Fresh Water Disc Brake Coating

[skydiveD30571]

I've got a 2007 EZ Loader tandem axle (3,500lb) trailer with factory surge drum brakes on the rear axle only that, even after being replaced last year, seem to need adjusting way too often. Like every few trips often. There's also a welded piece of metal that hangs down a couple inches in front of both brake adjustment ports. I'm not sure what it is for, and it looks useless, but it was definitely from the factory and it makes brake adjustment a huge pain.

I've been researching disc brakes, and have seen plenty of people with problems with Tie Down (or Tow Zone) disc brakes so I've eliminated them from my searching. I've been looking mainly at Kodiak, but also Titan and UFP. I see there's different coatings like E-coat, Silver Cad, SS and Zinc. I only boat in fresh water lakes in Kansas, and trailer a couple times a week to and from the lakes. I understand the need in salt water applications, but if I bought silver cad or SS brakes, am I paying for a benefit I won't really see or need?

Also for anyone who has the UFP A-75 actuator, does anyone know if it can be used for drum and disc brakes? The manual does not specify either way. I may just end up getting a full brake/actuator kit anyways. Thanks.

 

[bruceb58]

For fresh water you can get any coating really. I boat in salt water and have just the e-coat on my Kodiaks but I douse them with water after I am done.

The difference between a disc and drun actuater us that the master cylinder in the drum version has a residual valve that needs to be removed. The rest of the actuator is identical.

https://www.championtrailers.com/content/remove-residual-valve-instructions.pdf

 

[skydiveD30571]

Bruce, thanks for the information and link. Sounds like I can really save myself some money by going with a cheaper coating and modifying my current actuator. The only other thing I've noticed is that in some full kits, rubber brake line hosing is included. This 2007 trailer came with the bent metal line already installed. Any reason to change that out, or is it fine with a disc brake setup?

 

[oldjeep]

Usually you only see the flex line used at the swing away tongue and short pieces to each caliper - or in the case of leaf sprung axles also one from the frame to each axle tube. The kits have more than that?

 

[skydiveD30571]

Well, I had seen a Tow Zone (Tie Down) kit that came with 20+ft of flex line for the whole trailer, but I have since realized that it was a kit designed for trailers with no brakes yet.

 

[bruceb58]

You can use flex for everything if you want. Just not as responsive because the flex lines do expand a bit with pressure. Not really an issue with a trailer. For example if you used flex like that on a car, your pedal would feel a little mushy.

If you are going to replace the hard lines, replace with stainless lines.

Like oldjeep said, you have to use at least a short piece of flex going to the calipers because the calipers float and rigid line would not allow them to do that.