disc vs drum brakes - Page 2

Tarheel · 09-26-2007, 11:39 AM

one of these days they will be installed on my 34'

Road Ruler · 09-26-2007, 11:57 AM

On our 23' too!

ljmiii · 09-26-2007, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Hunt

I bought an 07' 25' Safari, will braking improve if I upgrade to disc brakes? How much will it improve? Necessary on a 25 footer? ... PS I was going to take it to the AS factory to have brakes installed but only if its a real improvement

I had the AS factory upgrade the brakes on my 16' Bambi from drums to discs. As others mentioned, the quantitative difference is quite dramatic (about 50%) as is the qualitative difference - towing just has a different 'feel' when the trailer can stop the tow vehicle.

Is it 'necessary' depends on your budget, TV/TT combo, and driving habits.

There are many on the forums who are very happy with their drum brakes - they tend to have very large tow vehicles and are willing to let the tow vehicle's braking (both engine and discs/drums) do most of the work.

at_wanderer · 09-26-2007, 12:21 PM

I have been told I do not want disk brakes on my trailer because they are surge operated and a general headache when backing.
I took only a few minutes to look up Kodiak's brakes and it seems to me they are not surge actuated but electyric/hydraulic? Does that mean they have an electric pump for the hydraulic fluid that is controlled by the same type of brake controller as would be used on drums?
Sorry, I am uneducated on this as well as possibly confused.
Can someone help me out?

richinny · 09-26-2007, 12:56 PM

you have it correct.

wheel interested · 09-26-2007, 02:46 PM

I am almost positive the disc brakes saved me from a collision when someone miscalculated my speed and cut me off. The distance between us narrowed fast and way too close for comfort. I was preparing mentally for impact but the rig slowed fast and hard and the only result was everything flew forward (watch those projectiles.) The brakes really grab. I know we would have hit with the drum brakes.

Inland RV Center, In · 09-26-2007, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by at_wanderer

I have been told I do not want disk brakes on my trailer because they are surge operated and a general headache when backing.
I took only a few minutes to look up Kodiak's brakes and it seems to me they are not surge actuated but electyric/hydraulic? Does that mean they have an electric pump for the hydraulic fluid that is controlled by the same type of brake controller as would be used on drums?
Sorry, I am uneducated on this as well as possibly confused.
Can someone help me out?

Unfortunately, some people offer information, meaning to be helpful, but, offer the wrong information.

Surge brakes are ok, but certainly not for travel trailers.

Electric brakes are ok for some owners too, and that is a choice that they wish to make.

Disc brakes, do require more of an investment. But disc brakes are not like the up and down stock markets.

We all have heard the saying, the difference is between day and night.

By industry standards, and from thousands of disc brake owners, disc brakes are definately "day."

Those same owners refere to electric brakes as "night," and a moonless one at that.

That is not to say that electric brakes are not safe, because they are safe. But disc brakes do offer much much more safety in braking.

Perhaps Airstream could provide a tow vehicle/trailer combo, with the trailer equipped with disc brakes, on a test drive basis, at the next international rally.

How many would like to see them do that?

Please let me know, and I will get together with Airstream powers that be, and see if it can be arranged.

I personally think it would be a heck of a thing for them to do, so that anyone that may be interested, could find out, first hand.

Andy

Tin Diesel · 09-26-2007, 08:29 PM

We have struggled almost since we got our 30' classic to get the drum brakes to not pull to one side. Had it in twice to a local RV shop - to no avail. Have spent hours adjusting the little star-shaped adjusters. Probably something in the wiring.

Let me tell ya... it ain't no fun driving up and down mountain passes in Colorado when you don't have confidence in your brakes!

We were going to do the disc-deed sometime this winter, but expedited the project when we found out our axles were shot... might as well do them together.

If you like the confidence that comes from numbers, its becoming so popular that we can't get them done at Roger Williams Airstream in TX until JANUARY! (its late September now - for future readers of this string).

Andy at Inland says I could do it myself, but the labor component of the overall cost isn't that bad - and I'd much rather have somebody who has done hundreds of these do mine for me.

If you want them, better get in line now (but you're gonna have to get behind me!)

If you want to know what they quoted me, PM me or email me.

at_wanderer · 09-27-2007, 08:03 AM

Thanks Andy, but I'm still in the dark on this. What operates the disk brakes? What kind of actuator applies the pressure?

bobkelly · 09-27-2007, 10:24 AM

Andy----If the marketing folks at AS are willing to support disc brake demo drives at Bozeman, great. At the same time, I'd like to see a direct comparison of stopping distances and vehicle/AS straight line stability between discs and drums . Something similar to what the auto marketing folks do. Hire an outside agency to supply two TV/AS rigs. The only difference would be one AS has disc, the other drum brakes. Professional drivers would stage the comparison demo. The fairgrounds at Bozeman could have the needed space for such an event. I've attended GM sponsored events at El Toro Marine Air Station in So Cal where professionally driven demos were combined with client drives.

bobkelly · 09-27-2007, 10:34 AM

Tin---When you talked with the folks at Roger Williams about discs, do they offer the complete line of Kodiak disc choices or just one package that pre-determines the corrosion protection level on the disc and attach hardware and the brake pad material?

bobkelly · 09-27-2007, 10:43 AM

AT----The AS disc brake operates just like the ones on your car. Hydraulic pressure forces the brake pads in the caliper to clamp the rotating disc. The hydraulic system is pressurized by an electric pump.

Inland RV Center, In · 09-27-2007, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by at_wanderer

Thanks Andy, but I'm still in the dark on this. What operates the disk brakes? What kind of actuator applies the pressure?

An "actuator" powers the disc brakes.

A "brake controller" mounted in the tow vehicle, powers the actuator.

Caution must be used when purchasing both.

There are good actuators and there are problem actuators. Then there is the actuator manufacturer. There are very good ones, and then there are some that are not so good.

There are some brake controllers that work fine with electric brakes, but not so well with a disc brake actuator.

Andy

Inland RV Center, In · 09-27-2007, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobkelly

Andy----If the marketing folks at AS are willing to support disc brake demo drives at Bozeman, great. At the same time, I'd like to see a direct comparison of stopping distances and vehicle/AS straight line stability between discs and drums . Something similar to what the auto marketing folks do. Hire an outside agency to supply two TV/AS rigs. The only difference would be one AS has disc, the other drum brakes. Professional drivers would stage the comparison demo. The fairgrounds at Bozeman could have the needed space for such an event. I've attended GM sponsored events at El Toro Marine Air Station in So Cal where professionally driven demos were combined with client drives.

Who would you suggest front those costs?

GM has a budget for research that probably equals Airstream annual income.

Andy