Changing Drum brakes to Disc brakes on a 8000lb fifth wheel?

We just had Kodiak Disc. Brakes installed at the Trailer Shop in Lancaster, PA. If you search Southwest Wheel Co. / Derrick Sweeden / Kodiak Disc. Brakes on You Tube they have a four part how to series.

Very little. I've had my Jordan adjusted so the trailer brakes lead the truck brakes a little bit and that cuts down on the delay. I prefer having a little delay and better brakes than what I had with the drum setup. I only drove it 10 miles to be sure they worked before we go to Socal for Thanksgiving. I will bleed them again before we go, to be sure air isn't a problem. Craig

Do you have any delay?

The folks at Mor/Ryde might be able to help with this project

Wow, I wasn't sure if I'd ever get this job finished. It took 3 tries to get a Carlisle actuator to me, undamaged. Anyway, it stops a lot better and I can put black streaks on the road and smoke the tires now. Craig

You also need to have the 5 bolt pattern - brake plate to axle flange. I shopped around and it came down to Kodiak. Dexter was way $$$ and Titan claimed to have 13" 8k discs but they aren't available yet. You used the Dexter actuator on your boat trailer but what brand disc kit did you use? Try calling Titan in Ia. They have a guy who has a Kodiak stand at Quartzite but he sells Kodiak disc parts and their actuator (I think brakerite) with a line kit but I don't know how much of the line kit is rubber and how much is steel. Probably a lot of rubber cuz not everybody can do double flare. Craig

The napa guy tried to talk me into the poly coated lines saying they bent better but I use plain steel cuz I had to silver solder on the correct ends to connect to the hoses. I only used hoses to each caliper. The Parker store had the generic hoses already made up (cheaper) but they were 37° regular flare. The plain steel was a breeze to bend and double flare. I have a Carlisle actuator coming. The first one was damaged. I found out dexter 5200 - 8k uses the same spindles and inner brgs. I tossed my notes but I think my inner brgs are 25580 and the outers are (8k) 02475. I had to buy the 8k outer brgs. The 8k Kodiak hub/rotors came with oil covers and I'm using them - no more packing! I'll send pics if you PM me with a contact. Craig

Hi Craig I used rubber lines in the boat. Any time you can use rubber on a boat I always do. It doesn't rust or corrode. I am not sure what I will use for brake lines in the trailer. How hard was it working with the stainless? Are they braided lines? if so that has to be way cool. What actuator did you use? I used the Dexter and am very pleased with it. I have however hit a snag with my fifth wheel come to find out they are not Dexter axles they are Kober axles. I need to find out the spendel size and now that's becoming a pain in the butt. Please let me know how yours turns out. I was expecting the whole change over to cost me about 2k

I'm about 2/3 done with my Kodiaks on dexter 8 lug 6k axles. The 8 lugs/16" wheels allowed the 8k/13" rotors. ~$1800 by the time I'm done, from etrailer and I made up all the lines cuz I wanted steel instead of rubber hoses. The cost of that stuff floored me! Steel lines are cheap, the fittings and 4 - 18" hoses to the calipers $173. 3/16 x 1/4 reduction fitting weren't available so I had to silver solder some things together to get what I needed. What did you use for lines on your boat trailer? Craig

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