posted 02-11-2004 04:43 PM ET (US)        

I am curious whether many of you use the Tiedown(or other) brand of stainless disc brakes and what you are experiencing regarding longevity as well as reliability. My local marine service area keeps steering me clear of the disc brakes saying they have been unreliable, but I am starting to wonder whether they are just doing this to ensure a steady stream of purchases on drum brake parts.

posted 02-11-2004 06:16 PM ET (US)            

I have a galvanized EZ-Loader under my Outrage 22 that came to me when the boat and trailer were seven years old (spring '99) with drum brakes on one of the tandem axles (no brakes of any sort on the other axle).

About three years ago I opened the reservoir on the brake actuator to find it full of water instead of brake fluid. Don't ask.

I wound up doing a major overhaul on the trailer: moved the bunks and boat forward about 15", added a couple of cross members, completed double keel rollers on all the cross members, added 2 new axles and Tie-Down stainless discs on both of them, as well as new brake lines and new Tie-Down actuator with a solenoid operated re-circulating line so I can back up without manually disengaging the brakes.

The brakes have operated flawlessly and I would recommend them to anyone. There were some rumors about some problems with early versions of the Tie-Down stainless discs back then, but whatever those problems were, if there ever were any, have been fixed. It's a great set up.

Ordered all my stuff for the brakes through Champion Trailers on line. They are very helpful, knowledgable and cost effective.

Let me know if I can help you out with your project.

posted 02-11-2004 06:28 PM ET (US)            

Thanks for your prompt reply and your offer of help. It sounds like you did the same improvements to your trailer that I have ended up doing (minus the disc brakes). Based on your experience it seems you have had 4 trouble free years so far - how do the calipers and pads seem to be holding up? Also did you run new brake lines and were they stainless?

posted 02-11-2004 07:33 PM ET (US)            

Yes, I added new stainless brake lines.

Most of my trailer-dunking is in freshwater (the Great Lakes - I live in mid-southern Michigan) - but at least once a year it gets a couple of weeks of saltwater exposure somewhere in the Gulf or Atlantic.

I have conservatively put 10,000 miles on the discs, but the last time I checked the pads and calipers was mid-summer last year, and they were still looking OK - it's about time to eye-ball them again though, before my saltwater trip this spring (probably Florida panhandle). In fact, thanks to this discussion, I'm going to do that PDQ; glad you got me thinking about it...

posted 02-11-2004 08:39 PM ET (US)            

I have Zero experience here, but am interested in the thoughts of members with saltwater experience.

posted 02-11-2004 09:20 PM ET (US)            

When you think it is salt free, hose it for 2-3 more minutes.

Direct the stream of water on the disc or drum for at least 1 minute....pull the trailer forward and rinse the brake some more.

posted 02-12-2004 09:12 AM ET (US)            

Like kingfish, I replaced my drum brakes with Tie-Down disc brakes about 3 years ago. I had noticed that my drum brakes did not seem to be working properly and upon pulling the drums found nothing but rusted brake parts. My then 7 year old trailer had been used mainly in fresh water with occasional salt water exposure.

IMO the problem with drum brakes is you can't readily see what's going on inside the drum and there are too many parts. The drums are also difficult to rinse thoroughly. The disc brakes are very simple (mechanically) and everything is exposed for easy inspection. They also work better than drums. Why do you think most cars today have disc brakes?

The drum to disc conversion is a fairly easy job and, as I recall, ran about $130 per wheel. I also replaced my brake lines with new SS.

I highly recommend the Tie-Down disc brakes and have also heard the Kodiak disc brakes are superb.

posted 02-17-2004 12:36 PM ET (US)            

I understand more modern versions of Tie-Down discs have addressed the original problem.

posted 02-18-2004 09:38 AM ET (US)            

I am still using the original 1987 drum brakes on my trailer. When I bought it I had them overhauled, but they were still in good condition. The mechanic said the seals on the wheel bearings were leaking and had thrown so much grease that the brakes were nicely coated and protected!

posted 02-19-2004 08:12 PM ET (US)         

The brakes work well and give good service, and have never locked up, providing your installer knows that the actuator must be specially designed for disc brakes, or modified by puncturing a membrane in the master cylinder. Otherwise the brakes will "drag". I use a Dico Model 10, which has been modified, and with a fluid recirculating blocker solenoid for backing up.

Here is what I have found, with considerable trailering, 50/50 salt/fresh. The hard SS rotor will last forever, and shows little wear. The pads lasted about 3 years, or maybe 25000 miles, much of it highway driving. The pads are made with ordinary metal brackets, and rust badly, making replacement of the one that screws directly into the caliper impossible. WE could not get the screws out. The rust from the other pad seems to get into the piston, which also corrodes into the aluminum caliper. Tie Down does not offer replacement pistons only. END RESULT, consider the aluminum caliper/pad a throw away commodity, and when the pads are worn, the caliper pistons(2) will likely be inoperable or badly corroded. Fortunately, replacement calipers, with pads, are about $86 each, and replacement is simple, since no turning of the rotor is needed (nor can it be done). A new rotor is only $15. So basically, these are a throw away caliper system, but which is not as bad as it sounds. There is simply an annual wear cost of having brakes on a trailer which is greater than one thinks, and the PISTON DESIGN and brake pads are the culprit. It could very well be that salt water is the culprit here again, and those used in fresh water, with less mileage, will last longer than my 3 year experience indicates. I should say that I rinse my brakes religiously after each salt water dunking.