New Kodiak Disc Brake Instal

Al Kungel

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 9, 2004
Messages
144
After doing a fair bit of reading on the web I decided to install Kodiak disc brakes on my tandem axel trailer. Everything will be brand new. The trailer will be used in salt water and I am also planning on installing a wash down system.

I will instal Kodiak SS Calipers, Dacromet rotors, Dac Mounting brackets, Galv. hubs, stainless tubing, Titan/Disco Actuator with Solenoid.

It looks to be a straight forward job, but if any of you have any words of advice or tips that you would like to share, I would like to hear from you.

Just courious if it makes a difference whether the calipers are installed towards the hitch side or towards the taillight side of the trailer?

On my car the calipers on the front are towards the front bumper and the back towards the back bumper, but on my truck they are all installed towards the back bumper. Any engineers out there who might know if it make a difference?
 

04fxdwgi

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 10, 2011
Messages
754
Re: New Kodiak Disc Brake Instal

After doing a fair bit of reading on the web I decided to install Kodiak disc brakes on my tandem axel trailer. Everything will be brand new. The trailer will be used in salt water and I am also planning on installing a wash down system.

I will instal Kodiak SS Calipers, Dacromet rotors, Dac Mounting brackets, Galv. hubs, stainless tubing, Titan/Disco Actuator with Solenoid.

It looks to be a straight forward job, but if any of you have any words of advice or tips that you would like to share, I would like to hear from you.

Just courious if it makes a difference whether the calipers are installed towards the hitch side or towards the taillight side of the trailer?

On my car the calipers on the front are towards the front bumper and the back towards the back bumper, but on my truck they are all installed towards the back bumper. Any engineers out there who might know if it make a difference?

Now that is a very good question. Never did consider engineering reasoning and the pros and cons of that situation. I can see I'll be eating up lots of bandwidth trying find out an answer to that very question, since I am thinking about pulling the OEM drums off the rear axle of my tandem and adding disks to both axles, as my winter project..
 

w2much

Lieutenant
Joined
Jun 22, 2005
Messages
1,289
Re: New Kodiak Disc Brake Instal

On my tandem they are to the back side of the front axle. Loadmaster trailer.
 

CatTwentyTwo

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 11, 2005
Messages
425
Re: New Kodiak Disc Brake Instal

The instructions that came with my Kodiak brakes recommend putting them at 3 o'clock on the left side and 9 o'clock on the right side. They don't say what the reason is and there is no mention about single or tandem axles so that's where I put them on both axles. I've had mine for 7 or 8 years now and I still think they were one of my best investments. As long as your axles have the brake flange, it is a direct bolt on affair and not difficult at all. Good luck and take some pictures when you get done, I would like to see what you do with the wash down system.
 

dingbat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
16,313
Re: New Kodiak Disc Brake Instal

The instructions that came with my Kodiak brakes recommend putting them at 3 o'clock on the left side and 9 o'clock on the right side.
Yep, it all else fails read the instructions.

Actually it has to do with removing the air from the system. You want the bleed at the highest point in the system with no “high spots in-between
 

Al Kungel

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 9, 2004
Messages
144
Re: New Kodiak Disc Brake Instal


Actually it has to do with removing the air from the system. You want the bleed at the highest point in the system with no “high spots in-between

That is true, except each caliper has two bleed valves, so if they are mounted on either side of the axel one of the bleed valves will always be on the top.
 

CatTwentyTwo

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 11, 2005
Messages
425
Re: New Kodiak Disc Brake Instal

That is true, except each caliper has two bleed valves, so if they are mounted on either side of the axel one of the bleed valves will always be on the top.

Beat me to it:), I was just going to mention that about the Kodiak calipers. Have you considered oiled hubs while you are at it? I switched to them when I installed the new brakes and between the discs and oiled hubs I used to think it cut my my trailer maintenance by 50%. Now I'm thinking it's more like 75%.
 

Al Kungel

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 9, 2004
Messages
144
Re: New Kodiak Disc Brake Instal

Have you considered oiled hubs while you are at it?

I have heard good reports regarding oiled hubs, but being retired and having spare time on my hand I enjoy doing simple maintenance work on my toys. :)
 

CatTwentyTwo

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 11, 2005
Messages
425
Re: New Kodiak Disc Brake Instal

but being retired and having spare time on my hand I enjoy doing simple maintenance work on my toys. :)

I'm retired to. So what you are saying is that your wife is looking for projects to get you out of the house and out of her hair?:)
 
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