I was just getting ready to start a similar thread. We are considering the same conversion. I have talked to a couple of Airstream owners who have the factory installed discs and say that they are great. I, also, am anxious to hear from someone who has done the conversion from drums and get their input.
__________________ SuEllyn & Brian McCabe WBCCI #3628 --- AIR #14872 2005 25' Safari FB (Lucy) with HAHA 2005 Suburban 2500 Quadrasteer (Olivia) & 2004 Suburban 2500 Quadrasteer (Daisy)
Hey Guys, this subject has been beaten to death. Use your search function and you will find some very indepth threads on this subject. You will find everything from have to do it to don't change. Check it out!
SEARCH!
__________________ J. Rick Cipot Sandi Gould NEUNew England Unit Airstream Life Magazine WBCCI #3411 AIR #17099
A good tool is using advanced search if you have any idea who has posted on the topic before. Enter your keyword(s) in that field, but add the username in the field just to its right. Disc brake threads have gone to the length that 2airishuman has discussed wear-in in detail. Hey, there's a thought ...
Steve, I considered it, but the cost seemed hard to justify given that I don't do a whole lot of mountain towing. It'd be great to have with an RV your size, but to me cost drove the decision, understanding that my brakes currently are perfectly safe and work well.
If I had to replace the axles or the brakes outright needed to be overhauled totally, I'd have thought a bit harder about it.
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I did mine a couple weeks ago. Big difference in the smooth consistent stopping power. I am in south Fla. no mountains here but when you are going 70+ and its time to stop it does it right now! I would do it again.
Disks are superior in every way. If you've got the green, make the change and never look back. I am.
(Actually I've got disk brakes now, but I'm replacing them with a new system)
Find the "Trailer Life" article where they took a 30ish foot 5th wheel with drums and a 3/4 ton Dodge, tested it thoroughly, then retrofitted it with an aftermarket disk conversion kit, and tested it again. Disks stopped in nearly half the distance of the drums. Disks don't fade like drums either.
Drums work good. Disks work better. Like stated above, you can search/research it to death. But if the money doesn't bother you, do it and know you've got a better system.
Hi, I am happy with my drum brakes and don't plan on changeing. And I have asked for those of you switching to disc brakes to UPS your new drum take offs to me for the UPS charge. If the drum system is so bad, I'm sure you would give me your drums free. Then I can take four drums to the machine shop to have them balanced and installed on my trailer with vertually no down time. And have a spare set of brakes waiting for the originals to wear out.
Still waiting for that PM message stateing that those lousy drums are on their way to my home VIA UPS.
Another thought, maybe the disc brakes would be better for those who have all three of these things: 3/4 ton or larger tow vehicle, 7,000 lb GVWR or heavier trailer, and Hensley Arrow Hitch. And those with smaller, lighter, trailer / tow vehicle combinations will do just fine with drums.
Even though the subject has been "beaten to death", I switched in November on my 32' Excella and I feel it's well worth the money. I had been considering for some time, but final straw was performance of drum brakes on trip to New Mexico & Colorado this past summer. No real tests yet as far as mountain driving, but I am very satisfied with smoothness and consistent performance of the discs so far. So far, I would definitely do it again. I also changed to a Hayes-Genesis brake controller that appears to operate very well with this system.
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Hi, I am happy with my drum brakes and don't plan on changeing. And I have asked for those of you switching to disc brakes to UPS your new drum take offs to me for the UPS charge. If the drum system is so bad, I'm sure you would give me your drums free. Then I can take four drums to the machine shop to have them balanced and installed on my trailer with vertually no down time. And have a spare set of brakes waiting for the originals to wear out.
Still waiting for that PM message stateing that those lousy drums are on their way to my home VIA UPS.
Another thought, maybe the disc brakes would be better for those who have all three of these things: 3/4 ton or larger tow vehicle, 7,000 lb GVWR or heavier trailer, and Hensley Arrow Hitch. And those with smaller, lighter, trailer / tow vehicle combinations will do just fine with drums.
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