Shorelander Trail Brakes seized.

Searay205

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 27, 2018
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468
My 2017 galvanized shorelander trailer starboard brake seized. I guess at 5 years the salt water got to it even though religiously flushed after each use. Funny I used trailer a month ago and no issues, didn't even put boat in water. This Saturday I smelled brakes, within 3 miles the heat expanded the wheel bearing grease to the point it blew the rubber cap off the buddy bearing and then grease about 4 feet out, lol. I beat the piston back in caliber that is where I found the steel/chrome piston heavily corroded under the rubber boot which I assume is to prevent water from corroding the piston. I put the brake lock-out tab in place on tongue and secured it with a C-clamp so I could get the trailer back to home.

Looks like 3 calipers are available. Zinc plated with chrome piston (don't use) aluminium caliper with stainless steel piston (bingo) all stainless steel $$$$
Make sure you are familiar with your trailer brakes and how to bypass if on a trip. As far as calipers your guess is as good as mine as to when they seize. Caliper looked perfect with zero rust.

Just an FYI.
 

dingbat

Supreme Mariner
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Nov 20, 2001
Messages
16,164
As you found out, flushing isn’t all its made out to be. I get 5-6 years out of a set of Dacromet (freshwater) calipers and don’t flush at all.

What brand of brakes. Sounds like Tie-down from your description. If so, suggest switching to Kodiak. Much, much better quality brakes.

Rebuildable with all stainless and brass components. No dissimilar metal issues. IMHO…Zinc and aluminum have no place on a SW brake caliper.

if you value your time and don’t like beating on caliper on the side of the road, stainless caliper and rotors are the way to do. Large upfront expense, but you will have no problems and will likely be the last set of brakes you buy
 

Searay205

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Mine are UFP -DB-35. Are the mounting holes standard for all calipers? In other words will the Kodiak bolt up. So glavenized UFP -$256, Aluminuim $300, stainless steel $525 per pair.
 

dingbat

Supreme Mariner
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Nov 20, 2001
Messages
16,164
Mine are UFP -DB-35. Are the mounting holes standard for all calipers? In other words will the Kodiak bolt up. So glavenized UFP -$256, Aluminuim $300, stainless steel $525 per pair.
The Kodiak Disc brake kit comes with mounting brackets. Bolts to the standard 4 hole pattern on the end of the axle.

Lots of combinations (mix and match finishes) with prices all over the place.
Kodiak 10" Dacromet (zinc/Alum) finish - $386.00
Kodiak 10" Dacromet (rotors) and Stainless Calipers - $780.00
Kodiak 10" Stainless (rotors) and Stainless Calipers - $950.00
 

Searay205

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May 27, 2018
Messages
468
I cancelled my aluminum and went with the stainless steel. Thanks for the head-ups on dissimilar material!!!!!. That hit home. How the hell won't the aluminum corrode where the stainless piston extends past the seal? the piston is exposed to salt water. the rubber boot didn't prevent saltwater from getting to chrome plated steel piston. I will be back in same spot i in now in 3-5 years. At best you ruin a boating day, at worse your on the side of the road waiting to get hit, and somewhere in the middle your vacation road trip is delayed while you wait for parts to arrive........
 

dingbat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
16,164
I cancelled my aluminum and went with the stainless steel. Thanks for the head-ups on dissimilar material!!!!!. That hit home. How the hell won't the aluminum corrode where the stainless piston extends past the seal? the piston is exposed to salt water. the rubber boot didn't prevent saltwater from getting to chrome plated steel piston. I will be back in same spot i in now in 3-5 years. At best you ruin a boating day, at worse your on the side of the road waiting to get hit, and somewhere in the middle your vacation road trip is delayed while you wait for parts to arrive........
I made it with Dacromet calipers for 5-6 years of little to maintenance before water got into the boot and froze the caliper up over the winter.
Replaced them with Koda-Guard calipers for "what the heck....".

Still running the original Dacromet rotors. Plenty of meat left to have them turned but see no reason given they surface rust within a day or two after use.

Do yourself a favor an order the ceramic pads. The standard pad doesn't hold up cutting the surface rust off the rotor each time you use them. The ceramics hold up much better.
 

Searay205

Chief Petty Officer
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May 27, 2018
Messages
468
Another big THANK YOU to dingbat. I replaced my calipers with UFP ST-UFP41056L and R. Inspection with magnet showed everything but mounting bolts are stainless steel. Calipers, piston, spring, backing plate on brake shoes. Total cost $505 from Shadow industries. They were a direct bolt on except I reused the original Allen head mounting bolts as the capscrews supplied with the new ones wouldn't work do to limited room. Installation was 15 minute on one side and 1 hour on other. For some reason I couldn't get the lower bolt in after numerous attempts but finally it went in. My recommendations
1) use Allen head wrench straight with box end wrench to remove calipers if ratcheting box end wrench very fast.
2) suck old brake fluid from reservoir, then put new and and bleed nasty rusted brake fluid out of hoses before hooking to calipers. then hook to calipers and bleed. I never disconnected my hoses from the "little blocks" I just reused the blocks on the calipers.

Difference is incredible. No doubt trailer brakes are working I stop better with trailer attached then just truck lol.

Ok on the old brakes I found 3 out of 4 brake shoes separated from their backing plates. I used 150psig air to try to blow old piston out of caliper with zero success covered myself with nasty brake fluid though. In the end the old brakes weren't coming on or off they are just stuck partially on. what a disaster. how many miles I drove burning fuel, truck wear dragging partially screwed brakes I have no idea.

Any trailer seeing freshwater, brackish, salt needs all stainless steel brakes period.

The is the second time Shorelander fooled me so I guess its my fault, first time when Shorelander installed 2013 tires on a new 2017 trailer. Second time is with a full galvanized trailer used in saltwater service they used a chromed piston in their specified brake calipers. By the way the rubber boot which was supposed to protect the piston was in perfect shape, pliable, no rips or tears.

McClain trailer in Houston uses the aluminum calipers with stainless pistons said they have great luck, for an extra $100 get the all stainless....

The only time the boat trailer has seen day light is when boat is used, so 345 days a year it in enclosed storage. The trailer has only been rained on 2 times?
 
Last edited:

Searay205

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 27, 2018
Messages
468
You can see where I ripped the boot away from piston, rest of caliper looks foolishly good. middle pic is of new caliper.
 

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