Anybody have long term success with drums and salt? Long term is relative as we all know salt kills everything but the fish.

I can fashion a rinse system, but even so, how long do folks get out of a set...not just pads but the whole deal?

2-3 seasons and then a rebuild or do folks see more/less?

Trying to figure a little cost vs hassle of adding electric drums vs discs

Electric drums -initially easy and cheap but requires more long term attention @ $300 ($200+ new galvi drum hubs 75 ish brake kit)

or

Electric Over Hydraulic discs - more complicated but more robust and much easier to rinse @ $1500 (9-1200 is actuator system, 300+ rotor, brakes, lines)

If I can get a reasonable life from the drums I can do a full swap at $75 a set every couple years with bearing maintenance etc.. lots of years to get to $1500... but that's only if I can get a reasonable useful life.

So. Have the drums worked for you and if so what's your secret?

My replaced the complete backer plate with all hardware and shoes after being in service after 4 years.  My adjusters and shoes were shot at that time, brake drums were fine. There was no flushing system, I did spray with hose after each trip.

It was cheaper to replace the complete unit than just replacing the worn parts.  Replace parts has a more rust resistant coating than original ones.   I installed a DIY flushing system on the new backing plates and I've they have been in place for 10 years with no problems.  I pack bearing and lube adjusters with anti seize ever other year and flush with SaltAway after each trip.

My flushing system is made of 1/4" plastic tubing and plastic fitting with a quick connect fitting fastened to each fender.

Jim

I installed a rinse system like Hydroman, have had drum electric brakes for years. Yes they rust, but so do other parts of a disk system with EOH pump. And I had one of those systems once. I am for KISS system. Replacing backing plates is easy and pretty cheap. I just got another pair, thinking it was like $ 160 bucks or maybe it was less. And you have full control of the braking via the in cab controller, and it is easy to feel if there working by testing with cab controller only rolling along at about 25 to 30 mph on a side street.

Certainly encouraging brothers. Thank you.

I religiously and thoroughly spray down and rinse my entire boat and trailer with HOT FRESH water as soon as I get back home... with special attention to the brakes!   Everyone should have a Hot Water mix valve in their driveway.    Easy to install especially if your water heater is already in the garage.   Great for boats, dogs, trucks, dive gear, etc...

When launching (Almost always at Everett) they have a couple of wash down hoses and if one is available I do a quick rinse of the trailer brakes and winch before parking.   If I'm going to be out more then the day then I also spray down the brake parts with SaltAway concentrate mixed in a bug sprayer..

I have SS Kodiak surge brakes and even though I would prefer EOH......they still work fine.    My guess is that there a lot of folks out there who think they have working surge brakes........but they don't.   The way to check is to disconnect your trailer wiring from your to vehicle and try to back your trailer up a small incline.  If the surge brakes are working you should not be able to back uphill with the electrical disconnected...

https://www.amazon.com/SA32-Salt-S-Away-32oz-Concentrate/dp/B00144EOLC/ref=asc_df_B00144EOLC/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312148125047&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16718267917595092030&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033404&hvtargid=pla-428037629424&psc=1

  I went with surge discs 4 years ago, just because they're a lot easier to wash out than drums.  Some minor rust, but no issues so far.

Ive seen the hot water advice posted a couple times...and every time...I think...I need to do that...next time I cut my copper I will. Thank you for that.

David are you a hot water salt away guy or just a thorough rinse?

Quote from: davidsea on December 01, 2021, 10:09:05 PM
  I went with surge discs 4 years ago, just because they're a lot easier to wash out than drums.  Some minor rust, but no issues so far.

Quote from: headduck on December 02, 2021, 06:29:57 AM
Ive seen the hot water advice posted a couple times...and every time...I think...I need to do that...next time I cut my copper I will. Thank you for that.

David are you a hot water salt away guy or just a thorough rinse?

I've thought about adding an outdoor tap, but really hate doing copper piping - and my whole house is copper.   It's easy to flush pretty thoroughly with discs.  Fortunately, 2 of the ramps I use have fresh water available in the parking lot, and I carry a coily hose and nozzle for washdown.  Much easier to do before everything dries on the way home.
  At home, no salt-away, just a bucket of warm, soapy water and wash down the whole boat and cockpit.  If I've been in BC for a few days (happy pre-covid memory), the boat's really cruddy so I look for the closest coin-op carwash to remove most of it before I get on the ferry heading home.

Thanks bean and david.

As (Hunter) said, majority of surge systems are not really working. And if they are working , you have no cab control. And if you travel down a long mountain pass, they are braking all the way down. Surge is not a good braking system, no control. 

I just ordered new Rotors for my disc brake Karavan trailer. 5200lb hubs. The old rotors lasted 8 years from new. I rinse cold water after every boat trip even if I drive home in the dark..brakes get a rinse.  When I ordered the rotors the dealer said that was an amazing time for salt water use..and I think he had a good perspective since they sell parts all day long. So new rotors and pad and seals were about $500 CDN. My bearings were in perfect greased shape and I only trailer 5 miles to my boat launch..so they had little to no wear. So about USD400 upkeep spread over 8 years I think is fair. One thing to remember is some companies sell a freshwater disc brake pad kit and also a saltwater kit (small spring etc are stainless) so worth getting / asking for the style for your application.