Several days ago, I saw on One of the truck shows on T V a new brake controler that was operated off the master cylinder fluid pressure to a rheostat type switch that controlled the amount of brake. Does anyone know anything about this, or did anyone else happen to see it?
I think the name on it was Maxi-Brake.
I am very curious and interested in learning more about this.
Foxman
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96 OBS 7.3 E4OD 4.10 Hand-made Tymar, CCV mod, Cruise added, bucket seats & console, saddle-tool boxes w/68 gallon tank in ctr, all LED tail & body lamps, visor, E350 bus wheels, 9ft goose-neck body
That's the way they all operated before the mfgrs. came out with antilock brakes. I've had two of them in past years. They worked more precisely and accurately (smoother) than any of the newer electronic controllers. "They" (just who are "they", anyway?) said the hydraulic style could not be used with anti-lock systems. Myself and another mechanic discussed it up one side and down the other on this site years ago, and analyzing the total system, we couldn't find a reason why the old type would not work. A short while later, a guy here installed that style on his anti-lock equipped pickup and it worked like a charm.
we couldn't find a reason why the old type would not work. A short while later, a guy here installed that style on his anti-lock equipped pickup and it worked like a charm.
However, with that said, I don't think I'd put one on the very newest pickups. Like someone posted, they're a bunch of computers on wheels nowdays. I bought a new 1/2 ton and it has vehicle stability control, 4 wheel ABS, a limited slip that's brake activated, automatic increased braking during a "panic stop", etc. There's sensors and ECUs up the whazoo regarding the brake system so I definitely wouldn't want to break into that system with a hyd. controller.
Several days ago, I saw on One of the truck shows on T V a new brake controler that was operated off the master cylinder fluid pressure to a rheostat type switch that controlled the amount of brake. Does anyone know anything about this, or did anyone else happen to see it?
I think the name on it was Maxi-Brake.
I am very curious and interested in learning more about this.
Foxman
When you see those informercials for the latest miracle exerciser that will give you 6 pack abs while you sit and guzzle six pacs, do you believe them? Basically most of these shows are pandering to their advertisers. Have you EVER heard them trash a product? I rest my case. In my opinion the BrakeSmart controller is the best blend of old hydraulic sensor technology and new computer technology. Works great with my hydraulic brake pump and disc brakes on my GVWR 23K# horse trailer.
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2002 F350 Lariat CC 4x4 Auto 4.10 DRW, DP-Tuner F5 live tuned stock, quiet, 40dd, 40, 60, 80 tow, 80e and 120r, B&W GN, BrakeSmart, 'pooned tank, tank and pre-pump mods, 2µ Dahl 100 filter, regulated return, BTS dual HPOP, AC singles with EDM 34 lpm nozzles, AIS, H2e, Spearco 6.0 IC, Hypermax 3.5" dp--> MBRP 4" 304SS exhaust, BTS tranny, 203ş T-stat, Chevron ELC, coolant filter, Oilguard bypass with Schaeffer 9000, WranglerNW 200 amp alternator & Optima group 31 batteries, Nippon-Denso starter, SPA gauges, SteveRacer mods, Hella 80/100W 9007s, Hella Micro DE foglights, 1000FF driving lights, 220W backup lights, Stancor contactor, Michelin XPS Traction tires, X-Springs, Bilstein shox, custom bumpers but otherwise stock. Nov 30 '99 build engine with 16 K miles, Fluidampr, Comp Cam 910 springs, Melling LPOP and ARP headstuds. Alien-Patrol Customer Service Sucks!
I have pulled a 4 horse Sundowner for about 200,000 miles with BrakeSmart and it is perfect.
Also has as part of its menu system a digital voltmeter that is accurate. Important when you have a diesel engine.
CSSJR
If we do not wish to lose our freedom, we must learn to tolerate our
neighbor's right to freedom even though he might express that freedom
in a manner we consider to be eccentric.
When you see those informercials for the latest miracle exerciser that will give you 6 pack abs while you sit and guzzle six pacs, do you believe them? Basically most of these shows are pandering to their advertisers. Have you EVER heard them trash a product? I rest my case. In my opinion the BrakeSmart controller is the best blend of old hydraulic sensor technology and new computer technology. Works great with my hydraulic brake pump and disc brakes on my GVWR 23K# horse trailer.
They may have been on one of those shows. It would not surprise me with Dr. Performance. They bought the product from another vendor (Master Brake) when they folded. I would not use an infomercial to influence my judgement in the selection of a controller any more than I would buy the latest steam floor cleaner.
