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Author Topic:   Stainless Steel Disc Brakes for Trailers

peteinsf posted 03-15-2004 07:49 PM ET (US)
Hi All,
What do I need to know before ordering stainless disc brakes?
Best source? Hub type? Size?
Pete
Royce posted 03-16-2004 01:41 AM ET (US)
Use the Kodiak disc brakes. They are ventilated like a truck disc. You can buy them through Century Tire and Wheel. If you have the 5 hole plate on your axle you can use 12" brakes. The 4 hole plate takes the 10" brakes. Google Kodiak and go to their website.
royce
jimh posted 03-16-2004 07:15 AM ET (US)
This is rather funny: I spent about ten minutes searching on GOOGLE.COM for the Kodiak Brake website. I never did find it. Finally I downloaded a catalogue PDF from another website that happened to include some information about Kodiak's website. They are not very visible on the web via searching.
I'll save you the ordeal:
http://www.kodiaktrailer.com/
Kodiak brand brakes seems to have come on the radar screen recently in a big way. They are getting a lot of mentions in magazines and forums. Previously there was more buzz about Tie-Down Engineering, but now the talk seems more about Kodiak. I don't have experience with either. I just thought I'd save you ten minutes of searching on GOOGLE.COM for their website.
jimh posted 03-16-2004 07:20 AM ET (US)
To follow up to my own post: that Kodiak website is very well done! If their brakes are that good, they'll be excellent!
peteinsf posted 03-16-2004 08:43 AM ET (US)
My goodness Jim,
That is a web site, the most information I have ever seen on disc trailer brakes! Normally Tie-Down just has a 1/2 page basic sheet...
Great, I am sure someone on here will have these installed on their rig...
Royce posted 03-16-2004 09:26 PM ET (US)
Pete- I recomended them because I installed 12" Kodiak brakes on my trailer for my Outrage Cuddy 25'. The are built well and they work flawlessly. Buy the e-coated discs with the integral hub assembly and the stainless steel caliper set. I was able to tow and stop my Outrage with a Toyota Tundra--I was never pushed--in fact , my trailer had more braking capacity than my Tundra. Highly recommend them!
Royce
peteinsf posted 03-17-2004 10:22 PM ET (US)
Royce thanks,
They look very well made! What drove your e-coated selection. Why not get the Stainless disks?
Their web site seem to only have the wheel-end, what type of surge coupler setup are you using?
Pete
Royce posted 03-18-2004 12:27 AM ET (US)
Pete- I talked to the engineers at Kodiak. They recomended the e-coated disc because the stainless disc is not offered with an integral hub assembly. With the integral disc there is very little run out when assembled--run out means hot brakes. They also indicated that they only sell stainless discs in very caustic applications. I used the new Attwood 8,000lb. brake actuator with the integral back-up pressure release solinoid.
Royce
peteinsf posted 03-18-2004 02:23 AM ET (US)
OK, I'll have to give them a call. I wonder what "very caustic" means to them (boating in Love Canal, NY)? Being in San Francisco the brakes will only be dipped in salt water...
But I am glad that their working, these drums have been a nightmare and I have trips planned to Seattle later in the summer. Last time I tried that I had overheated drums lock-ups, ahhhh
Backlash posted 03-18-2004 07:48 AM ET (US)
Pete,
Whichever disk brake you choose, Kodiac or Tie Down, they will be a significant improvement over your drum brakes. The Kodiac's appear to be the premier disk brake, but I have been very happy with my Tie Downs the last few years. Make sure your actuator is suitable for disk brakes...I see most manufacturers offer a model for each. BTW, Overton's seems to have the best prices on Tie Down.
Steve
peteinsf posted 03-19-2004 12:21 PM ET (US)
OK I spoke with the folks at Kodiak, his concern was that the ss-discs are so expensive that if you run that pads down people get upset about the replacement cost $200+ per disc.
He said the e-coated was not normally used in salt environments but the silver cadmium plated rotor with a stainless steel caliper is what they recommend for salt water customers.
Here is the cost breakdown
100% Stainless:
1) Break/Caliper kit; $585 per axle
2) Spindle, seals etc; $36 per wheel.
Silver Cadmium:
$310 per axle
Does anyone have silver cadmium plated rotors (in salt)? Is it worth that extra $600 for all stainless?
