TieDown Engineering Stainless Steel Disc Caliper Problemsa

[Boatist]

I put on the TieDown Engineering Stainless Steel brakes on my trailer about 4 and 1/2 years ago. Until this year they have been fine. Before I installed I had talked with Champion Trailers and they had me call TieDown Support as they had had some problems with piston locking up in SaltWater. When I talked with them they said wait about 1 month and then make sure I ask for the new style. <br /><br />I have not pulled mine yet but this spring have a lot of drag on the disk and have not been able to get caliper pushed back to free up. Is anyone else still having this same problem. If so do you know of a fix short of replacing the calipers.<br /><br />Mine are the ones that are aluminum with no coating. I know the new one are painted black but wounder if they have fixed this problem or not.<br /><br />Any ideas or information?

 

[Lark40]

Re: TieDown Engineering Stainless Steel Disc Caliper Problemsa

Bought mine in 2002. Had so many problems that I am going to trash them and install the new galvanized electric drum brakes.

 

[Boatist]

Re: TieDown Engineering Stainless Steel Disc Caliper Problemsa

Lark40<br />What kind of problems did you have?? Did you use your trailer a lot in salt water??<br /><br />Mine have worked well until this year. I have not pulled a wheel yet but when I moved it at least one wheel had a brake dragging.

 

[Lark40]

Re: TieDown Engineering Stainless Steel Disc Caliper Problemsa

Boat mostly in upper Potomac and middle Chesapeake Bay, so some salinity.<br /><br />Could NEVER get all the air bubbles out of the MC despite dozens of attempts using every method known to man.<br /><br />Corrosion of calipers and bleeder valves has been unacceptable. Just planning to replace and not going to spend any more time on them.

 

[William H. Funk]

Re: TieDown Engineering Stainless Steel Disc Caliper Problemsa

Lark 40 Check out www.kodiakbrakes.com they make a true ALL STAINLESS BRAKE CALIPER. They sell different hub set ups, you can get rotors that come off with out pulling hub. Do a search on this site and on www.thehulltruth.com has a lot of threads about this co. People are very happy with these brakes, and are replacing tie dowm crap with these. Good Luck Crusher

 

[jeff_nicholas]

Re: TieDown Engineering Stainless Steel Disc Caliper Problemsa

I've had the same Tiedown stainless brakes on my trailer for 3 years - used mostly in salt water.<br /><br />The rubber boots don't stay secure over the caliper pistons. White corrosion forms on the aluminum inside the boot causing the brakes to drag sometimes. According to the folks who made my trailer, these brakes are also prone to squeeling and overheating. The trailer manufacturer still has Tiedown parts, but they now put Kodiak on all their trailers.<br /><br />Because I didn't have the bucks to convert, I bought new Tiedown calipers ($126 - includes shipping). I didn't even ask about rebuilding the calipers because I doubted it would be practical, especially after the bleeder screw broke on the first one I took apart.<br /><br />I've minimized the Tiedown problems by keeping the hub bearings on the loose side. After preload, I set the hub nut loose enough that I can move the washer by hand. It's not uncommon to have the brake(s) heat up when I first get the trailer on the road, but they cool down after 25 miles or so. The extra bearing clearance keeps the heat from tightening up the bearing and I also believe it allows a slight rotor wobble to push those sticky pistons back away so they don't drag. <br /><br />I had a couple spare indoor/outdoor thermometers lying around ($12 @ Walmart); I fastened the outdoor bulb to the brake backing plate with a cable tie and spliced some extra wire in so I could keep the readout part on the seat next to me. The readings don't tell me real temperature, but they do alert me if hub temp is on the rise at a fast pace. The side of the trailer in the sun is always higher than the shady side.<br /><br />I've put >35,000 miles on my boat trailers in the last 6 years.<br /><br />YMMV,<br />Nick in Spartanburg, SC<br /> http://www.geocities.com/jeff_nicholas/BBR.html

 

[Boatist]

Re: TieDown Engineering Stainless Steel Disc Caliper Problemsa

Krusher<br />Thank for the info I have not seen the KODIAK brakes but will check into them. Now that day light saveing tim is here I will get time to look at my brakes.<br /><br />The Link for Kodiakbrakes did not work but I will search for them.<br /><br />Thanks for the reply.

 

[Boatist]

Re: TieDown Engineering Stainless Steel Disc Caliper Problemsa

Nick<br />Thanks for the detailed information. I have not worked on mine at all so far but moved the boat for some tree trimming and noticed a squeal coming from one side. Mine are about 4 or 5 years old back before they started painting them black. Mine just look like plain aluminum. Now that Day light savings time is coming I should be able to find time to work on them. My old drum brakes lasted 10 years.<br /><br />I alway leave hubs loose as they should be loose. I preload and turn the wheel to get the grease out of the way then loosen and tighten to finger snug and then back off to first place locking key will install. Mever had any trouble with heating up. I always check them when headed to the ocean. We stop at a rest stop about 45 miles away and I always do a walk around and check hub temps with hand and also tires. Also check before launching at a lake about 20 miles. Of course never herd them drag before.<br /><br />I called Tie Down Support to ask what was the best way to fix and maintain. I never got such a negitive reaction form any one in support. He says if you store the trailer for 3 month in winter need to open the bleader valves or pressure build up will destroy the unit. I ask if they had made any improvement in the last 4 years but could not get an answer at all. Very disapointed in tie-down support. Who knows may have been mad from talking to someone else. I hung up thinking I will try and find a better product. Hard for me to belive that they do not want to help or give any ideas at all. Even if it is all that you can do is replace with new at least you know what they think if the best fix.

 

[jeff_nicholas]

Re: TieDown Engineering Stainless Steel Disc Caliper Problemsa

I've experienced the same unpleasant treatment from Tie Down Customer Service...

 

[William H. Funk]

Re: TieDown Engineering Stainless Steel Disc Caliper Problemsa

Boatist, Try www.kodiaktrailerbrakes.com Krusher

 

[targabill]

Re: TieDown Engineering Stainless Steel Disc Caliper Problemsa

I would like to switch my tie down brake calapers to kodiak.. Will they work with the die down rotors or do you have to change out the entire thing..

 

[dingbat]

Re: TieDown Engineering Stainless Steel Disc Caliper Problemsa

I would like to switch my tie down brake calapers to kodiak.. Will they work with the die down rotors or do you have to change out the entire thing..

You have to change everything