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2002 F350 Lariat CC 4x4 Auto 4.10 DRW, DP-Tuner F5 live tuned stock, quiet, 40dd, 40, 60, 80 tow, 80e and 120r, B&W GN, BrakeSmart, 'pooned tank, tank and pre-pump mods, 2µ Dahl 100 filter, regulated return, BTS dual HPOP, AC singles with EDM 34 lpm nozzles, AIS, H2e, Spearco 6.0 IC, Hypermax 3.5" dp--> MBRP 4" 304SS exhaust, BTS tranny, 203ş T-stat, Chevron ELC, coolant filter, Oilguard bypass with Schaeffer 9000, WranglerNW 200 amp alternator & Optima group 31 batteries, Nippon-Denso starter, SPA gauges, SteveRacer mods, Hella 80/100W 9007s, Hella Micro DE foglights, 1000FF driving lights, 220W backup lights, Stancor contactor, Michelin XPS Traction tires, X-Springs, Bilstein shox, custom bumpers but otherwise stock. Nov 30 '99 build engine with 16 K miles, Fluidampr, Comp Cam 910 springs, Melling LPOP and ARP headstuds. Alien-Patrol Customer Service Sucks!
Last edited by haul_n_horses2 : 01-22-2008 at 11:46 AM.
They may have been on one of those shows. It would not surprise me with Dr. Performance. They bought the product from another vendor (Master Brake) when they folded. I would not use an infomercial to influence my judgement in the selection of a controller any more than I would buy the latest steam floor cleaner.
MasterBrake used to be two blocks over from us. Bill would come by and tell me how he is building the best brake control in the world and maybe he did. But it cost him his company and the technology has become dated. We have tested both units and the ability of the current manufacturers to produce either unit and the MaxBrake in our opinion is the better of the two. True the younger company does not have as many loyal users (yet), but their customer service is outstanding, programming is superior, and they have the ability to produce the controls at a more competitive price.
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Darrick S - TDS Sponsor Southwest Wheel - Serving the wheel, trailer, and towing industry since 1919.
MasterBrake used to be two blocks over from us. Bill would come by and tell me how he is building the best brake control in the world and maybe he did. But it cost him his company and the technology has become dated. We have tested both units and the ability of the current manufacturers to produce either unit and the MaxBrake in our opinion is the better of the two. True the younger company does not have as many loyal users (yet), but their customer service is outstanding, programming is superior, and they have the ability to produce the controls at a more competitive price.
I wish there was more information on the product. The knobs/dials are kind of kludgy and considering you may need to activate the manual brakes, reaching under and turning a knob does not seem very practical to me (or is that a slider?). Especially when you are steering and trying to avoid hitting the tow vehicle brakes. Maybe I just do not understand it. Hitting the panic button (manual override) on the MasterBrake BrakeSmart is pretty easy to do even in the dark.
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2002 F350 Lariat CC 4x4 Auto 4.10 DRW, DP-Tuner F5 live tuned stock, quiet, 40dd, 40, 60, 80 tow, 80e and 120r, B&W GN, BrakeSmart, 'pooned tank, tank and pre-pump mods, 2µ Dahl 100 filter, regulated return, BTS dual HPOP, AC singles with EDM 34 lpm nozzles, AIS, H2e, Spearco 6.0 IC, Hypermax 3.5" dp--> MBRP 4" 304SS exhaust, BTS tranny, 203ş T-stat, Chevron ELC, coolant filter, Oilguard bypass with Schaeffer 9000, WranglerNW 200 amp alternator & Optima group 31 batteries, Nippon-Denso starter, SPA gauges, SteveRacer mods, Hella 80/100W 9007s, Hella Micro DE foglights, 1000FF driving lights, 220W backup lights, Stancor contactor, Michelin XPS Traction tires, X-Springs, Bilstein shox, custom bumpers but otherwise stock. Nov 30 '99 build engine with 16 K miles, Fluidampr, Comp Cam 910 springs, Melling LPOP and ARP headstuds. Alien-Patrol Customer Service Sucks!
Last edited by haul_n_horses2 : 01-22-2008 at 12:27 PM.
It is a slide mechanism for the manual override. The computer automatically senses how many brakes you have on your trailer and sets it to the maximum gain. The knob then is then a fine tuner to match your braking style. Basically the control knows you need 3 amps max per magnet no more no less and it sets up itself for maximum braking when the pedal is fully compressed. It has a built in ammeter that will tell you if your magnets are bad and if they are going bad. It also tells you if you have short, sensor is unplugged, trailer unplugged, or a wire has come loose. Add the fact it connects to your master cylinder it is a very nice control. I am not bashing the BrakeSmart, but the only thing the same about these two controls is the fact they are both hydraulic over electric controls. The MaxBrake's programming and technology is just more current.
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Darrick S - TDS Sponsor Southwest Wheel - Serving the wheel, trailer, and towing industry since 1919.
