Mad Beach Hewes Posted April 9, 2020 Report Share Posted April 9, 2020 Well apparently my 2018 TE that I bought used has trashed brake system. The previous owner lived very close to the ramp as well as I do, so the boat was trailered very little. With all the craziness going own a buddy let me store my boat on his lift. I decided to have the trailer gone through and found my brake system is shot. Now the question is it worth the money to go all Stainless? Any advice would be great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Headhunter Posted April 9, 2020 Report Share Posted April 9, 2020 Yes, I use mind twice a year and had issues from day one with the brake system rusting up because I didn't have stainless. Went to Kodiak and am happy as hell but I didn't go all ss. Check their stuff out on line. Good people to do business with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jh141 Posted April 9, 2020 Report Share Posted April 9, 2020 My normal travel distance to and from the ramp is 200 miles. I fish ENP. The Tie Down engineering stuff lasted less than two years and I rinsed them every trip. Junk IMO. I opted to go Kodiak 100 percent stainless because of the distance I travel. The brake calipers, caliper brackets, brake rotors, brake pad backing plates and even the hubs and lug nuts. It was expensive but worth ever cent for me. I have never had another problem. Have Changed the pads once and of course pack the bearings every six months. Its been trouble free for five years. Kodiak is the way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jh141 Posted April 9, 2020 Report Share Posted April 9, 2020 If you decide to go for it, here is where I got my brakes. These are what I now have times two. https://www.sturdybuiltonline.com/Kodiak-Trailer-Slip-On-5-Lug-Disc-Brake-Kit-ALL-STAINLESS-w-SS-Hubs_p_762.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Beach Hewes Posted April 10, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2020 Thank you guys. Apparently the master cylinder is bad also. Looks like entire system will need to be replaced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawg Posted April 10, 2020 Report Share Posted April 10, 2020 I just bought the Kodiak Stainless and haven't had a chance to install them yet. I can tell you that "regular" brake systems will fail within a year in Florida's salt environment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanaflatsfish Posted April 10, 2020 Report Share Posted April 10, 2020 15 hours ago, jh141 said: If you decide to go for it, here is where I got my brakes. These are what I now have times two. https://www.sturdybuiltonline.com/Kodiak-Trailer-Slip-On-5-Lug-Disc-Brake-Kit-ALL-STAINLESS-w-SS-Hubs_p_762.html Very serious brake system....I had heard they were good....I just had not seen the details....you get what you pay for in the Salt Environment. DC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jh141 Posted April 10, 2020 Report Share Posted April 10, 2020 11 hours ago, Mad Beach Hewes said: Thank you guys. Apparently the master cylinder is bad also. Looks like entire system will need to be replaced. I still use the original Tiedown Eng. master cylinder and lock out solenoid. It has been fine. You may be able to get a kit for t 1 hour ago, Wanaflatsfish said: Very serious brake system....I had heard they were good....I just had not seen the details....you get what you pay for in the Salt Environment. DC Yes, Great stopping power. It hurt the wallet, butThe first time I had to stop in a hurry for one of the "great" drivers we have here in S. Florida it was all worth it. They cost three times as much but last 10 times longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernWake Posted April 10, 2020 Report Share Posted April 10, 2020 3 hours ago, jh141 said: Yes, Great stopping power. It hurt the wallet, butThe first time I had to stop in a hurry for one of the "great" drivers we have here in S. Florida it was all worth it. They cost three times as much but last 10 times longer. This is what you should focus on. The first time you need them you won’t be thinking about how much you saved going the less expensive route. Unfortunately there are many things like this on a boat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptDavis Posted April 10, 2020 Report Share Posted April 10, 2020 I would for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonV Posted April 10, 2020 Report Share Posted April 10, 2020 On 4/9/2020 at 4:54 PM, jh141 said: My normal travel distance to and from the ramp is 200 miles. I fish ENP. The Tie Down engineering stuff lasted less than two years and I rinsed them every trip. Junk IMO. I opted to go Kodiak 100 percent stainless because of the distance I travel. The brake calipers, caliper brackets, brake rotors, brake pad backing plates and even the hubs and lug nuts. It was expensive but worth ever cent for me. I have never had another problem. Have Changed the pads once and of course pack the bearings every six months. Its been trouble free for five years. Kodiak is the way to go. True, don't waste