Drums to disk brakes conversion
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From: Home Base Nebraska
Drums to disk brakes conversion
After 12 years of hard use our Dexter HD 8K brakes were wore out so I replaced them with Kodiak 13" disk brakes and Dexter actuator.
We had Dexter Nev-R-Lub bearings so I had to stay with that style of bearing with the Kodiak version, same 50mm bearing. I bought the disks kits and line sets from etrailer and the actuator from Eastern Marine.
http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Brak...K2HR89XLD.html
http://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-...co/DM5425.html
http://www.easternmarine.com/dexter-...tor-k71-651-00
The hardest part was getting the backing plate bolts out the rest was straight forward. I got lucky and was able to pull a wire along side the brake wire to the cold side of the breakaway switch. One important thing that has to be done is remove the excess paint off the the caliper brackets and the calipers so the caliper can slide in the bracket, a light coating of grease has to be applied to that area when they are installed. The line kit was well made but needed more clamps, rolling around on the floor wasn't much fun.
Denny
We had Dexter Nev-R-Lub bearings so I had to stay with that style of bearing with the Kodiak version, same 50mm bearing. I bought the disks kits and line sets from etrailer and the actuator from Eastern Marine.
http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Brak...K2HR89XLD.html
http://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-...co/DM5425.html
http://www.easternmarine.com/dexter-...tor-k71-651-00
The hardest part was getting the backing plate bolts out the rest was straight forward. I got lucky and was able to pull a wire along side the brake wire to the cold side of the breakaway switch. One important thing that has to be done is remove the excess paint off the the caliper brackets and the calipers so the caliper can slide in the bracket, a light coating of grease has to be applied to that area when they are installed. The line kit was well made but needed more clamps, rolling around on the floor wasn't much fun.
Denny
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From: Media PA
Denny, Have you put enough miles on the new setup to have a solid opinion on the conversion?
That is a serious investment in brake hardware, but if performance in increased I could be convinced, stopping has always been a high priority for me.
That is a serious investment in brake hardware, but if performance in increased I could be convinced, stopping has always been a high priority for me.
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From: Western MA
Interesting write up. I've read with interest every disk brake conversion thread I've come across over the years and always thought it would be a great upgrade. I just haven't kept an RV long enough to have the drum brakes wear down yet. Maybe this time around!
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From: Home Base Nebraska
Drums to disk brakes conversion
I won't be able to take it on the road until I get some water damage caused by poor engineering repaired, it's going back together but it will take some time.
A couple that are in our RV group used all my part numbers and installed them on his trailer, he said it was like the difference between calm and a tornado.
Denny
A couple that are in our RV group used all my part numbers and installed them on his trailer, he said it was like the difference between calm and a tornado.
Denny
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From: Home Base Nebraska
Drums to disk brakes conversion
Hooked up and went for a test pull today and what a improvement, my Dexter HD brakes were good when the trailer was new but nothing like our new disks.
Denny
Denny
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From: Media PA
That's great to hear Denny. This is something I need to think about seriously, we plan to keep our current TT for several more years and it is a heavy unit for an Excursion. My next upgrade for it will be 16" rims and LT tires, hopefully this Fall/Winter. Our TT's storage bays are very limited in size, does the electric over hydraulic unit need to be mounted inside a compartment or can it be frame mounted? I guess I could build an aluminum box under the trailer's body for it.......
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From: Home Base Nebraska
Drums to disk brakes conversion
That's great to hear Denny. This is something I need to think about seriously, we plan to keep our current TT for several more years and it is a heavy unit for an Excursion. My next upgrade for it will be 16" rims and LT tires, hopefully this Fall/Winter. Our TT's storage bays are very limited in size, does the electric over hydraulic unit need to be mounted inside a compartment or can it be frame mounted? I guess I could build an aluminum box under the trailer's body for it.......
Denny
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From: Home Base Nebraska
Drums to disk brakes conversion
It was well worth the expense 
it would have cost more to replace my drum brakes because I needed everything including all the drums, it's one of the drawbacks of keeping a trailer for a long time and putting a ton of miles on.
Denny
it would have cost more to replace my drum brakes because I needed everything including all the drums, it's one of the drawbacks of keeping a trailer for a long time and putting a ton of miles on.Denny
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From: Home Base Nebraska
Drums to disk brakes conversion
The only time I noticed any delay was under really hard stops but it's just the time it takes for the pump to build full pressure but I stopped so fast and hard that the table was tipped over and the full chest freezer was moved in the closet. I don't think there's anymore delay than the drums had but a lot more braking force making it feel like a delay.
The controller works great in the electric over hydraulic setting but I wish they would take the speed delay out of it before it starts to work. It's going to take a while after we really start pulling to get it adjusted for seamless breaking.
Denny
The controller works great in the electric over hydraulic setting but I wish they would take the speed delay out of it before it starts to work. It's going to take a while after we really start pulling to get it adjusted for seamless breaking.
Denny