Disc Brakes - Saved me $$$$

[ford_truck_guy]

As you all may or may not know, I upgraded to Disc brakes 3 fifth wheels ago and will not look back...

The upgrade can be expensive at first, but to me it was priceless..

Coming home from he beach Monday on I95 south of Philly, I was in the right lane, minding my own business and there was a car 2 in front of me that was obviously lost..

Once we got to the I95/476 split the lost car split the exit and STOPPED.. the car in front of me made a panic stop not knowing what the one in front was doing and not aware he had people behind him, and I had nowhere to go.

I stood on the brakes, closed my eyes and puckered for impact..

YUP, we stopped with a few inches to spare.... I will never go with out them.... NEVER..

There is nothing like the feeling of the trailer pulling you back when braking.....

[ACZL]

Looks great Learjet !!!!

[ford_truck_guy]

Very nice look setup..... Particularly like those wheels..

[Learjet]

A few more pics...the back ordered rims and tires finally came in to complete the upgrade package from Jayco.

[Cummins12V98]

If you are a basic wrencher it's an easy job!!!

[ford_truck_guy]

That is exactly where my 1st and 2nd kits came from... I had a local trailer builder do my install, but understand that it only takes minimal knowledge to DIY...
From the Performance Trailer braking site -

"Disc Brake Kit Pricing
These are all complete conversion kits with everything you need except for grease & fluid. All prices are for single wheel axles (not duallys). Please note that "double" axle is the same as "tandem" axle; it has two axles.

Please note: Shipping is included for all kits. Due to infrequent changes in our costs, all prices are subject to change occasionally.

Double Axle 6k or 7k lbs Kodiak 8-Lug 13" Premier Disc Brake Conversion Kit $3,075 + INSTALL..

[Learjet]

ACZL wrote:
Are the disk brakes a retro fit? How do they work with trucks power thru cord? If a DIY job, how hard and long does it take? What info is needed to order them? I really like Learjets set up. TIA

My old trailer I got the kit from here...

https://www.performancetrailerbraking.com/

Also, check out Etrailer...both of these sites have plenty of info.

[ACZL]

Are the disk brakes a retro fit? How do they work with trucks power thru cord? If a DIY job, how hard and long does it take? What info is needed to order them? I really like Learjets set up. TIA

[blofgren]

I totally agree with the comments here; I was absolutely shocked at the difference. Our current fiver is the largest and heaviest that we have owned, yet it stops in a fraction of the time that our others with drum brakes did. I will also not have a fiver without discs again.

[ford_truck_guy]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

ford truck guy wrote:
I wonder if they can be retrofitted onto Kodiak 8K systems?

Just Curious

That would make the IS system REALLY nice!!!

That is the only thing I believe that would make the IS better....

[philh]

We almost got into an accident coming home from FL this spring. When I say almost, it was a few inches. Wife was driving and I saw the issue developing before she did. I had felt my new disc brakes were slow to activate, and this event really put on steroids the need to bleed the brake lines. Wife was standing on the brakes and I could feel the trailer pushing us closer and closer until it finally built up enough pressure and ****, it stopped right there.
.
The next place we were stopping, I had an opportunity to bleed the lines, and there was still a ton of air in the lines. Now, when I need it to stop RIGHT THIS SECOND, it stops.

[Cummins12V98]

ford truck guy wrote:
I wonder if they can be retrofitted onto Kodiak 8K systems?

Just Curious

That would make the IS system REALLY nice!!!

[Cummins12V98]

Learjet wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
The problem I have with my Kodiak 8K and Dexter 3.5K is they are both single piston calipers and they wear the outer pad WAYYY faster than the inner. I keep the slide pins properly lubed.

They LOOK impressive. Only negative I see is the hub cap is not threaded to allow for oil bath.

The disc (rotor?) part slides over the lugs, so I guess you could change the hub to one with an oil bath.

Separate rotor makes it an even better system as mine are one unit hub and rotor.

[Learjet]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
The problem I have with my Kodiak 8K and Dexter 3.5K is they are both single piston calipers and they wear the outer pad WAYYY faster than the inner. I keep the slide pins properly lubed.

They LOOK impressive. Only negative I see is the hub cap is not threaded to allow for oil bath.

The disc (rotor?) part slides over the lugs, so I guess you could change the hub to one with an oil bath.

[4x4ord]

Disc brakes on my fiver cost me a few hundred bucks last summer. My wife was towing the fiver with the motorcycle trailer on behind and going like a bat out of hell when she came over the crest of the hill and saw the turn off to the campground. She hammered on the brakes and made the turn. When I came along a few minutes later and saw the rubber left on the highway i immediately remembered that I forgot to adjust the brake controller for her before turning her loose ….. trailer tires were completely shot. Blasted disc brakes!