a penny on Tie Down. Every Tie Down product I've had made it's way to the dump way too early!!! I'm lucky I live 30 minutes from Sturdybuilt and I get 90% of everything trailer related from them. The SS Kodiak is the way to go, not cheap buy worth the extra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernWake Posted April 10, 2020 Report Share Posted April 10, 2020 20 minutes ago, DonV said: True, don't waste a penny on Tie Down. Every Tie Down product I've had made it's way to the dump way too early!!! Don’t knock them vortex hubs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Beach Hewes Posted April 10, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2020 1 minute ago, SouthernWake said: Don’t knock them vortex hubs That was one thing good the hubs and bearings were good and haven’t been touched. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Beach Hewes Posted April 10, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2020 Thank you guys really didn’t want to drop the cash with the crazy times but I guess it needs to be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jh141 Posted April 10, 2020 Report Share Posted April 10, 2020 1 hour ago, SouthernWake said: Don’t knock them vortex hubs Really wish someone would do a screw on cap on a stainless hub, or the Vortex hubs were available in stainless. Would make the maintenance (removing the cap to grease) a bit easier. I use Bearing Buddies. That allows me to keep a slight amount of pressure inside the hubs. That and Lucas Marine grease and I have yet to have any kind of failure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCFD rtrd. Posted April 11, 2020 Report Share Posted April 11, 2020 There is no doubt stainless brakes are better. But, I put Kodiak galvanized brakes on my old rig and they lasted about 6 years. I rebuilt them and they lasted another 6 years. My present rig is on a AmeriTrail with the original Tie Down brakes, it's a 2013. I don't do anything special, just rinse really good after dunking in salt water. MBH, have you considered rebuilding your calipers? There is just one moving part in the caliper (the piston), one "O" ring and a rubber dust boot. If your pistons are not too damaged by rust, the other parts to rebuild would cost about $20 for all four wheels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Beach Hewes Posted April 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2020 SCFD they are pretty much done rotors and pads are bad even though I washed them after every use with salt away. Master cylinder is shot as well. Brakes are locked open, which is a good thing. Spend a lot of money replacing for the same thing to happen is my understanding. Really don’t trailer it but 100 yards to the ramp, so technically I could leave them just like they are. But want to start taking it to other areas to fish. So if I am going to do it rather have it done right and less of a headache later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryS Posted April 11, 2020 Report Share Posted April 11, 2020 Have been running Kodiak SS on my last 3 trailers I got 15 years on one trailer other than replacing brake pads never had a problem , Order them on my new Ameri Trail. Expensive but worth it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonV Posted April 11, 2020 Report Share Posted April 11, 2020 15 hours ago, jh141 said: Really wish someone would do a screw on cap on a stainless hub, or the Vortex hubs were available in stainless. Would make the maintenance (removing the cap to grease) a bit easier. I use Bearing Buddies. That allows me to keep a slight amount of pressure inside the hubs. That and Lucas Marine grease and I have yet to have any kind of failure. Here ya go, not cheap but it's from the same company that built my torsion axles, American Rockwell. The blue cap screws on with an O-ring seal. My issue was water leaking in through the old style rubber insert covers. Hot or warm hubs backing in the water and it seems to *** in a little water around the inserts, especially if they are older and less flexible. Obviously for Posi-lube type axles/hubs. https://www.trailerdepot.com/1-aluminum-bearing-grease-cap-1-980/ I see the censor police got me on a everyday word. How's this......Seems to "seep" in a little water around the rubber inserts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jh141 Posted April 11, 2020 Report Share Posted April 11, 2020 Those are interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jchern Posted April 11, 2020 Report Share Posted April 11, 2020 I’ve had those blue cap screw on caps for a couple of years and haven’t had an issue. They seem to work well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Beach Hewes Posted April 20, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2020 Pulled the trigger but went with Deemax stainless rotors and brakes with slip on hubs all new lines and actuator. Hopefully be good to go for a while. Thanks for everyone’s advice and input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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