only manufacturer to utilize friction welded technology in light duty applications, which provides superior reliability, strength, and performance.  ALL medium and heavy duty Dexter axles also utilize friction welding unlike our closest competitors who utilize inferior girth/plug welding methodology.  In all welding applications, Dexter builds quality into the manufacturing process using vision technology to assure consistent weld placement and penetration. Other manufacturers commonly inspect for quality after the fact.  In laboratory fatigue tests, Dexter’s welds regularly outperform our competitors - often 50% longer!

SPINDLES: Most Dexter spindles are available with or without an integral flange to meet our customer’s specific needs. At Dexter, whether the flange is integral or welded, we maintain the appropriate quality processes to ensure proper flange location for backing plate alignment. This provides the proper mounting surface, ensuring the proper alignment between the brake and the hub & drum. This is necessary in order for the brakes to effectively function within the hub & drum. Dexter’s automotive-style spindle nut retention system allows a fine-tuned bearing adjustment. As opposed to competitors’ designs that frequently utilize a castellated nut and cotter pin, resulting in inferior bearing adjustment. Additionally, Dexter’s unique design and components can easily be reinstalled making maintenance that much easier.

E-Z LUBE®: The E-Z Lube® bearing lubrication system allows customers the simplicity of lubricating bearings and purging old grease. This system is ideal for most towable axles and designed for submersible applications.

As with other critical components, at Dexter, we manufacture attaching parts in-house, maintaining stringent tolerances required in designing quality and performance into the product.

SHACKLE LINKS: Dexter’s shackle links are made in-house with domestic steel 20% thicker & 20% heavier than the next competitor’s. Both superior characteristics deliver extended life. In laboratory pull testing, Dexter’s standard shackle links proved to be 38% stronger before yielding.

U-BOLTS: Dexter’s U-bolts are manufactured in-house where we utilize a unique coated and coined design providing increased surface area resulting in superior holding force. In production, consistent leaf spring attachment is accomplished with the use of multi-head nut runner which applies equal torque to all points, at the same time ensuring proper installation and a secure union between the suspension and the axle.