Can Trailer with Drum Brake Actuator Be Adapted to Work with Disc Brakes

Updated 05/09/2019 | Published 05/08/2019

Products Featured in This Question

Kodiak Disc Brake Kit - 10" Rotor - 5 on 4-1/2 - Dacromet and KodaGuard - 3,500 lbs

(87)

$486.06

Demco Hydraulic Brake Actuator w/ Electric Lockout - Disc - Zinc - 2" Ball - 7,000 lbs

(149)

$223.12

Question:

Can two sets of disk brakes be installed on a 2 axle boat trailer without a check valve and will the actuator handle 4 disk brakes. My gross trailer weight is 6000 lbs.

asked by: John B

Helpful Expert Reply:

Since you said "without a check valve" that makes me think you have a drum brake actuator that you are planning to remove the check valve off so that it might work with disc brakes instead. We're aware that this seems to work well for a number of people but when we have checked with the actuator manufacturers they won't safely endorse this. They'd require either swapping out the master cylinder of the actuator for one that is compatible with disc brakes or going with an all new actuator that is setup for disc brakes already like the Demco part # DM62VR which will work great. It has a 7K lb capacity.

If you wanted to go the master cylinder route I'd need to know what actuator you have now to determine if that's possible.

expert reply by: Jameson C