DeeMaxx sells the same disc brake in three finishes: MAXX coated, MAXX with a stainless caliper (MAXX-SS), and full stainless (SS). On a trailer that never sees salt the choice barely matters. On a boat trailer that backs into the ocean every weekend it decides how the brakes look and work in year three. This guide sets out what each finish is, what DeeMaxx has actually tested, what each kit weighs and how the warranty treats corrosion, so you can pick a finish from the DeeMaxx range or the DeeMaxx Disc Brake Kit Finder with the facts in front of you.
Why disc brakes on a boat trailer at all
An electric drum brake carries its magnet, return springs and adjuster inside a drum that fills with water at the ramp. Launched in salt, those parts corrode and the brake grabs or quits, which is why drum brakes are the wrong starting point for a saltwater trailer (see boat trailer brakes that survive salt water). A hydraulic disc brake has an exposed rotor that sheds water, a sealed caliper piston and no magnet. DeeMaxx's electric-over-hydraulic actuator keeps the brake controller in the tow vehicle in charge: see DeeMaxx disc vs electric drum vs surge brakes.
The three DeeMaxx finishes
MAXX coated
MAXX is DeeMaxx's corrosion-resistant coating, applied to the integral rotor/hub, the caliper and the caliper bracket. It is the finish on every master kit and on the standard single-wheel and one-axle kits. DeeMaxx publishes a salt-spray certificate from Aero Labs & Metal Finishing for it: a cast steel brake caliper with the MAXX coating ran 1,008 hours of ASTM B-117 salt spray at 5% salt concentration at Aero Labs in Fort Worth, Texas, and passed, with no corrosion noted on the coated areas when examined afterwards. etrailer's DeeMaxx pages quote the same result as "over 1,000 hours of salt spray". A salt-spray cabinet is a laboratory test of the coating, not a prediction of life on a given ramp, and DeeMaxx's warranty statement excludes damage caused by corrosion, so treat the certificate as the reason the coating exists rather than as a guarantee.
MAXX-SS: MAXX rotor/hub and bracket, stainless caliper
The MAXX-SS kits (written MAXX/SS on the 3.5K and 6K single-wheel kits) keep the MAXX-coated integral rotor/hub and bracket and change the caliper, the part that carries the piston, seals and pads, to stainless steel with stainless pads. It adds about a pound per wheel end: 33 lb boxed against 32 lb for the 3.5K single-wheel kit and 39 lb against 38 lb at 6K, per our listings. MAXX-SS is offered as single-wheel kits at every rating we carry, as one-axle kits at 3.5K and 6K (DBI-3.5K-MAXX-SS, DBI-6K-MAXX-SS, DBI-6KC-MAXX-SS), and the stainless caliper is sold on its own for 3-6K and 7-8K axles.
SS: full stainless
The SS kits are the stainless option for marine and salt exposure. Instead of an integral rotor/hub they use a stainless steel slip-over rotor mounted on a separate galvanized hub, with a stainless caliper, stainless bracket and stainless pads. Because the rotor slips over the hub, a worn rotor can be renewed without replacing the hub and its bearings. The parts list of 1/DBI-7K-SS-KIT shows the pattern: an RTR-131-7K-SS rotor, a HUB-865NT-7K-GALV galvanized hub, a CALP-7-8K-SS caliper, a DBB-7K-SS bracket, the 25580 and 14125A bearings, a 2250DL seal, a dust cap, stainless bracket bolts and nuts, lug nuts and the rubber plug. Stainless weighs more: 37 lb boxed at 3.5K against 32 lb for MAXX, 45 lb against 38 lb at 6K, and 62 lb against 58 lb at 7K. SS single-wheel kits are offered at 3.5K, 6K, 7K, 7K with 9/16" studs, and 8K Dexter/Lippert (the 8KDD kits). There is no stainless master kit and no stainless 8K Al-Ko/Axis kit.
| Finish | Rotor | Caliper and pads | Bracket | Formats we list | Boxed weight per wheel end, 3.5K / 6K / 7K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAXX | MAXX-coated integral rotor/hub | MAXX caliper, yellow pads | MAXX | Master kits, one-axle kits, single-wheel kits, parts | 32 / 38 / 58 lb |
| MAXX-SS | MAXX-coated integral rotor/hub | Stainless caliper, stainless pads | MAXX | One-axle kits (3.5K, 6K), single-wheel kits, calipers | 33 / 39 / 58 lb |
| SS | Stainless slip-over rotor on a galvanized hub | Stainless caliper, stainless pads | Stainless | Single-wheel kits (3.5K, 6K, 7K, 7K-9T, 8KDD), rotors, brackets, calipers | 37 / 45 / 62 lb |
Weights are the boxed figures on our single-wheel kit listings; the 7K MAXX-SS kit lists the same 58 lb as the 7K MAXX kit.
