Disc Brake conversion

[Dave_the_Piper]

I am planning to convert my Dexter 7000# axles with neveradjust brakes to Disc brakes. After talking to the Dexter service folks they recommended that I buy axles with the disc brakes already installed. I found this a bit surprising. They say this will be less expensive than buying the conversion kits. Has anyone gone this route? Any thought would be appreciated.

[bob caldwell]

Still need the rest of the system....

[Davidg]

Originally Posted by Dave_the_Piper

I am planning to convert my Dexter 7000# axles with neveradjust brakes to Disc brakes. After talking to the Dexter service folks they recommended that I buy axles with the disc brakes already installed. I found this a bit surprising. They say this will be less expensive than buying the conversion kits. Has anyone gone this route? Any thought would be appreciated.

What price did Dexter quote you for the new axles? I would be surprised if it was less. But interested in finding out as I'm considering upgrading to disc brakes myself.

[rmac04401]

It would probably be less due to the labor charge to convert.

[SeaDog]

If you are doing the conversion yourself I doubt the axles are less expensive there are U-tube videos that show the conversion it is an extensive job but not beyond someone with a little skill

[aceinspp]

Originally Posted by Dave_the_Piper

I am planning to convert my Dexter 7000# axles with neveradjust brakes to Disc brakes. After talking to the Dexter service folks they recommended that I buy axles with the disc brakes already installed. I found this a bit surprising. They say this will be less expensive than buying the conversion kits. Has anyone gone this route? Any thought would be appreciated.

You should go down a few lines on this thread and read the Disc brake conversion done by several folks and cost around $2500. Later RJD

[spock123]

Originally Posted by Dave_the_Piper

I am planning to convert my Dexter 7000# axles with neveradjust brakes to Disc brakes. After talking to the Dexter service folks they recommended that I buy axles with the disc brakes already installed. I found this a bit surprising. They say this will be less expensive than buying the conversion kits. Has anyone gone this route? Any thought would be appreciated.

I'm planning on getting the disc brakes installed on my Cedar Creek. Who did you talk to at Dexter? I might could save a few bucks. I think Dexter brought out Titan brakes. I'm going towards Goshen IN when I start out west this year, I could stop by

[Davidg]

I'm not a bit scared of tackling this simple job myself, but if a few bucks coukd be saved by swapping the axles, then I would consider it.

[Forbes]

Pulled the trigger today and ordered the disk brakes for our CC 36CKTS from Performance Trailer Braking, be at my location on May 16 to install while I get to watch and drink coffee.

[Davidg]

Originally Posted by Forbes

Pulled the trigger today and ordered the disk brakes for our CC 36CKTS from Performance Trailer Braking, be at my location on May 16 to install while I get to watch and drink coffee.

Let us know how it goes. I recently completed mine. I took several pictures during the process. Would love to see your install as well. Hope it goes well for you. Which hydraulic pump are you using?

[SeaDog]

My trailer is way to light for needing the conversion however I think it is a great move for folks with the heavier 5th wheels and huge toy haulers, I would expect it to become an option offered at the factory in the future.

[5er_tom]

VERY happy with my disk brakes. Done on my driveway for $2,550 total.

[spock123]

Same here, came to my house. It's like night and day different, best upgrade for me

[Davidg]

Well, I hitched it up today to make a little road trip/test of the new brakes. WOW! What a difference. No perceptible delay, and it felt that the truck and trailer brakes were acting in concert. That was a concern, because I would prefer to sacrifice the trailer brakes over the trucks. I pulled it up to highway speeds and made a few soft stops, followed by a firm stop, then pulled over to check everything. The hub temps were around 150 degrees, and the rotor temps were higher, but they cooled down quickly. Ambient temp was 86 degrees. I did notice that one wheel has the tendency to brake harder than the others, even to the point of that one tire wanting to skid. This might be because all brake surfaces and pads are brand new and are still breaking in. I will keep an eye on this on our first trip. All in all, I'm very happy with my $1300 investment. I used the kodiak dacromet hubs and the Titan EHB pump.

[mlatter]

$1300 seems like a super deal. Would you mind telling us in a little more detail what you bought where? Thanks.

[Forbes]

Originally Posted by Davidg

Let us know how it goes. I recently completed mine. I took several pictures during the process. Would love to see your install as well. Hope it goes well for you. Which hydraulic pump are you using?

Thanks Davidg for info and your test drive, here is what I am having put on, Ron took the order and sent me this list.

13" 7k Premier Disc Brake End Kit 8-6.5" BC, 9/16" Stud
4 228.00 912.00T K68-001-00
Brakerite by Dexter EHB 1500 psi
1 640.00 640.00T 068-344-00
Brakerite Mounting Bracket 1 37.00 37.00T 071-B19-00
Brake Line Kit Tandem Axle

[Davidg]

Originally Posted by mlatter

$1300 seems like a super deal. Would you mind telling us in a little more detail what you bought where? Thanks.

My fiver has 6000 # axles. I really wished that it had 7000's and I thought of swapping them out, but after having truck and trailer weighed at cat scale, i was ok with the 6k axles. My pin weight is 2700 +/-

So I found the Kodiak dacromet integral hubs/calipers and the Titan EHB at Eastern Marine along with a 3/16" copper/steel brake line kit.
So, hubs were $130 each x 4. Pump was $560. Brake line kit was $130. 3/16 double flare 4 way was $10. Double flare tool was $38. I already had tubing cutters and the tubing bender from Harbor Freight was $9. And I think the big bottle of DOT3 brake fluid was $10. Then I spent about $10 on misc cable clamps and self tapping screws, and still have most of them left. I already had the zip ties.

So, I guess it all adds up to just north of $1400. I put every wire connection in a junction box and soldered each splice before putting a wire nut followed by 3m electrical tape. Wires were clamped to trailer wall going in and coming out of each J-box, and I plan to laminate the wiring schematic and staple it to the wall close to pump, both Titans schematic and my own schematic of my part. I put together a small tool kit composed of a few 3/16 brake line fittings including a 2 unions, and 2 tees along with a few feet of tubing with a good double flare already on one end, along with a half bottle of DOT3 brake fluid, and the double flare tool kit, benders and tubing cutters. I taped the ends of the tubing shut just to keep the critters out. My brakes are important enough to justify carrying this stuff with me every trip.

[mlatter]

Great info. Thank You.