Freebacking drums?

OK, so the previous owner of my boat took immaculate care of the boat, but did little to nothing with the trailer. Because of that the brakes are non-functional.

I'm going to tear in to it within the next few weeks. I'm guessing I'm going to have to refurb the master cylinder and shock absorber. Since it's used in salt water, I'd bet money the drum brakes are completely trashed and in need of replacement. So when I dig in to it, I need to decide if free backing drums will be good enough or if I should buy the solenoid to deactivate the brakes completely when in reverse.

Any suggestions or comments regarding free backing brakes vs. solenoid, brand of brakes, etc? The coupler is an Atwood (and I hate it, but don't want the expense of a complete replacement).

The hubs seem fine and have been well lubed.

Re: Freebacking drums?

The solenoid is used on disk brakes because the grab with very little pressure.

If you are replacing everything, have you considered going electric? They never apply until you touch the pedal.

Re: Freebacking drums?

I would suggest that you dump the drum brakes and replace with disc. The disc stop much better and are a lot less maintenance.

Coupler wise, just replace it. By the time you buy the replacement parts you could have bought new.

Re: Freebacking drums?

Ok, now we're really getting in to it. I'd definitely prefer disc brakes, what with the salt water here. Disc brakes require a new coupler that I really didn't want to pay for. But faced with buying new drum brake assemblies, plus new drums (more than likely), and the costs of rebuilding the master cylinder...

Also on my to do list is to modify my tongue to be swing away. Maybe I should just do it all in one shot.

Recommendations for components?

Re: Freebacking drums?

I just replaced my Atwood master cylinder. I paid $62.00 for a brand new master cylinder. I thought it would have been more than that but i guess i got lucky. The place i bought the master cylinder also had complete drum assembly's for $100.00 a piece which includes everything but a new hub. So for about $262.00 everything would be new. Now price what two calipers and new tongue costs and decide which would be better for you. I have heard good and bad thing's about electric brakes.

Re: Freebacking drums?

S-cad Kodiak discs will set you back $117 a side. A new Tiedown disc coupler will run you $100.

If you don't want to buy a new coupler just remove residual valve from the existing coupler and be done with it.

http://www.championtrailers.com/remove_residual_valve.htm

Anyway you look at it a disc system is going to be cheaper in the long run than replacing drum assemblies every 2-3 years becouse of the salt damage.

Re: Freebacking drums?

180shabah said:

The solenoid is used on disk brakes because the grab with very little pressure.

If you are replacing everything, have you considered going electric? They never apply until you touch the pedal.

Click to expand...

Electric brakes + salt water= bad idea.

Re: Freebacking drums?

slasmith1 said:

Electric brakes + salt water= bad idea.

Click to expand...

Not so much.

Go check out Fulton's website and look at thier "Sharkskin" coating. It holds up very well in a salt water environment.


I also know several guys running "RV" brakes (including myself when I get the motivation to do the install) and dunking in salt water, but the braking performance and availability of parts in rural areas was/is the primary influence for the decision.

Just add a flush kit, which you should do for any brake setup, and keep up with the maintenance.

Re: Freebacking drums?

dingbat said:

S-cad Kodiak discs will set you back $117 a side. A new Tiedown disc coupler will run you $100.

If you don't want to buy a new coupler just remove residual valve from the existing coupler and be done with it.

http://www.championtrailers.com/remove_residual_valve.htm

Anyway you look at it a disc system is going to be cheaper in the long run than replacing drum assemblies every 2-3 years becouse of the salt damage.

Click to expand...

Nice. Didn't realize you could so easily switch between discs and drums with the same master cylinder. I still don't like the Atwood coupler, but it beats buying a whole new coupler. Just a solenoid and two disc brakes...