DISC BRAKE TRAILER RETROFIT ??

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by areelius, Feb 6, 2016.

  1. tommymonza

    tommymonza Road Train Member

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    Being a large amount of the inertia is transferred forward. Discs on just the steer axle would be a great value and a lot of added safety for the Buck.
     
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  3. Cranky Yankee

    Cranky Yankee Cranky old ######

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    our trucks get traded at 450000 miles with no brake work before trade
    the trailers with disc are around 550000 just changing pads first time
     
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  4. mnmover

    mnmover Road Train Member

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    Disc Brakes on trailers are a little more costly the first year, but long term they are more cost effective. BUT one of the main reasons drivers love them is the DOT cannot measure brake travel etc, so they usually just look for another truck to inspect. I seen a video on youtube about disc brakes and they said not to convert from drum brakes, too many variables, but to spec on new equipment.
     
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  5. areelius

    areelius Light Load Member

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    Have you driven with trailer only discs?? If so can you explain the differences?
     
  6. Cranky Yankee

    Cranky Yankee Cranky old ######

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    for me as a driver eliminates brake fade. I get used to a trailer with discs then get a drum brake trailer i think my brakes are out of adjustment
    We are constantly on the shop about brake pads on the older trailers
    of course they say it will be ok one more round

    But all our trucks have had discs since before any of the trailers
     
  7. areelius

    areelius Light Load Member

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    Can you notice the much shorter stopping distances? On Youtube there is a live demo of 2 trucks and the difference would cause life or death in a panic stop. Even partial discs on a rig make a BIG difference. So then you are used to driving with all discs now?
     
  8. Cranky Yankee

    Cranky Yankee Cranky old ######

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    yes you can notice the difference
    like anything else you get used to it
    then you go to a drum brake it is like
    i hope to get stopped before i get to SLC from Evanston
     
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  9. 4x4_Welder

    4x4_Welder Medium Load Member

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    Better stopping distance is due to better ABS action, mostly. 12% lockup is the goal, drums lock-release-lock over and again, while the discs can actuate and release faster allowing a better slip ratio.
     
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  10. areelius

    areelius Light Load Member

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    That s a good high tech answer. I didn't know that. It won't be many more years and all class 8 trucks will have full discs and trailers too. The medium duty trucks have all gone to discs and of course no light duty truck maker would even dream of putting drums any where on their trucks. All RVs are the same.
    So the mystery is; class 8 trucks would benefit by far the most from disc technology as would public safety, but they are not used in the vast majority of trucks and trailers?????
     
    tommymonza Thanks this.
  11. Cranky Yankee

    Cranky Yankee Cranky old ######

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    grandpa didn't do it thinking
    it is the same as automatics
    was the same in 1980 with power steering
    first abs brakes we cut the wires thought if we couldn't lock em up we would not stop
     
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