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Suspension kit includes equalizers and hardware for attaching 4 leaf springs to the hangers on your trailer's frame. Works with 33" axle spacing. Built-in grease zerks for easy lubrication. Heavy-duty shackle straps ensure strength.
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Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (239 Customer Reviews)
Suspension kit includes equalizers and hardware for attaching 4 leaf springs to the hangers on your trailer's frame. Works with 33" axle spacing. Built-in grease zerks for easy lubrication. Heavy-duty shackle straps ensure strength.Installed on a 2018 Prime Time Avenger ATI. Rear axle failed (lost its arc resulting in a burred spindle and inconsistent tire wear). During inspection of the hanging components, found the OEM shackle links failed or in the process of failing. These new components are truly heavy-duty (just reading that they are ½” thick does not give as much of an appreciation as comparing them to the originals). Took approximately 12 hours (dodging periodic rainstorms) to replace rear axle and the suspension kits and springs for both axles. Installation was straight forward without complexity. I can now rest easy that these parts will last longer.
This is a very good kit. Over the standard kit, the big differences are: 1) bronze bushings instead of plastic, 2) greaseable (zerk fittings) hollow bolts for both ends of springs, 3) zerk/grease fittings on all three load equalizer bushings, and 4) extra thick shackle straps (1/2” instead of 1/4”). The only unfortunate part is the kit costs 3-4 times what the standard kit costs. In my opinion, it is still very worth it.
One part I didn’t like and didn’t have great luck with is the instructed method to install the greaseable bolts and the top equalizer bolts. Under the bolt heads is splined for about 1/4”. The splines MUST engage with the spring hangar hole to prevent the bolt from turning. If the bolts are allowed to turn in the hangar holes, the holes will quickly become oblong because the bolts will turn here instead of against the bushing as designed. This will quickly oblong/oval the hangar holes. The instructions say to use a piece of pipe over the grease fitting (to prevent damaging it) and to hammer the bolt in. This works marginally well, but I was not able to get any of the bolts fully seated with this method (by the way, a 3/8” pipe nipple 6-8” long from a local hardware store works perfectly for this). When hammering against the bolt heads, you’re really hammering against the spring hangar. It’s like hammering against a diving board (not very effective).
After starting the bolts with the pipe and hammer method, I made a special tool. It is nothing more than a piece of 1/4” thick steel with a half circle/recess torched out (see pictures). I then tapped this in between either the spring end or the equalizer (depending on which bolt I was working on) and the hangar with the bolt in the half circle/recess. This spacer allowed me to use the bolt nut to draw the splines fully into their hole.
All that said, I have a number of words of caution:
1. When using this special spacer tool, still DO NOT use an impact wrench to draw the bolt splines in! This will just spin the bolt and likely wreck the bolt and the hole. By hand only!
2. Furthermore, be careful how much torque you use to draw the splines in! It requires a bit more than the normal 50 ft-lb of torque when tightening the bolt, but definitely don’t use a 24” breaker bar. The bolts are 9/16” bolt, but the nut and thread are only 1/2-20 (fine thread). It would be very possible to use too much force and twist off/wreck the bolt.
3. To get my hangar holes back to their correct size (allowing the splines to engage), I welded up the edges of the holes, ground them flat, then redrilled to 9/16”. While this worked very well and is much easier and cheaper than installing new hangars, the weld metal is harder than the original hangar. This is likely why I had added trouble getting the bolt heads fully seated.
Two final notes:
1. When removing the old bolts without damaging/enlarging the holes under the bolt heads (assuming they’re not oblong/oval like most of mine were), an air hammer works great for this.
2. The spring hangars should be slightly wider where the bolt passes through them. Mine had become slightly collapsed here. I just used a big adjustable wrench to splay the two sides of the hangar apart from each other again. When installed, the bolt should draw the sides of the hangar back together (it’s like a spring). I used a bolt to gauge how far to go – farther than the shoulder of the bolt, but not so far you can’t get a nut on. They shouldn’t be splayed a whole lot – maybe 1/8-1/4” maximum.
So much better than the original parts. Heavy duty shackles, brass bushings and it's all greasable! It'll last forever.
I bought these to replace an aged set of what looked to be OE hangers during a retrofit to raise the trailer. Three items that drove me to this set: wet bolts, included metal bushings, and the side plates are massive! They look to be well-built, and all hardware is included in the kit. I feel much better about the suspension integrity after adding these, knowing the load placed on them during tight maneuvers.
