Disk Brake PROBLEM & $$$

[KChookem]

You should read this post if you are considering putting Stainless Steel Disc Brakes on your trailer, or already have them.

Seems the Disc Brakes I put on my boat trailer are not nearly as durable as I thought. Here is an overview. In August 2000, I replaced my rusted out drum brakes with Stainless Steel Disc Brakes, which were reported to be ideal for saltwater. Recently, Les Schwab advised I needed new brake pads, so I told them to go ahead and do that work and another problem (not directly related to the disc brakes).

Today, I get a call from Les Schwab saying the brake calipers are frozen shut, and need to be replaced, but their suppliers can only provide the entire unit, meaning a whole new assembly at approximately $200 per wheel. I asked if I have LS put on an entire new assembly, will I be able to get just calipers, for example, in the future without the rotor etc., and aftering pausing a moment, LS said, "probably not".

So, my options are to get a whole new brake assembly (over $400), or hunt around to see if I can get just the parts.

If you are considering putting disc brakes on your trailer, I suggest you find out if you can purchase just the replacement parts you need, or if you have to buy everything. If you are not interested in doing the work yourself, another consideration is finding a qualified person to do the work (and able to identify any other problems while they're working on the brakes). Many/most/all brake shops will not install parts that do not come from their suppliers.

The nice man at Les Schwab recommended the following to prolong disc brakes: (1) After use in saltwater, flush them very well with fresh water; and (2) when servicing wheel bearings or brakes, lubricate the caliper pistons/parts.

FYI - I use this trailer/boat primarily in saltwater, averaging 20-30 dunkings per year. The original drum brakes lasted a little over 3 years (completed rusted out), and the disc brakes lasted 4 years. The Manf of my Disc Brakes is "Tiedown Engineering, Atlanta, GA" (I am not implying there is anything wrong with the business, or that their product is any better or worse than some other manf.).

...Ken Chambers

[bigtrout]

Thanks for the info I was considering replacing mine with disc but will stay with drum. Parts for drum are available just about everywhere. :shocked:

[troybuz]

Contact Mike @ M.S. Metalworks in Molalla...he will take care of you at a fair price.
http://ms-trailer.com/index.html
He really knows his stuff. (503) 759-3030

[backlash442]

Were you not flushing the brakes after each use? 3 years is pretty damn good imo. I don't think I got anywhere near that long and I flushed religiously.

[DriftR]

I recommend that you go out and buy yourself a 2 to 3 gallon pump up sprayer (like you use for weed control). Then purchase a gallon of "Salt Away" and mix it as per manufactures specs. Spray those wheels, axles, brakes before you dip in and right after you come out. It will save you money and extend the life of your trailer. For those that have standard brakes they now have an aftermarket flush system that you retrofit to your hubs. You can attach a fresh water hose for wash down but I would still use the Salt-Away and flush it through the brake washdown system. You won't be sorry. PM if you need additional information. Volvo Penta uses a Neutra-Salt wash down system in their new Off Shore series duoprops. You just push a button on your helm after your done fishing or boating in salt water and 45 seconds later your lower unit and block (if you don't have fresh water cooling system installed) will be flushed with a Neutra-Salt mixture leaving it very tough for salt deposits to adhere to the cooling jacket or lower units interior. This is a unique system because this is all done in the water prior to loading your boat on the trailer. Neutra-Salt is a Volvo Penta Brand and only available through their dealers I believe. Salt-Away is another manaufacturer of similar flushing systems.

[Gregotis98]

I just bought a new trailer and it came with Kodiak disc bakes that are based on a Chevy car caliper, I can't remember what model of car but one could easily find out online looking around.

[zig]

In response to your thread...My family and fishing neighbors got on the disk brake band wagon about 4 years ago. We changed out about 8 axles worth of drums to disks. Some of these drums had the flush out kits installed on them but when they were dismantled, WOW! what a mess.

Things were going great on all trailers until this July. While pulling my empty trailer down 405 to pick up my boat, all 4 began to smoke. I pulled over and luckily had a jug of water as they actually caught fire! I put them out, drug the trailer home and spent the next week in repair mode.
Now, after this experience one would think I'd learned my lesson and would put drums back on. Two issues changed my mind and decided to give them another chance.

1. The reason the brakes got hot and caught fire was due to the emergency cable having been accidently and unknowingly pulled when stepping across the tongue (darn non-boat owners).

2. After realizing that a total replacement was neccessary, the supplier told me the brake system has been updated and improved since I bought my 1st set and even though the brakes themselves didn't fail, the new system is more reliable than the older models.

Long story short, I have repaired and replaced probably over a dozen drum brake systems during my backyard boat maintenance hobby. Even ones with flush systems. So far I have yet to see a failure of a disk system. Even my own failure was due to human error, the system worked as designed. Unfortunately, the cable that got pulled, wasn't yanked hard enouph to totally lock up the brakes so I could have noticed sooner.
I will stay with the disk systems (at least for now).