Mechanical trailer brakes - machine rotors or new ones

[ozscott]

Hi all. My rotors on the dual axle trailer for the vagaond are original alko with marine alko callipers - the ones that spring back from the rotor and where the pads are loose in the calliper to stop binding. I am thinking of either machining the rotors or doing new rotors...are the rotors removable or is the rotor and axle all one piece? Is it better to just go with new ones given how old they are...they are a little pitted. Should I spend the dough and go with broze brake rotors and leave the old galved callipers on there...dont want to go crazy with the price, because standard mech brakes work well enough I reckon.

Cheers

[Chimo]

Definitely machine the existing rotors as they are now "cured" and should come up fine if they are not totally rusty and flaking too much.

Even if you get new rotors in my experience you will need to get them machined as they probably wont be true which you need them to be if you want to adjust your mech brakes so they work properly. In the past I've been caught esp with mechanical brkes in that the hubs etc got hot from the pads hitting the high spot on the un machined New rotors. Could not adjust brakes for optimum braking without high spot rubbing until they were machined. (On a brand new trailer by the way)

As an aside Ive a mate who used to race cars and he always preferred old re-machined rotors to new as the old had cured.

Spending on new is probably not necessary as the set up it sounds like you have is easy to wash off and maintain anyhow.

Cheers
Chimo

[ozscott]

Thanks Chimo fellow vag owner:)

I reckon that the mechanical single axle brakes are pretty good...even with the rig not that far below 2tonn fully loaded up with all the gear, fuel, etc. I tows well behind the Discovery V8. The rotors are actually pretty good - just a little pitted, but not flaking or badly rusted.

Cheers

[Kleyny]

if its only pitted you might be able to get away with just a machine.

But if you look hard enough there should be a min. thickness stamped on the rotor somewhere (normally on the outer edge).
It may be rusted beyond recognition. a good machinist will know the thickness anyway.
Legally you cant go beyond that thickness.

If you buy decent rotors not cheap crap you wont have to machine new ones.

neil

[ozscott]

cheers neil

[dreemon]

I saw at stuper cheap, galv rotors for holden are almost $ 100 each , yours sound like they're still really good, I'll get one more year outa mine, :-/ I hope

[honda900]

ozscott,

I have just done my alko brakes up, the problem I found with the disc rotors was that alko bind a brake material to the disk so it is not one piece.

I found that seawater has seeped in between the material and disc to the point where the large chunks of brake material had fallen off due to the rust.

So I replaced the entire rotor, the replacements were $75.00 each so not too expensive.

Trailerparts online, should show you the cost of the replacements.

Regards
Honda

[jeffrey_h]

So thats why!

Getting another boat now and thats what has happened to it's rotors, chunks are missing off the disc, thanks Honda. Knew there was something wrong, it's only 2 years old.

I got a cost of $100 ea, I'll check out Trailerparts also.

Jeffrey

[catfishkid]

Get the rotors machined if they arent below minimum thickness,I will look up the part no and minimum thickness on tuesday and post it here,tell the people that the rotors are off a boat trailer if you ring around for prices as they will generally charge more to machine rusted disc rotors as they break the cutting tips on the lathes due to hardness.In a large percentage of cases the rotors are from a UC Toranas and the pads should be DB1028 or DB1029 they are both the same pad but the 1029 is slightly thicker lining material.If possile dont fit a semi metalic disc pad for obvious reasons.

Cheers Craig

[Jabba_]

Ozscott, if buy any chance your rotors can not be machined, make sure you take a rotor into the trailer shop for them to measure up the bearing size...

What I mean by that is, You would most likely have a Holden HT stud pattern on your trailer rims. But depending if you have a standard load or heavy duty bearings it will mean the difference in the bearing size.... Standard being Holden sized bearing and HD being Ford bearings.... The HD are naturally bigger in diameter......

[MyWay]

just get new one u will not have much luck to find someone any way to machine the rotors because they have to much rust on them and they will go tru few tips on machine. not worth . if some one willing to do will cost you more than new disk

cheers and good luck good luck

[finding_time]

Good advice there Fadil!!! ;) I had the same issues with my old boat. no one wanted to go near the rotors as they were to rusty and uneven!:-[

Ian


Ps Nice avtar , that's one fine looking lure, bet it captures plenty!!!!;) ;D ;D ;D ;D

[MyWay]

Good advice there Fadil!!! ;) I had the same issues with my old boat. no one wanted to go near the rotors as they were to rusty and uneven!:-[

Ian


Ps Nice avtar , that's one fine looking lure, bet it captures plenty!!!!;) ;D ;D ;D ;D

Ian i have to care it in pocket as soon as pit bull sniff salty water bills are tagging it self ;D

[catfishkid]

Sorry I didnt get this yesterday,had a guy away and didnt have time
minimum thickness should be 14.7mm ..
Ozscot What area are you in?PM me if you want

Cheers Craig

[Moonlighter]

Active Fabricatrions at Beenleigh supply many dealers and trailer manuf with hubs etc. Found prices well below dealers costs.

ML