Can A Hydraulic Drum Brake Actuator Be Used With Hydraulic Disc Brakes

Updated 06/10/2024 | Published 06/09/2024

Question:

I’m converting from electric drum to hydraulic disc trailer brakes. I have a four pin electrical trailer light setup so don’t want to change that. Will the dexter 2 manual lockout drum brake actuator work with the new disc brakes? I need the manual lockout for backing up. Do I need to change the master cylinder or just use the drum one. I understand that the pressure is higher in the disc application but wouldn’t the drum one still work? It’s arriving tomorrow! A replacement from the electrical lockout one! Just noticed that im getting a drum actuator for my disc brakes! Not saying who.

asked by: Shane S

Expert Reply:

Hi Shane,

If you're not wanting to switch from a 4-pole to a 7-way then you'll have to use a surge brake actuator in order to activate the brakes. Hydraulic drum brakes operate at 1,000psi and hydraulic disc brakes operate at 1,600psi so it's important that you pick the correct actuator otherwise your brakes will not work. You could potentially swap out the master cylinder to be compatible with disc brakes but you'll need to ensure it's compatible with your specific actuator. The manual lockout needed will also depend on the brand/model of the actuator.

expert reply by: Kevin C