The next step is to remove one of my existing wheels to match up the seals…
Pete

Royce posted 03-22-2004 08:39 PM ET (US)
Pete- I looked up my receipt. I was incorrect in advising E-coated--I used the silver Cadmium coated discs. The part # for 12" brakes(integral hub) with Stainless Steel rotor kit is 2/hrCm-12-SCADsS and the price I paid from Century in Hayward was $241.00 per axle set. Bearings and seals are extra.Hope this helps.
Royce
peteinsf posted 03-23-2004 12:06 PM ET (US)
Thanks Royce,
The E-Coated did seem a bit off...
How long ago did you buy them? Century Hayward gave me the posted numbers, I can't beleve it went from $241 to $310 quickly in this market?
Maybe you can fax me the recept before I head over there...
Pete
LHG posted 03-24-2004 04:39 PM ET (US)
Tie Down has a brand new, greatly improved alum/SS Disc brake system just hitting the market now, complete with vented rotor. Might be worth looking into. Continental Trailer is going to be offering them on their trailers soon.
Royce posted 03-24-2004 10:08 PM ET (US)
Pete- I buy wholesale. $310 is fair.
royce
peteinsf posted 03-30-2004 07:29 PM ET (US)
Thanks Larry,
Do you know where I can find the new Tie Down information on the web?
Pete
larimore posted 08-19-2007 12:53 PM ET (US)
I got the Kodiak s-cad brakes for my trailer after bad(short) experiences with tie-dowd SS and drum brakes. Initially I was impressed. I use my boat every month or so in salt water. In the past my brakes lasted 1.5 years. These lasted 2.5 years. Warranty is for 3 years. So I called my supplier - Warranty does NOT cover corrison !!! Can you believe that - Whatelse goes wrong in salt water.
I'm now looking at both Tie-Down and Kodiak. The Kodiak SS is way too much for me.
Kodiak SCad Problems-
Mis-leading warranty
Rotors rust when sitting out of use for extended periods
Brake pads rust very quickly(auto pads)
Must repack bearings each installation
Tie-Down Advantages
Stainless rotor
Aluminum caliper
Prepacked bearings
I'm going to give Tie-Down a second try after 5 years. They are easier to install(important!) and appear to have better potential.

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Author	Topic: Stainless Steel Disc Brakes for Trailers
peteinsf	posted 03-15-2004 07:49 PM ET (US) Hi All, What do I need to know before ordering stainless disc brakes? Best source? Hub type? Size? Pete
Royce	posted 03-16-2004 01:41 AM ET (US) Use the Kodiak disc brakes. They are ventilated like a truck disc. You can buy them through Century Tire and Wheel. If you have the 5 hole plate on your axle you can use 12" brakes. The 4 hole plate takes the 10" brakes. Google Kodiak and go to their website. royce
jimh	posted 03-16-2004 07:15 AM ET (US) This is rather funny: I spent about ten minutes searching on GOOGLE.COM for the Kodiak Brake website. I never did find it. Finally I downloaded a catalogue PDF from another website that happened to include some information about Kodiak's website. They are not very visible on the web via searching. I'll save you the ordeal: http://www.kodiaktrailer.com/ Kodiak brand brakes seems to have come on the radar screen recently in a big way. They are getting a lot of mentions in magazines and forums. Previously there was more buzz about Tie-Down Engineering, but now the talk seems more about Kodiak. I don't have experience with either. I just thought I'd save you ten minutes of searching on GOOGLE.COM for their website.
jimh	posted 03-16-2004 07:20 AM ET (US) To follow up to my own post: that Kodiak website is very well done! If their brakes are that good, they'll be excellent!
peteinsf	posted 03-16-2004 08:43 AM ET (US) My goodness Jim, That is a web site, the most information I have ever seen on disc trailer brakes! Normally Tie-Down just has a 1/2 page basic sheet... Great, I am sure someone on here will have these installed on their rig...