Nathan - 04/26/2021Great product,instructions ok,when putting in bronze bushings make sure you clean out spring eyes throughly so you dont distort bushing.For what we pay for trailers these days they should come equipped this way. As always Etrailer is a great vendor to work with.
Exactly as described although in the description it doesn’t indicate that there are new bolts and bushings for the non shackle ends of the springs so I will just return the 4 extra bolts and bushings.
I Installed two sets on my 14 foot Trailer. In the mountains of NC, brakes dont seem to last on the truck. I use the truck and trailer for pick up and delivery of Ventracs, that weigh in at around 1500LBS. The trailer empty will actually stop the truck now. (I use the Redarc trailer brake controller).
Not having to constantly adjust them is a major plus also. I did wire both axles indepentanly of each other to the junction box. If I happen to have a wire get torn loose, I will only lose braking on one axle and not both.
They were a little expensive, but will save me from replacing the brakes on my truck twice a year.
Over all, I am glad I got the two sets.
The suspension kit with Hardware made it nice to install on my 2007 Weekend Warrior toy hauler. I recommend this when installing new leaf springs as it makes it much nicer then having to fight with all the old bolts.
I have 6 and 1/8 th equalizers . i used Dexter heavy duty supension kit K71-359-00 removed bushings from equalizers in kit . removed old plastic bushing from my equalizers drilled 13/64 hole in center of top hole taped hole with 1/4 by 28.for grease zert replaced brass bushings from equalizers in kit to my equalizers then put it all together. great kit
Solid product. The bronze bushings have been updated to bronze lined steel, but still a good upgrade from stock hardware.
I used this kit to upgrade the suspension on my travel trailer. The original suspension was a "dry bolt" system with plastic bushings. This system allows me to lube all parts of the suspension, plus the bronze bushings will last much longer. This upgrade also eliminated all of the annoying squeaks I was getting a slow speeds and while maneuvering. I highly recommend it.
One of worst experiences of ordering parts. Was sent the wrong length bolts and when finally received right bolts the grease fittings were cheap junk that would not take grease. Will never do business with them again
My trailer no longer wonders from side to say with this kit the original shackles are way to flimsy and the wet bolts make it easy to maintain
I placed this order knowing that I could get a better price with minor adjustments somewhere else. I was so grateful when it arrived four days earlier than promised and a week earlier than the other vender would estimate. Great shipping department!!!
I look forward to updating this review, if possible, after our first trip with the LCI Road Armor upgraded suspension system.
Excellent product. I did strip a nut trying to draw one of the pins in instead of pounding it in like the instructions said. Otherwise everything went together without a hitch. Used a 5/8 bolt to remove the nylon bushings. Threaded it into the bushing a little and then pounded them out I used a half inch carriage bolt with nuts and washers to install the bushings instead of pounding them in. Worked pretty slick. Looking forward to many trouble free miles
Got sent one bolt that did not have the grease zerk drill and tapped into it.
Jenny N - 12/20/2021everything was a perfect fit. suspension is quieter not that it's on wet bolts instead of worn plastic bushings.
Adam - 05/18/2022The original 1997 std dexter suspension kit had a good run hauling firewood. This kit will definitely outlast the trailer it’s attached to and I’m sure if my trailer would have originally been equipped with these I wouldn’t have had to replace them. I will definitely buy again in the future if needed for another trailer.
Very pleased with service, we got the parts quickly
I installed them this spring, here are a few pictures. I also installed all new bushings and greasable pins. It was a good thing I replaced these as the center bushing on my old equalizers were broken. The new equilizers are a couple inches taller than the old one, raise my trailer over an inch. This worked well as my new truck is higher than my old one.
Great fit. Beefy shackles. Old plastic bushings gone and nice bronze ones installed. Greaseable bolts make maintenance a breeze. Highly recommend
Overall, this kit looks to be exactly what was needed. Only issue was a slight misalignment on one pair of shackle bolts, but it was easily resolved in a few seconds. The components are very robust, and should provide many years of use with proper maintenance.
I ordered the Dexter Heavy-Duty Suspension Kit for Tandem-Axle Trailers. I was sent 2 equalizers with no grease fittings. I called back and tried to explain to the lady (who didn't have a clue) that I needed 2 equalizers with grease fitting or 2 wet bolts (with grease fittings). Today I received 1 zerk fitting in the mail. This is really frustrating!!
Brooke M - 10/18/2021Excellent improvement along with the Lippert Road Armour!
Trailer rides way smoother.should have switched these when first got the trailer.
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