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Dexter EZ Flex Shackels Install with Pictures!


bp-guy
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I picked up this kit after looking at my trailer and seeing the lack of maintenance on my side and decided it was time to do something about it. I got the kit shipped to my door for $170.00.

It was a very easy install. If you have a compressor and the required tools it can be done in a few hours. I started at 10 am and finished up at 2:30. I had to go get a grease gun at the local parts store and I also fought a bolt that would not come out and needed to be cut out. If those were taken out of the equation it would have taken me just over 3 hours. And I also checked my wheel bearings and added grease to them.

Here are the pics of the install.

Getting the trailer ready for the swap out. This kit is pretty beefy. It weighs in at just over 20 pounds.

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Wheels off, Time to remove the old and put on the new.

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Glad I did this, look at the bushings. They are made of plastic and were in bad shape.

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The new kit supplies you with Bronze inserts that tap in easily.

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Here is the old stuff, as you can see it was way over due for maintenance.

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And here is the kit all finished-

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All the end pieces have Zirc fittings for grease. The bolts have a hole in them the allow the grease to go to the middle of the bolt and come out and lube the Bronze insert.

The hardest thing was just getting motivated to get started and get all the tools together. Once I was going it went easy. My last bolt was the one that got chewed up and I had to get the grinder out to finish the job. It isn't a messy job either unless you mess with your wheel bearings like I did. I would suggest that you check yours too since your right there. I also found a broken brake wire while doing this and was able to fix that also.

Now all I need to do is chase down some faulty wiring in my lights and I will be good to go for December!

Hope this help anyone out that is thinking of doing this to their trailer. It was $$$ well spent.

Edited by bp-guy
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Great job Tim :thumb: Did you happen to make a Youtube video? Did that to my last trailer(PAID (Johnnie Walker) and it made a WORLD OF DIFFERENCE to the suspension and handling. Hey I'm going to send that oil leaking generator via dune mail w/ Dunefreak, I need to get that sucka out my Garage. Speaking of Sucka's you heard from BCB??

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No video was made. Didn't even think about doing that. I have heard a lot of good things about this system that's why I bought it. Thanks for taking care of that generator for me. And Bob is MIA again. I haven't talked/texted him in a month or so.

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Yikes, some of those shackles and parts look like they were about to ruin a dune trip. I've been there before.

I talked with barefoot bob just a couple days ago. He's no longer going out for Tday. He said that plan got rear ended. :porn: lol

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The hubby did this upgrade a couple years ago and the difference in the trailer ride is amazing. I left a bottle of medicine for the dog on the bathroom sink with no lid (ooops). Drove 250 miles on these crappy Nevada roads north and got there and it was still sitting in the same spot

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www.nickstruckparts.com

Category- Utility trailer parts then click- suspension parts.

This is the part # I got- K71-652-00 -COMPLETE E-Z FLEX SUSPENSION KIT - TANDEM 33" AXLE

You can go to the Dexter website and find info on how to measure your axle to determine which kit you need. Pretty easy to do.

Edited by bp-guy
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www.nickstruckparts.com

Category- Utility trailer parts then click- suspension parts.

This is the part # I got- K71-652-00 -COMPLETE E-Z FLEX SUSPENSION KIT - TANDEM 33" AXLE

You can go to the Dexter website and find info on how to measure your axle to determine which kit you need. Pretty easy to do.

On the Dexter site it told me to measure the equalizer, not the axle. Is that what you did?

It says I need this one, http://www.nickstruckparts.com/k71-656-00.html and that it will lower my trailer about an inch. :(

Not a bad price though.

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Yes, I measured my equalizer as my axle spacing was not exactly 33 inches. The two choices have such a big difference in the measurements that it made it easy to tell which kit I needed.

Is an inch that big of a deal with your trailer? I know on your kit you will need to pay attention to the install of the part with the rubber insulator on it as you will have two different types with the 3 axle. Look at the pics on their website and see what I am talking about.

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  • 2 months later...
  • 3 weeks later...

http://l.b5z.net/i/u/6149609/f/Service_Resources/Determining_Proper_E-Z_Flex_12-09.pdf

Here is the pdf for measuring your hangars.

I don't notice any big difference while towing with them installed but nothing it the trailer has moved after getting to the desert. I have a few loose tools on the floor and they stayed put. The big thing is knowing your suspension is now good to go and will be for a long time to come. Those plastic bushings are crap and probably weren't meant to last more than a year or so.

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  • 2 weeks later...

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Looked so good to me that I'm in the process right now. With the long drives

back and forth to Idaho I thought it a good idea!

I'm old so just one side a day!!LMAO Getting up and down took me longer than the labor to install it!

Edited by sandawg
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Nice spring packs Pat. They almost look new. :whistle: The new hangers look good. I'm sure they will smooth the ride inside the trailer. When I did my spring hangers, they didn't have this setup for triple axel trailers.

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