disc or drum brakes??

[aggiedave98]

I'm looking at putting electric brakes on my '88 17.5' I/O Invader. I tow with an '89 Suburban w/ rear drum brakes.

I was thinking about getting them at Northern Tool. Any other suggestions on where to get them?

And my real question is disc or drum brakes?? What are the pros/cons?? I was thinking of course disc are better and only $30 more each, but then I just realized w/ the disc brakes below, I don't need a hub, right??? So really it's cheaper???


drum:
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_7768_7768

disc:
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_801_801

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: disc or drum brakes??

I hope you are talking about hydraulic brakes and not electric.
Electric and water don't mix real good.
The link you have is for hydraulic disk brakes.
You will also need the Disc Brake Actuator.
That is the way to go, IMO.

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: disc or drum brakes??

ooops... I did post a link for hydraulic disc brakes... I do mean electric. What do you mean they don't mix?? Don't lots of folks on here have electric brakes on their boat trailers??

I already have a nice brake controller, that's a big reason I wanted to go electric...

Can't you just disconnect when you're going into the water??

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: disc or drum brakes??

are there any electric disc brakes?? I don't see any at northern tool...

 

[MRS]

Re: disc or drum brakes??

Check this out thats what I did electric with mine they are great. http://www.iboats.com/bbboard/bbBoard.cgi?a=viewthread;fid=22;gtid=367478

 

[tommays]

Re: disc or drum brakes??

The surge brake couppler is different for disk OR drum SO you have to have one that matches the system you pick


Disk brakes are better on paper BUT in reality still need regular matiance especially in saltwater

When you go to the high end all stainless disks like kodiak the cost go up to around 600 dollars per axle :% but they have a 6 YEAR KODIAK WARRANTY

And no matter what you pick the bearings still need regular matiance to avoide breakdowns on the road

Tommays

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: disc or drum brakes??

I've got so use to surge brakes, I am in the stoneage with them.
I have electric on my camper and a car trailer, just never thought about electric and water mixing very good.
Figured the water would corode the conections and then no brakes.

Man is sux getting old.

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: disc or drum brakes??

Captain,

2 questions:

1) what is the regular maintenance and

2) I guess you're implying there are electric disc brakes. any links or places to buy that you'd recommend??

 

[bruceb58]

Re: disc or drum brakes??

There are no electric disc brakes...only drum brakes. I would not reccomend getting electric brakes if you ever use your boat in salt water.

You can use hydraulic disc brakes with an electric/hydraulic actuator. That is what I did. No more surge actuator and you use you the controller in the car.

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: disc or drum brakes??

Bruce,

thanks. do you have a link to an electric/hydraulic actuator?? are you saying that's ok for salt water??

If I only do salt water once per year does that change you stance??

thanks.

 

[MRS]

Re: disc or drum brakes??

dsd, if you will go up to my first post here and click on the link you will get ton`s of great information. I did coat everything with marine grease before putting the drums back on and there is a real nice set of disk brakes set-up on the post to check out.

 

[Almeja]

Re: disc or drum brakes??

Go to www.championtrailers.com and click on the 'technical assistance' button. There's lots of great information there.

As far a surge brakes go, it's been said that disks work better for heavy trailers and drums for lighter trailers... due to the higher working pressures required for the disks.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: disc or drum brakes??

Bruce,

thanks. do you have a link to an electric/hydraulic actuator?? are you saying that's ok for salt water??

If I only do salt water once per year does that change you stance??

thanks.

The actuator sits near the tongue of your trailer and does not get wet.

http://shop.easternmarine.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=catalog.prodInfo&productID=5466&categoryID=150

There is a disc version too:

http://shop.easternmarine.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=catalog.prodInfo&productID=5467&categoryID=150

Here it is mounted on my trailer:

 

[bruceb58]

Re: disc or drum brakes??

Aggiedave,

Do you have any brakes on your trailer now? If not, you will need a new axle if your present axle does not have brake flanges.

Bruce

 

[bruceb58]

Re: disc or drum brakes??

Go to www.championtrailers.com and click on the 'technical assistance' button. There's lots of great information there.

As far a surge brakes go, it's been said that disks work better for heavy trailers and drums for lighter trailers... due to the higher working pressures required for the disks.

I heard the same thing.

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: disc or drum brakes??

Bruce,

No, I don't... .yeah, I'm planning on getting the axle w/ the flange as well...

 

[Almeja]

Re: disc or drum brakes??

"planning on getting the axle w/ the flange as well..."

Make sure you get one of the new spindle-lube designs... lets you pump grease through the bearings.

Worth it's weight in gold.

 

[jeffnick]

Re: disc or drum brakes??

I put electric drum brakes on my boat trailer about a year ago -- so far so good.

http://www.boatus.com/trailerclub/upkeep/electricbrakes.asp

http://www.fultonperformance.com/products.php?group=3&subgroup=4

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: disc or drum brakes??

Ok, welll I called champion trailer and they're telling me not to get electric if I'm going into the water.

I'd like some other folks to reassure me that's ok...

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: disc or drum brakes??

btw, I just replied before reading the link from JeffNick. thanks for the link. I'd much rather put on electric b/c I already have a nice brake controller on my '89 suburban...