Opinion on trailer disk brakes?

[Texasrattler]

Read an article in Trailer Life manazine about upgrading trailer brakes with a disk brake kit. They said a 30% braking improvment. What do you think?



Pete

 

[RustyJC]

Certainly a good thing in concept. One thing to watch as you research the various systems is the pressure rise time - how long does it take from the time the brake controller signals for maximum braking until full pressure is produced in the trailer's hydraulic braking system. Depending on the design of the pressure-producing part of the trailer's hydraulic braking system, these pressure rise times vary dramatically. IIRC, I've seen some at around 3 seconds - the last thing I would want in a "nearer my God to thee" braking situation!! By contrast, another system uses a conventional dual circuit master cylinder with a linear actuator that should produce hydraulic pressure almost instantaneously.



Rusty

 

[JJW_ND]

Disk brakes the only way to go!

Having put almost 12K miles on a newly converted trailer to disk brakes, no matter the delay, disk brakes will stop shorter then electric brakes.



I do notice a delay of a second or so but even in a panic stop situation you have so much better brakes slowing things down and all four wheels working at the same effort, something you can NOT maintain with electric brakes that you would stop shorter with disk. I find the braking to be so consistent and always more available then I need to stop that I find myself driving faster and now worring about following distances as this setup stops really fast even when grossing 21K. Under normal driving situations, I find my self just touching the brake pedal which gets the trailer brakes up to pressure well before I need any braking effort and the Brakesmart allows you to feather the brakes depending on the need to slow down. I have found that I NEVER slide trailer tires any more.



There are several options for disk brake conversions. Kodiak brakes (www.kodiaktrailer.com) coupled with carlisle hydraulic actuators (http://www.carlislebrake.com/spec_tbp.html) and controlled by a Brakesmart controller is a setup I can highly recomend. Dexter makes a disk kit but it is more $ and not sure any better. Others make actuators for more $ but do not have any experience to comment. Many actuators are picky about the brake controllers that will work with then. Most "smart" contollers (like the Prodigy) that send a electical pulse to check for broken wires etc do NOT work with most hydraulic actuators unless you can turn off this signal (like you can with the brakesmart). They will control the brakes fine but also cause the actuator to pulse ever time it checks of broken wires (that do not exist) "probably" causing premature actuator failer.



We will continue to convert our fleet of trailers to hydraulic disk as they need replacement brake assemblies/ hubs or any electrical replacement parts.



Even the times I have driven a new trailer or one that had recent brake work were all electric brakes were working the best they can, would not hold a candle to the braking performance of the disk brakes even after 12K miles and ZERO adjustment or maintance! THis is with trailers running duel 8K axles and grossing 20K or more.



jjw

ND

 

[jacqnbill]

I agree with jjw completely. I have a Teton three axle trailer weighing around 20k with Dexter electric over hydraulic disk brakes and even with a slight delay the brakes are superior to my older Teton with equivalent weight and electric brakes. I had a couple of close calls with the old trailer and had to take the shoulder and ditch because of poor breaking. I feel much more confident with the disk brakes and also never lock a wheel. I also have Breaksmart controller and would not think of another brand controller.



Bill

 

[Texasrattler]

JJW



Thanks for all the freat info.



Pete