www.iFourWinns.com

Honestly I never thought of changing them to disc but the parts are already ordered and I'm kind of in a time crunch as I need everything fixed before the first of May. I kind of wish I had thought of this before I ordered the parts but I dont really know much about it.

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1996 4 Winns Horizon 170 SOLD
1997 4 Winns Sundowner 205 SOLD
2000 4 Winns Horizon 230 CURRENT
Tow Vehicle: 2007 Toyota Tundra Limited SOLD
1999 Chevy Tahoe 4x4 SOLD
2003 GMC Yukon XL 2500 6.0

As much money as I have spent today on the boat i really hope that I dont have to replace the lines as well. Today so far I have bought all the brake stuff, paid the boat insurance, bought a bilge pump, and am in the process of ordering a new head unit.

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1996 4 Winns Horizon 170 SOLD
1997 4 Winns Sundowner 205 SOLD
2000 4 Winns Horizon 230 CURRENT
Tow Vehicle: 2007 Toyota Tundra Limited SOLD
1999 Chevy Tahoe 4x4 SOLD
2003 GMC Yukon XL 2500 6.0

There's certainly nothing wrong with drum brakes!

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Yep in fresh water they are OK. If you do what I said, remove the dust boot and put some syn caliper grease around the the top edge of the piston and in the boot, and then pack the threads of the adjuster with a good marine grease, they can last a long time. I wish someone made truly water proof wheel cylinders, then they'd be as long lasting as disc brakes. You can seal the dust boot with high temp RTW and that may keep all the water out.
In some ways they are better, drums are self energizing, they work at lower brake pressures, and they do not drag as much and run cooler than discs because of the return springs.
Also drum brakes can be made free backing, they do not need a reverse solenoid as disc brakes do, and those reverse solenoids can stop working at the worst time.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

My stepdad who is helping me do all this suggested the same thing about putting grease in the wheel cylinder, so I will defenetly be doing that. I do boat only in fresh water so I am hoping that doing all this gets me many trouble free years. The only thing I am regretting now is not replacing the brake lines, but as much money as I have spend I hope they will do the job. Thanks again for the tips, I'm hoping my parts arrive this weekend so I can get started and hopefully get her out to the lake on Sunday.

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1996 4 Winns Horizon 170 SOLD
1997 4 Winns Sundowner 205 SOLD
2000 4 Winns Horizon 230 CURRENT
Tow Vehicle: 2007 Toyota Tundra Limited SOLD
1999 Chevy Tahoe 4x4 SOLD
2003 GMC Yukon XL 2500 6.0

Update: I was able to replace the brake actuator, and wheel backing plates last weekend. I cannot tell you how big of an improvement it is. I mean I think my truck stops quicker with the boat on than with it off. I never thought that it would be that big a difference. Thanks again for everyone help!

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1996 4 Winns Horizon 170 SOLD
1997 4 Winns Sundowner 205 SOLD
2000 4 Winns Horizon 230 CURRENT
Tow Vehicle: 2007 Toyota Tundra Limited SOLD
1999 Chevy Tahoe 4x4 SOLD
2003 GMC Yukon XL 2500 6.0

Good job man!!. Mines next, I'll post pics of what I find.....

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Jimbo
Na. Ga.

2000 170 Horizon LS
4.3GL

Good luck, if you have to buy parts I would suggest getting them from http://www.pacifictrailers.com/ They had free shipping and great customer service. I would highly recommend them.

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1996 4 Winns Horizon 170 SOLD
1997 4 Winns Sundowner 205 SOLD
2000 4 Winns Horizon 230 CURRENT
Tow Vehicle: 2007 Toyota Tundra Limited SOLD
1999 Chevy Tahoe 4x4 SOLD
2003 GMC Yukon XL 2500 6.0

Order placed- $471.51. Kodiac 12-inch disc brake kit, new Atwood 60 actuator, all bearings and seals......OUCH that hurt, but the actuator is toast, full of rust, no fliud, except water, has been in there for years. The back-plates were usable but everything else needed replacing. Cost vs. time, it was a no-brainer. Plus the safety-factor. I'm now hovering at 4k in the boat-still no too bad.

Here's the carnage-

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Jimbo
Na. Ga.

2000 170 Horizon LS
4.3GL

Mine didn't look that bad, but as you stated my actuator was completely filled with rust and crap. It was so much easier to just buy the whole new backing plate with the brake shoes, wheel cylinders and everything already assembled. This is the only picture I could find. It was after my backing plates were already replaced with the new plate.

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1996 4 Winns Horizon 170 SOLD
1997 4 Winns Sundowner 205 SOLD
2000 4 Winns Horizon 230 CURRENT
Tow Vehicle: 2007 Toyota Tundra Limited SOLD
1999 Chevy Tahoe 4x4 SOLD
2003 GMC Yukon XL 2500 6.0

Recon mine needed new seals??? What a mess.......Tie-Down makes a complete new line-kit for around 70.00. (Edit- found the brake-line kit for 58.00@ http://www.trailerpartsdepot.com) I'd believe all my lines are not worth using either.

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Jimbo
Na. Ga.

2000 170 Horizon LS
4.3GL

Well hopefully all goes well for you. I got lucky and everything went on without any problems. It was almost too easy, as if something is going to break now.

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1996 4 Winns Horizon 170 SOLD
1997 4 Winns Sundowner 205 SOLD
2000 4 Winns Horizon 230 CURRENT
Tow Vehicle: 2007 Toyota Tundra Limited SOLD
1999 Chevy Tahoe 4x4 SOLD
2003 GMC Yukon XL 2500 6.0

My brakes are on the summer project list. I bled them last spring and the fluid wasn't too bad but I haven't pulled the drum off to see what's lurking back there.

My boat has been kept in a slip during the summers for it's life. It was kept at a dealer/marina and they did all the maintenance for the previous owner since new. I'm not sure what I'll find, hopefully not as bad as some of those pictures.

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Terry
Current: 07 Crownline 255 CCR cuddy - 350 Mag MPI/B3 "Casi Cielo"

Previous:97 245 Sundowner 5.7GI/SX

Tow vehicle: 1986 GMC 2500 Camper Special 454/TH400

Yeesh. Yeah, definitely do the lines too, based on your description.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Keep in mind that, if you switch from drum brakes to discs, you have to add a section of flex line right before the caliper, because disc brake calipers have to flex slightly when the brakes are applied/released, drum brakes do not require this (but it makes the installation much easier). Doing the brakes on the trailer is one of the easier boating jobs there is and adds greatly to safety. Many people here do without them because salt water corrodes them a lot faster but they can be made to last if you pack the piston and dust cap with grease and grease the adjuster. Discs in theory should be less trouble but also can have sticking/dragging problems if not maintained.

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II