Changing to disc brakes

[NuttyTexans]

Am considering having my current brakes (drum) swapped out for a disc brake system. Present systems is not very effective and I have had the brakes adjusted and checked numerous times with no improvement. Has anyone done this and were you happy with the results? Cheaper than buying a new rig and don't know what rigs would have a disc system on them. Thanks and travel safe.

[TheAmRheins]

I must say that with the maxbrake and disc brakes I have no delay. And those I have spoken to that did have fixed that by bleeding their brakes again.

[Me_Again]

Slownsy wrote:
And I take it you brake controller doesn't have to be activated before it sends a signal to the electrical magnets to move so they can activate the brakes.

Little defensive are you. There is a known amount of delay in the pumps and I asked about input on it. You instead chose to take the low road, questioning how electric drum brakes work. The magnet only has to move a fraction of a revolution to cam the shoes out.

People that install the MaxBrake and the older BrakeSmart give very high reviews of them, finding that braking is much better and more predictable verses controllers like the Prodigy.

The combination of crummy controllers and under sized wiring seem to be at root of a lot of drum trailer brake complaints.

Enjoy Chris

[Slownsy]

And I take it you brake controller doesn't have to be activated before it sends a signal to the electrical magnets to move so they can activate the brakes.

[Cummins12V98]

Me Again wrote:
No one talks about the disc brake pump delay? How about a little real world user input on that. That, pin maintenance and pump teething reports drove my decision to stay with drums, star wire and install a MaxBrake controller. I really like the result. What ever I do with the brake pedal the truck and trailer respond as a single unit.

Note: For those that do not know. The trucks brake controller activates an electric pump that is installed in the trailer. The electric pump builds up hydraulic pressure to apply the disc brakes.

Chris

Don't know about others but I have zero delay. I have never had such good braking. I am sure MaxBrake helps!

[Me_Again]

No one talks about the disc brake pump delay? How about a little real world user input on that. That, pin maintenance and pump teething reports drove my decision to stay with drums, star wire and install a MaxBrake controller. I really like the result. What ever I do with the brake pedal the truck and trailer respond as a single unit.

Note: For those that do not know. The trucks brake controller activates an electric pump that is installed in the trailer. The electric pump builds up hydraulic pressure to apply the disc brakes.

Chris

[sheff69]

recycler wrote:
i would see about upgrading your wiring and installing new drum system is lots cheaper and easier to maintain..

It might be, but it is nowhere near as efficient.
In over 30 years and numerous trailers, with reasonably heavy trailers, I've never been able to lock up drum brakes in a panic stop.
With my Kodiaks, I can. I'd rather flat spot tires than repair damaged truck front ends.
I've always maintained my own brakes, and I'd much rather work on greasing slide pins on disk brakes, than trying to adjust drum brakes.

Sheff

[recycler]

the disc brake system on my friends trailer works great when it is working right...they are on a non-rv gooseneck dually tri-axle..the biggest thing is they are very sensitive to brake controllers.. he had to buy several till he got one that worked right with the actuator system and you have to make sure the slide pins in the calipers don't freeze up..on his it required taking off the tires and greasing them monthly as it was used in the winter..i would see about upgrading your wiring and installing new drum system is lots cheaper and easier to maintain..

[ronday]

Had mine done at Morryde on Elkhart, Indiana. Best money I've spent. Ron Day

[Gib3633]

I had a Kodiak kit installed in April by Mor/yde In Elkhart Indiana and also IS suspension and can't say enough good about both. The people at Mor/yde are assume. Interestingly enough when I pulled out and stepped on the brakes they wouldn't release and they immediately changed the accumulator pump. There have been problems with some of those. Just a heads up if installing yourself. It could happen to you. They told me the ones that work keep working and the ones that don't they can't get working.

[Cummins12V98]

Me Again wrote:

pcm1959 wrote:
I have some questions for those of you with the disc brakes: maintenance is virtually eliminated with disc, right?

That may not be completely true. Many report that the pins that hold the calipers have to be serviced regularly.

I was going to do the swap last fall. I ended up installing new shoes, wiring axles in a star with #12 wire and installing a Max Brake controller. Result was fantastic improvement with no lag and no more Prodigy jerking! Chris

Once every year I use my TrailerAid Plus and take one tire at a time off and grease the wet bolts and re lube the slide bolts with silicone grease on the calipers and also lube the metal to metal parts on the calipers. These brakes are better than any I have ever used by far, even better now with the awesome MaxBrake.

My Dad said his HH Premier's electric brakes worked much better with his new 12 Ram with Heavy Electric selected on his integrated brake controller.

But for some reason he just purchased a Kodiak Disk Brake kit from E Trailer. I will let you know if he thinks it was worth the money.

[Me_Again]

pcm1959 wrote:
I have some questions for those of you with the disc brakes: maintenance is virtually eliminated with disc, right?

That may not be completely true. Many report that the pins that hold the calipers have to be serviced regularly.

I was going to do the swap last fall. I ended up installing new shoes, wiring axles in a star with #12 wire and installing a Max Brake controller. Result was fantastic improvement with no lag and no more Prodigy jerking! Chris

[C_Schomer]

I'm thinking about doing the same. I can't find a site that has the complete conversion kit or pricing. Anybody know? Thanks! BTW, I incresaed wire size and barely any improvement. Craig

[NuttyTexans]

Fulltimer50 wrote:
My experience says that it may have more to do with your brake controller in the truck, than your trailer brakes. Before I bought my 2011 F350 I had a '99 F250 with a Max Brake controller. The trailer was a 12k Newmar with diskbrakes. The Max Brake controller was sooo much better than the new Ford controller with the same trailer. So even with diskbrakes you may not be any better off.

[slomark]

Been using Kodiak for 3 years, outstanding improvement. Get the most out of them by properly adjusting the controller setting, at the earliest convenience.

[aruba5er]

Love my Kodiak brakes. It took around 2 days of on and off work to put them in everything I needed was in the kit. I think I bought it from E trailer but?? old age you know. It included 2 battery holders and 2 smallish batterys. If you order, tell them you don:t need the batterys. You already have them >they are for the break away. Also I have a 2011 chev with built in controller. The BrakeRite would not work and I needed to get the adapter. Tell them you need it when you order and save the shipping charge and time needed to get it later. Those brakes work SO GOOD. Going down a highway in Northern Wisconsin a BEAR ran across the road. I smoked all 4 tires. Missed him (her) by inches. Probably didn"t help the tires though. Money will be well spent. Would not even look at a new trailer/5fith wheel without disc brakes.