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Old 02-06-2017, 03:27 PM   #1
dieselguy
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Kodiac disk brake install with photos

I took advantage of the warm Winter weather we've had the past few days and tried my hand at a disk brake conversion. Parts were sourced from several online vendors and totaled @ $1350.00. These were 6 lug wheels on 6000# axles ... 8 lug wheels would have run a couple hundred higher.
Although they're already cut and flared, I cringe at the made up brake line kits offered online. Some have way more tube that you need and watching videos of installers just coiling up the extra under the belly pan just seemed unprofessional to me. I cut and double flared the lines to fit the application. I used 1/4" line from the pump back to a spot just ahead of the axles, then Tee'd across to the other side. From those points, I used 3/16" line from there on to each caliper. I added a vibration loop just downstream from the pump to help absorb some of the vibration when running.
An added option on this install was oil bath wheel bearings. There's pros and cons to these on RV's, but once I get some feedback ... I'll report the findings. One thing I didn't like was the fact you cannot pass the outer bearing thru the aluminum cap that presses in to the rotor. You'd have to remove it if you wanted to inspect the bearing down the road. The spindle seal on the rear is unique as it is two piece ... a bit hard to get on right. Another component to report on once I get some feedback.
It took a bit over a day to get it all done as fabbing the lines took up 70% of the time. I also had a couple of leaks due to marginal flares. The double flare kit I rented from Autozone was not exactly a quality tool. Wiring it in was really simple with just four wires. I used fish tape to feed the wires from behind the pin box to the front storage compartment.
Once all was made good, the system bled, and the controller dialed in the results were amazing. When you step on the brakes ... you can readily feel more stopping power than you could ever wish for with the old electric drum brakes.





 
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Old 02-06-2017, 04:19 PM   #2
Rondo
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Awesome job! Thanks for the photos too! Now all you need to do is come on up to Nebraska this spring and you can help me install some on our Monte!
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Old 02-07-2017, 02:36 AM   #3
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Great pictures!
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Old 02-07-2017, 04:50 AM   #4
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I did mine last year same setup as you only the 8 lug nuts one if you have any question email me you're going to love the way it brakes
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Old 02-07-2017, 06:32 AM   #5
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I am in the process of preparing my parts order and am considering the oil bath also. Would like to hear more about that to include type of seal you used on the rotor hub.
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Old 02-07-2017, 08:11 AM   #6
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I'd like to why oil and not grease for to wheel bearing ?
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Old 02-07-2017, 01:56 PM   #7
Dam Worker
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Nice job that is an upgrade that I would love to have.

Tom Marty
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Old 02-07-2017, 02:19 PM   #8
dieselguy
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David ... the Kodiac oil bath kit comes with it's own unique seal. It presses in the rotor and slips over the spindle just like the seals you have now ... it's just designed differently. The inner part rotates inside the outer part. The ribs on the OD and ID do not spin.
John ... Like I mentioned, there are pros and cons of oil bath and greased. Boat loads of OTR trucks have oil bath wheel hubs on their trailers. Until recent years, most any rear axle bearing on your tow vehicle had oil bath bearings lubed via the differential oil. The trailer owner and I don't like repacking wheel bearings and believe the so called EZ lube spindles are a smoke and mirror marketing ploy. (I know there are a hand full of you that beg to differ). Theoretically there is less rolling resistance with oil vs. grease. Changing oil vs. repacking bearings is easier. You can see what's going on with your bearings by what's in the oil change. Anyways, we were willing to give the oil bath hubs a shot. Like I said, once I get some feedback ... I'll post good or bad.

PS: I weighed the parts coming off and the parts going on ... only saved about 40# for those of you pinching cargo capacity.
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Old 02-08-2017, 01:01 AM   #9
WeBeFulltime
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Thanks for additional information. I am a retired trucker with 3 1/2 million miles logged and NEVER had an oil bath fail me to include the ones on the steer axle of tractors I drove. I have also seen this type seal for sale at etrailer without buying the "kit". I think I will go with the separate parts so I can get the clear cover instead of the blue tinted ones from Kodiak. I have made my parts list from etrailer and Eastern Marine based on price with parts being the same. Is there anyone else that you recommend I check with before I place orders?
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Old 02-08-2017, 01:23 AM   #10
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We got the nickel/copper lines and reducer fittings from The Stop Shop. The rest same as you've researched. Although the cover is "blue" ... it's pretty pale and translucent. We got the Kodiac's we used from Pacific Trailer for about $35 each.
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Old 02-08-2017, 01:15 PM   #11
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Thanks for posting these pictures. This is an upgrade I'd like to do to mine. Nice looking job. "CC"?
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Old 03-07-2019, 09:22 PM   #12
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It has been a couple of years now, just wondering how the oil bath bearings are working?
I am considering this option this summer when I do my yearly bearing maintenance.
Do you have to put the hub and bearings on the spindle and then put on the aluminum sleeve and cap, or can the outer bearings be installed with the sleeve installed on the hub?
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Old 01-09-2022, 02:30 AM   #13
Lee-CI
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WeBeFulltime View Post
Thanks for additional information. I am a retired trucker with 3 1/2 million miles logged and NEVER had an oil bath fail me to include the ones on the steer axle of tractors I drove. I have also seen this type seal for sale at etrailer without buying the "kit". I think I will go with the separate parts so I can get the clear cover instead of the blue tinted ones from Kodiak. I have made my parts list from etrailer and Eastern Marine based on price with parts being the same. Is there anyone else that you recommend I check with before I place orders?

Concur with this whole heartedly. 1.75 million miles OTR for ten years in a prior lifetime. Only had one bearing seal failure on a trailer and that was due to having little choice other than to drive through a flash flood in Oklahoma. The warm bearing housing getting submerged with cold water caused a vacuum and pulled water into the hub. Moral of this story, don't be young and full of piss and vinegar and stay out of flood water. The OTR industry has proven oil bathed bearings have worked extremely well for decades. I even ran them on my HD gooseneck flatbed when hauling farm equipment for myself. Still carry a nasty scar from changing out the wear sleeve on a spindle during a full bearing replacement job when rebuilding a very old trailer.


Just my two cents. YMMV


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Old 01-09-2022, 11:05 AM   #14
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Lee ... make a habit of looking at the date on the last reply of the thread you are replying to ... this thread is 3+ years old.
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