Can I remove the disc brakes from one axle on trailer?
04-06-2018, 07:58 PM
#1
Can I remove the disc brakes from one axle on trailer?
I just picked up a used tri-axle aluminum Ace trailer...it’s big and certainly overkill for my boat...all three axles have Kodak disc and all three need to be replaced. I want to order all stainless Kodiaks which are $750 per axle. If I omit one axle can I buy a spacer plate or something like that to fill the gap of the old rotor or do I just remove the calipers on the one axle and leave the rotors to free spool?
04-06-2018, 08:55 PM
#2
Senior Member
I would just remove the caliper, leave the rotor. You may need it for spacing. You will have an issue with hydraulic lines. You need to completely remove the line going to them calipers as well. I imagine they are "T"ed in to each other. Replace the t with a union.
Have any pictures of the system? it would help to determine the correct action here.
FL Bill
Have any pictures of the system? it would help to determine the correct action here.
FL Bill
04-06-2018, 09:08 PM
#3
Originally Posted by FL Bill
I would just remove the caliper, leave the rotor. You may need it for spacing. You will have an issue with hydraulic lines. You need to completely remove the line going to them calipers as well. I imagine they are "T"ed in to each other. Replace the t with a union.
Have any pictures of the system? it would help to determine the correct action here.
FL Bill
Have any pictures of the system? it would help to determine the correct action here.
FL Bill
I’ll be towing the boat home on Sunday...I’ll shoot some photos and upload them here
Thanks...much appreciated!
Likes:
04-07-2018, 03:36 AM
#4
Admirals Club 
Just a heads up.
The brake actuator ( master cylinder) is sized proportionately to 2, 4 or six calipers. When you add or remove calipers, the actuator should be sized accordingly as well. I bought a triple axle trailer a few years back that had brakes on only two axles. We added Kodiak calipers and rotors to the third and needed to install a 6 caliper actuator.
The brake actuator ( master cylinder) is sized proportionately to 2, 4 or six calipers. When you add or remove calipers, the actuator should be sized accordingly as well. I bought a triple axle trailer a few years back that had brakes on only two axles. We added Kodiak calipers and rotors to the third and needed to install a 6 caliper actuator.
04-07-2018, 06:06 AM
#6
Senior Member
Originally Posted by Paulswagelock
What state are you in? Pa requires brakes on every axle is you want to make it a legal trailer.
04-07-2018, 07:17 AM
#7
Originally Posted by Track Junkie
Just a heads up.
The brake actuator ( master cylinder) is sized proportionately to 2, 4 or six calipers. When you add or remove calipers, the actuator should be sized accordingly as well. I bought a triple axle trailer a few years back that had brakes on only two axles. We added Kodiak calipers and rotors to the third and needed to install a 6 caliper actuator.
The brake actuator ( master cylinder) is sized proportionately to 2, 4 or six calipers. When you add or remove calipers, the actuator should be sized accordingly as well. I bought a triple axle trailer a few years back that had brakes on only two axles. We added Kodiak calipers and rotors to the third and needed to install a 6 caliper actuator.
Hmmm, that’s something I never would have thought about...thanks.
I wonder though...how critical would it be to change the actuator out when ‘downsizing’ which essentially should require less output from the actuator?
04-07-2018, 07:23 AM
#8
Originally Posted by Paulswagelock
What state are you in? Pa requires brakes on every axle is you want to make it a legal trailer.
Originally Posted by phillyg
Same in FL, but I've never seen nor heard of anyone being ticketed over brakes or the lack thereof, and probably 50% of the trailers I see at the ramps don't have them on all axles, and many don't have them at all.
Likes:
04-07-2018, 07:34 AM
#9
Senior Member
leave the calipers unless they are hanging up and just remove the lines and block them off. now you "have brakes on all 3 axles"
04-07-2018, 07:36 AM
#10
Originally Posted by Lookinup76
leave the calipers unless they are hanging up and just remove the lines and block them off. now you "have brakes on all 3 axles"
04-07-2018, 07:44 AM
#11
I'm not sure but I would think that downsizing to less calipers would make the brakes more sensitive - large capacity actuator pushing into smaller total capacity on calipers. May cause surging/cycling? I guess its easy enough to try it and see before you swap it out.
