Ordered disc brakes today!!

[MARK A]

You guys are as bad as the Harley Davidson forums!
I ordered my disc brake kit today and am looking forward to getting started.
It seems like the right thing to do, these big trailers are a handful in a hard stop situation.

Mark

[Golfmedik]

Man, that is the one mod I really want to do as it is SO much better than the drums. Post up some pics in you would. Just to make me more jealous!

[MARK A]

Originally Posted by Golfmedik

Man, that is the one mod I really want to do as it is SO much better than the drums. Post up some pics in you would. Just to make me more jealous!

I will take some pictures, I'm hoping it's as good an idea as it sounds.
I'm due for a bearing packing anyway so thought I may as well. The brakes on these things are smaller than an old 1/2 ton pickup. Here's to hoping.

Mark

[AZ Traveler]

Let us know how the install goes assuming you are doing it yourself.

[mtlakejim]

Man I am pea green!!! The disc brakes are high on the priority list but not as high as the better tires and cushion hitch......


Might as well do the disc brakes with top of the line bearings and upgraded suspension all at once?

[MARK A]

Originally Posted by mtlakejim

Man I am pea green!!! The disc brakes are high on the priority list but not as high as the better tires and cushion hitch......


Might as well do the disc brakes with top of the line bearings and upgraded suspension all at once?

The brake setup comes with the new bearings. We have the 4100 Mor/Ryde and the Mor/Ryde isolater pin box, and G rated tires. I’m very pleased with the ride.

Mark

[Golfmedik]

I would love to do the 8k independent suspension upgrade to ours as well, but not sure about the funding for that one...

[Dave W]

Disc brakes may be the best mod you will ever make on a towable RV

Take a good look at those new bearings as some suppliers don't give you any improvement over the Chinese junk Keystone/Dexter

[MARK A]

Originally Posted by Dave W

Disc brakes may be the best mod you will ever make on a towable RV

Take a good look at those new bearings as some suppliers don't give you any improvement over the Chinese junk Keystone/Dexter

Thanks! I did some checking and found even Timkens are made in China. 😕
Mark

[MARK A]

Originally Posted by Dave W

Disc brakes may be the best mod you will ever make on a towable RV

Take a good look at those new bearings as some suppliers don't give you any improvement over the Chinese junk Keystone/Dexter

Dave,
Do you think Timken are manufactured to a closer tolerance even if they are manufactured overseas?
For the 250 bucks I’d gladly buy the better ones.

Mark

[MARK A]

Originally Posted by Golfmedik

I would love to do the 8k independent suspension upgrade to ours as well, but not sure about the funding for that one...

Ya, I don’t know about that one either. I personally am very pleased with the ride of the 4100 M/R on ours. If I was pulling it every day all day long, or even once a week, might be different.
If the brakes are as big an improvement to stopping as I’ve been reading I’ll be happy.

Mark

[beeje]

I have disc brakes on my 3455sa and I can stop the entire rig with just the trailer brakes if needed. The difference is NIGHT AND DAY. I no longer feel the camper pushing the truck. I now feel the camper and truck braking as one.

[MARK A]

Couldn't be more pleased. The stopping distance is remarkably less. Probably the best thing I've done to the trailer so far. Tom at Stopyourtrailer.com was very helpful, I elected to buy new Timken bearings and races and I saved the China ones for Emergency spares.



Mark

[rohrmann]

We had discs installed at the Coos Bay, OR rally in June. Went from the brake controller set at 9 to 4.5 and the rig stops much better than just the truck alone. We opted for the Timkens, and they were only a little less than $40 per wheel, and the outer bearing on the 8K disc hub is larger than on the 7K drum hub, so should be much more durable. This photo is at the end of the first short day of installation, still needing the plumbing and the controller installed.

[Bulldog]

Originally Posted by rohrmann

We had discs installed at the Coos Bay, OR rally in June. Went from the brake controller set at 9 to 4.5 and the rig stops much better than just the truck alone. We opted for the Timkens, and they were only a little less than $40 per wheel, and the outer bearing on the 8K disc hub is larger than on the 7K drum hub, so should be much more durable. This photo is at the end of the first short day of installation, still needing the plumbing and the controller installed.

Bob which disc brake kit did you use.

[rohrmann]

They used the Dexter K71-908-00 disc brake end kits that are the 7/8k 13” rotors with 9/19” studs along with the Brakerite by Dexter EHB 1500psi actuator. Also used were the random axle install kit, new lug nuts, the Ford/Chevy controller adapter, and I had the Timken bearings used instead of the ones from Dexter. All this was put together by Performance Trailer Braking and was shipped to the RV park where the rally was held at. Their installer was there for a couple weeks and also put on a couple presentations for the group.

[prndl]

Originally Posted by rohrmann

We had discs installed at the Coos Bay, OR rally in June. Went from the brake controller set at 9 to 4.5 and the rig stops much better than just the truck alone. We opted for the Timkens, and they were only a little less than $40 per wheel, and the outer bearing on the 8K disc hub is larger than on the 7K drum hub, so should be much more durable. This photo is at the end of the first short day of installation, still needing the plumbing and the controller installed.

Just curious why your calipers are mounted with one at 3 o'clock and the other at 9 o'clock?

With my Kodiak brakes the instructions say:


e. On 3500 lb. through 8000 lb. axles, install caliper mounting bracket at the recommended 3 o’clock position on left side and 9 o’clock position on right side. On the 9000 lb. and 10,000 lb. axles, the caliper is mounted at 12 o’clock. Torque caliper mounting bracket bolts per axle manufacturer’s recommenda- tions. (Note Fig. 1, Item 5)

[beeje]

Originally Posted by prndl

Just curious why your calipers are mounted with one at 3 o'clock and the other at 9 o'clock?

With my Kodiak brakes the instructions say:


e. On 3500 lb. through 8000 lb. axles, install caliper mounting bracket at the recommended 3 o’clock position on left side and 9 o’clock position on right side. On the 9000 lb. and 10,000 lb. axles, the caliper is mounted at 12 o’clock. Torque caliper mounting bracket bolts per axle manufacturer’s recommenda- tions. (Note Fig. 1, Item 5)

That is very strange. I noticed that to, but did not comment. Mine are all mounted towards the rear. So looking at the drivers side, they are at 3:00. Passenger side at 9:00

[rohrmann]

Originally Posted by prndl

Just curious why your calipers are mounted with one at 3 o'clock and the other at 9 o'clock?

With my Kodiak brakes the instructions say:


e. On 3500 lb. through 8000 lb. axles, install caliper mounting bracket at the recommended 3 o’clock position on left side and 9 o’clock position on right side. On the 9000 lb. and 10,000 lb. axles, the caliper is mounted at 12 o’clock. Torque caliper mounting bracket bolts per axle manufacturer’s recommenda- tions. (Note Fig. 1, Item 5)

The installer said they were to be installed on the side with the least movement, so the would be where the spring bolts to the frame, not where the shackles and equalizer is between the axles. I don’t think it really makes any difference for braking, and the calipers have two bleed fittings so you can bleed at the top one whichever way they are positioned. I looked up the instructions later and confirmed what he said.

[Dave W]

I mounted all 4 calipers on the rear side. It makes absolutely no difference where they are mounted. A disc brake caliper will work wherever on that rotor and have exactly the same braking clamp effect and will stop rotation. A conventional (Dexter) brake will have a different effect as long as it's the Lockheed floating design where wedge action does the stopping. Then there is the bendix design ......early Ford and Chrysler products