Royce	posted 03-16-2004 09:26 PM ET (US) Pete- I recomended them because I installed 12" Kodiak brakes on my trailer for my Outrage Cuddy 25'. The are built well and they work flawlessly. Buy the e-coated discs with the integral hub assembly and the stainless steel caliper set. I was able to tow and stop my Outrage with a Toyota Tundra--I was never pushed--in fact , my trailer had more braking capacity than my Tundra. Highly recommend them! Royce
peteinsf	posted 03-17-2004 10:22 PM ET (US) Royce thanks, They look very well made! What drove your e-coated selection. Why not get the Stainless disks? Their web site seem to only have the wheel-end, what type of surge coupler setup are you using? Pete
Royce	posted 03-18-2004 12:27 AM ET (US) Pete- I talked to the engineers at Kodiak. They recomended the e-coated disc because the stainless disc is not offered with an integral hub assembly. With the integral disc there is very little run out when assembled--run out means hot brakes. They also indicated that they only sell stainless discs in very caustic applications. I used the new Attwood 8,000lb. brake actuator with the integral back-up pressure release solinoid. Royce
peteinsf	posted 03-18-2004 02:23 AM ET (US) OK, I'll have to give them a call. I wonder what "very caustic" means to them (boating in Love Canal, NY)? Being in San Francisco the brakes will only be dipped in salt water... But I am glad that their working, these drums have been a nightmare and I have trips planned to Seattle later in the summer. Last time I tried that I had overheated drums lock-ups, ahhhh
Backlash	posted 03-18-2004 07:48 AM ET (US) Pete, Whichever disk brake you choose, Kodiac or Tie Down, they will be a significant improvement over your drum brakes. The Kodiac's appear to be the premier disk brake, but I have been very happy with my Tie Downs the last few years. Make sure your actuator is suitable for disk brakes...I see most manufacturers offer a model for each. BTW, Overton's seems to have the best prices on Tie Down. Steve
peteinsf	posted 03-19-2004 12:21 PM ET (US) OK I spoke with the folks at Kodiak, his concern was that the ss-discs are so expensive that if you run that pads down people get upset about the replacement cost $200+ per disc. He said the e-coated was not normally used in salt environments but the silver cadmium plated rotor with a stainless steel caliper is what they recommend for salt water customers. Here is the cost breakdown 100% Stainless: 1) Break/Caliper kit; $585 per axle 2) Spindle, seals etc; $36 per wheel. Silver Cadmium: $310 per axle Does anyone have silver cadmium plated rotors (in salt)? Is it worth that extra $600 for all stainless? The next step is to remove one of my existing wheels to match up the seals… Pete
Royce	posted 03-22-2004 08:39 PM ET (US) Pete- I looked up my receipt. I was incorrect in advising E-coated--I used the silver Cadmium coated discs. The part # for 12" brakes(integral hub) with Stainless Steel rotor kit is 2/hrCm-12-SCADsS and the price I paid from Century in Hayward was $241.00 per axle set. Bearings and seals are extra.Hope this helps. Royce
peteinsf	posted 03-23-2004 12:06 PM ET (US) Thanks Royce, The E-Coated did seem a bit off... How long ago did you buy them? Century Hayward gave me the posted numbers, I can't beleve it went from $241 to $310 quickly in this market? Maybe you can fax me the recept before I head over there... Pete
LHG	posted 03-24-2004 04:39 PM ET (US) Tie Down has a brand new, greatly improved alum/SS Disc brake system just hitting the market now, complete with vented rotor. Might be worth looking into. Continental Trailer is going to be offering them on their trailers soon.
Royce	posted 03-24-2004 10:08 PM ET (US) Pete- I buy wholesale. $310 is fair. royce
peteinsf	posted 03-30-2004 07:29 PM ET (US) Thanks Larry, Do you know where I can find the new Tie Down information on the web? Pete
larimore	posted 08-19-2007 12:53 PM ET (US) I got the Kodiak s-cad brakes for my trailer after bad(short) experiences with tie-dowd SS and drum brakes. Initially I was impressed. I use my boat every month or so in salt water. In the past my brakes lasted 1.5 years. These lasted 2.5 years. Warranty is for 3 years. So I called my supplier - Warranty does NOT cover corrison !!! Can you believe that - Whatelse goes wrong in salt water. I'm now looking at both Tie-Down and Kodiak. The Kodiak SS is way too much for me. Kodiak SCad Problems- Mis-leading warranty Rotors rust when sitting out of use for extended periods Brake pads rust very quickly(auto pads) Must repack bearings each installation Tie-Down Advantages Stainless rotor Aluminum caliper Prepacked bearings I'm going to give Tie-Down a second try after 5 years. They are easier to install(important!) and appear to have better potential.