Regarding the laws on brake requirements, even if they aren't being enforced by ticketing I suspect that the lawyers and insurance companies will take note of any non compliance if there is ever an accident.
Regarding the laws on brake requirements, even if they aren't being enforced by ticketing I suspect that the lawyers and insurance companies will take note of any non compliance if there is ever an accident.
04-07-2018, 08:50 AM
#13
Senior Member
Legally,
if the trailer came from the manufacturer with brakes on X number of axles. It has to have the same number of working brakes. Pretty much period.
Agree that hat it is rare the po po go around to all the axles and check.
I vote leave intact and pull lines off that one set
if the trailer came from the manufacturer with brakes on X number of axles. It has to have the same number of working brakes. Pretty much period.
Agree that hat it is rare the po po go around to all the axles and check.
I vote leave intact and pull lines off that one set
04-07-2018, 06:46 PM
#14
Senior Member
And let us be for real...the brakes are there for a reason. I would fix it before disabling it. Good point made about lawyers. They do not care what everyone else is doing. Just the smuck that they are suing.
I but I am not alone in thinking if you kill someone in my family I would not bother suing...
FL Bill
I but I am not alone in thinking if you kill someone in my family I would not bother suing...
FL Bill
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04-07-2018, 07:05 PM
#16
I got brakes on 2 of 3 axles and it stops just as good as when I had brakes on 2 of 2.
my shipping company I hired towed my boat home 3000 miles with no brakes on any axle (pretty messed up huh?) and was stopped several times by the DOT for various infractions but they never gave them trouble about brakes despite multiple inspections in multiple states. When I got it home I put brakes on 2 of the 3 with intentions to go 3 for 3 but doesn't seem to need it really. My boat/trailer setup is 16000 lbs.
my shipping company I hired towed my boat home 3000 miles with no brakes on any axle (pretty messed up huh?) and was stopped several times by the DOT for various infractions but they never gave them trouble about brakes despite multiple inspections in multiple states. When I got it home I put brakes on 2 of the 3 with intentions to go 3 for 3 but doesn't seem to need it really. My boat/trailer setup is 16000 lbs.
04-07-2018, 07:08 PM
#17
Senior Member
Originally Posted by phillyg
Same in FL, but I've never seen nor heard of anyone being ticketed over brakes or the lack thereof, and probably 50% of the trailers I see at the ramps don't have them on all axles, and many don't have them at all.
04-08-2018, 07:43 AM
#18
Originally Posted by FL Bill
And let us be for real...the brakes are there for a reason. I would fix it before disabling it. Good point made about lawyers. They do not care what everyone else is doing. Just the smuck that they are suing.
I but I am not alone in thinking if you kill someone in my family I would not bother suing...
FL Bill
I but I am not alone in thinking if you kill someone in my family I would not bother suing...
FL Bill
I believe the trailer is rated for 12,000lbs...my boat fully loaded weighs around 7,200lbs...I’m not trying to split hairs but does the number of axles/brakes matter or does whether or not the trailer has sufficient braking for the load weight matter?
04-08-2018, 08:03 AM
#19
Senior Member
This is a good question. But if someone pulled out in front of you and got killed, even if it was there fault, you can bet the dogs will be allover your brake system.
I heard about a burglar that fell threw a roof and sued the home owner for injuries...and won.
https://www.protectamerica.com/home-security-blog/spotlight/5-cases-where-the-burglar-sued-homeowner_14222
Sad state of things.
FL Bill
I heard about a burglar that fell threw a roof and sued the home owner for injuries...and won.
https://www.protectamerica.com/home-security-blog/spotlight/5-cases-where-the-burglar-sued-homeowner_14222
Sad state of things.
FL Bill