It is a slide mechanism for the manual override. The computer automatically senses how many brakes you have on your trailer and sets it to the maximum gain. The knob then is then a fine tuner to match your braking style. Basically the control knows you need 3 amps max per magnet no more no less and it sets up itself for maximum braking when the pedal is fully compressed. It has a built in ammeter that will tell you if your magnets are bad and if they are going bad. It also tells you if you have short, sensor is unplugged, trailer unplugged, or a wire has come loose. Add the fact it connects to your master cylinder it is a very nice control. I am not bashing the BrakeSmart, but the only thing the same about these two controls is the fact they are both hydraulic over electric controls. The MaxBrake's programming and technology is just more current.
Do you have to run the calibration routine every time you hookup to a different trailer (electric brakes, hydraulic brakes, different number of axles etc.)
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2002 F350 Lariat CC 4x4 Auto 4.10 DRW, DP-Tuner F5 live tuned stock, quiet, 40dd, 40, 60, 80 tow, 80e and 120r, B&W GN, BrakeSmart, 'pooned tank, tank and pre-pump mods, 2µ Dahl 100 filter, regulated return, BTS dual HPOP, AC singles with EDM 34 lpm nozzles, AIS, H2e, Spearco 6.0 IC, Hypermax 3.5" dp--> MBRP 4" 304SS exhaust, BTS tranny, 203ş T-stat, Chevron ELC, coolant filter, Oilguard bypass with Schaeffer 9000, WranglerNW 200 amp alternator & Optima group 31 batteries, Nippon-Denso starter, SPA gauges, SteveRacer mods, Hella 80/100W 9007s, Hella Micro DE foglights, 1000FF driving lights, 220W backup lights, Stancor contactor, Michelin XPS Traction tires, X-Springs, Bilstein shox, custom bumpers but otherwise stock. Nov 30 '99 build engine with 16 K miles, Fluidampr, Comp Cam 910 springs, Melling LPOP and ARP headstuds. Alien-Patrol Customer Service Sucks!
Do you have to run the calibration routine every time you hookup to a different trailer (electric brakes, hydraulic brakes, different number of axles etc.)
No you only calibrate it when you do the initial setup, it is just to calibrate the hydraulic pressure sensor to the brake pedal. The computer/brain of the control recognizes what is connecting to the tow vehicle. This is the single greatest difference between this control and any other. Gain controls are a thing of the past with this control. The CVBC or in this conversation the knob, is your fine tuning element. It is hard to explain that is why they did the infommercial. It is different than any control on the market. I have seen that the MaxBrake is the cheaper BrakeSmart, but this simply is not true. The have great differences and the only reason the MaxBrake is cheaper is because it is using newer materials that are more readily available and can be produced more effiecently. Example the BrakeSmarts s-video cable vs. the MaxBrakes ethernet cable, the same as your computers dsl connection.
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Darrick S - TDS Sponsor Southwest Wheel - Serving the wheel, trailer, and towing industry since 1919.
Does the controller plug directly into the factory harness? Also, the installation instructions called for bleeding the air from the pressure switch. What about bleeding the brake lines, since they are disconnected from the master cylinder in order to install the pressure switch?
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2004 F350, 6.0L TorqShift, SRW, CC, LB, Lariat, 4X4, Built Feb 2004
8" Lift, 37x13.5x17 Tires, 4.88 Gears, Turbo-back Exhaust, Gauges, Air Bags...
Does the controller plug directly into the factory harness? Also, the installation instructions called for bleeding the air from the pressure switch. What about bleeding the brake lines, since they are disconnected from the master cylinder in order to install the pressure switch?
The control plugs directly into the factory harness.
Bleeding the Sensor
1 Park vehicle on level, flat ground. Set the park brake.
2 Turn off engine and allow to cool.
3 Raise vehicle hood and have assistant take foot completely off the brake pedal. Note: Do not twist cable at the back of the pressure sensor.
4 Loosen the pressure sensor with a brief Ľ” turn.
5 Have assistant very slowly begin to press brake pedal.
6 Look for brake fluid to begin escaping at the threads of the pressure sensor. As soon as brake fluid is observed, have assistant hold brake pedal steady. Instruct the assistant in advance not to release the brakes until instructed to do so.
7 Close the pressure sensor by tightening it.
8 Instruct the assistant to release the brakes. Note: Do NOT release the brake pedal while the pressure sensor is open, as this will suck air back into the system.
9 Be sure to check the brake fluid level in the reservoir after bleeding the pressure sensor. Add fluid as necessary to keep the level above the fill line.
10 Be sure to inspect the pressure sensor and other fittings for signs of leakage. Correct as necessary.
Safely collect and secure any brake fluid which may have leaked and always use the proper recycling or disposal collection procedures available in your area.
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Darrick S - TDS Sponsor Southwest Wheel - Serving the wheel, trailer, and towing industry since 1919.
Linear Mode