Galvanized hubs, lug nuts and lines
The hub under a stainless rotor is one of DeeMaxx's galvanized hubs (the GALV part numbers). They are the hubs in every SS kit and are sold on their own in 5 on 4.5", 6 on 5.5" and 8 on 6.5" patterns, as non-threaded grease hubs (NT) and threaded oil hubs (T), and the galvanized finish is covered by the same 7-year warranty as the MAXX and stainless parts. The kits ship with zinc open-end acorn lug nuts (LNOZ). For a trailer that lives in salt, we also list stainless closed-end acorn nuts (LNCSS) in 1/2"-20 and 5/8"-18 and chrome closed-end nuts (LNCC) in 1/2"-20. Brake lines come as DOT rubber flex lines (DOT-RFL) or stainless steel braided lines with a Teflon core (DOT-SSFL), both with 3/16" inverted flare ends.
Which finish for which trailer
- Freshwater lakes and rivers, camper and utility trailers: MAXX. It is the only finish available as a complete tandem or triple master kit with the actuator and lines in the box, for example MK-TA-3.5K-MAXX.
- Brackish water or occasional saltwater launching: MAXX-SS. The caliper, with its piston, seals and pads, goes stainless and the lighter MAXX rotor/hub stays.
- Regular saltwater launching: SS. Build the set from single-wheel kits, two per axle, add the EOHA1600 actuator for one or two axles or the EOHA1600XL for three, and the DOT-SA18K, DOT-TA20K or DOT-TR20K line kit. The Kit Finder lists the exact items when you choose stainless.
Salt, maintenance and the warranty
DeeMaxx's 7-year warranty covers galvanized, MAXX-coated, zinc-coated and stainless steel parts against defects in materials and workmanship. It does not cover normal wear, damage caused by corrosion, lack of maintenance or improper installation, and the warranty statement adds that rotors, calipers, brackets or pads not installed by a licensed brake specialist are not covered. A claim starts with an RGA number requested from DeeMaxx within 30 days of first noticing the defect, and shipping both ways is the customer's cost. The EOH actuator carries its own 3-year warranty with a 10-day claim window. None of that changes with the finish: stainless buys corrosion resistance, not corrosion coverage. Rinse the wheel ends after a salt launch, keep the caliper slides greased with DeeMaxx's MAXX Glide silicone grease, and read DeeMaxx bedding in, bleeding and maintenance before the first trip.
Rotor wear limits
Whatever the finish, DeeMaxx publishes a minimum thickness for each rotor: 0.815" for the 10.2" and 12" integral rotor/hubs and the 10.9" and 12" slip-over rotors, and 0.957" for the 13.1" integral rotor/hubs and the 13.1" 8K slip-over rotors (deemaxx.com shows 0.597" for the 7K MAXX slip-over rotor, which we are checking with DeeMaxx). Measure the swept face when you check the pads.
Frequently asked questions
Does the MAXX coating rust?
DeeMaxx's certificate shows no corrosion on the coated areas of a caliper after 1,008 hours of ASTM B-117 salt spray. DeeMaxx does not publish service-life figures for a trailer in use, and its warranty excludes corrosion damage, so rinse after salt and inspect at each bearing service.
Can I put a stainless caliper on a MAXX kit later?
Yes. A stainless caliper on the MAXX rotor/hub and bracket is exactly what DeeMaxx sells as MAXX-SS, and the caliper is listed on its own as CALP-3-6K-SS and CALP-7-8K-SS, with stainless pads fitted.
Why does a stainless kit use a galvanized hub?
DeeMaxx pairs its stainless slip-over rotors with galvanized hubs in every SS kit, for example RTR-131-7K-SS on HUB-865NT-7K-GALV. The hub carries the bearings and studs and has its own 7-year warranty; the rotor bolts over it, so either can be replaced alone.
Is there a stainless master kit?
No. All twelve DeeMaxx master kits are MAXX coated. A stainless tandem conversion is four SS single-wheel kits plus the EOHA1600 actuator and the DOT-TA20K line kit.
Every DeeMaxx part we sell ships from our warehouse in Upland, California, and the kits ship free to the lower 48. Found a DeeMaxx kit cheaper somewhere else? Send us the link before you order: under our Lowest Price Guarantee we'll beat it.
Sources: deemaxx.com product listings, warranty pages and published test reports; etrailer's DeeMaxx product pages; our own listings. Confirm your axle rating, bolt pattern and brake flange before ordering.