Air Brakes?

[TORQUE THIS]

Is it possible to have air brakes on a 3500? Was next to a PSD and I swear it had air brakes.

 

[SFord]

where would you mount the compressor?

 

[swamp rat]

Doesn't Cummins stock the air compressor for the 5. 9 for use in larger trucks say a 24' Freightliner straight truck? We have once such beast on the lot at work and the compressor if I'm not mistaken is located exactly where the vacuum pump and power steering pump is located on the Dodge versions. If I am correct, it couldn't be much of a stretch to remove the vacuum pump to add the compressor. I'm not sure how or where the PS pump would be relocated. Where you might run into a huge cost is replacing the entire hydraulic brake system, brake calipers, rear shoe actuators, and air lines, valves, tanks so on and so forth. Not to mention the ABS air brake controller should you choose to go with ABS and they do work well on larger trucks especially when unloaded or bobtailing. They do carry a healthy price tag.



I do like the idea though, and it would be a nice to have an neverending air supply for horns, tools, and tires.

 

[tgbol]

On the trucks with air brakes and Cummins 5. 9 the air compressor is driven off of the gear train where our p/s & vacuuum pumps are. The P/S pump is driven off the back of the air compressor. A remote reservior is needed for the p/s. Ford uses an electric vacuum pump to power the a/c controls that would work on the Dodge. I am in the process of obtaining all of the parts I need to install the air compressor, but due to lof it is taking lots of time.

 

[DennyDay]

Air Brakes

Once upon a time, out there somewhere, there was an air over hydraulic brake system. I'm giving my age, but it was the mid to late '50's. I don't have any idea where to find one, or if you could find one. Check with a HD truck supply store, and find a parts man over 55 years old. An other option would place an add in "Wheels of Time".

Once you solve this problem, hooking it up will be a real adventure, unless you get axels from a Mid-Liner or something like that. How 'bout an electric pump to blow the air horns, and let it go at that?

Good luck, Denny

 

[Todd G]

I drove a '91 Isuzu FSR that had air-over-hydraulic brakes. In my opinion, they were not as good as real air brakes. Drove the same, just didn't have as much braking power.

 

[swamp rat]

tgbol,

Do keep us posted on the compressor update. I am very interested. I could opt for the electric compressor, but there are some instances where it wouldn't be able to keep up with the need for large volumes of air even with multiple tanks.

 

[tgbol]

Swamprat

If you need air to power air tools such as an impact or air drill the air brake compressor will barely stay up with you if you have a decent size tank. It might take a while to rotate you tires or drill a bunch of holes. But for emergencies it is more than enough.

If you need lots of air on site check out: www.vmac.ca

They have a rotary screw unit that mounts on the engine that is capable of 70cfm at 175psi. The air brake compressor for the cummins is 13cfm at 135psi

 

[swamp rat]

Thanks a bunch for that link tgbol. I will definitely get in touch with them. Depending on the cost and practicality of mounting that compressor (w/o affecting my AC) that might be a bit of overkill, but I've always said it's better to have a little too much than a little too little.



It gets extremely old toting a 12 gallon tank around looking for somebody with free/cheap air, and then 90% of the time there supply doesn't get over 80PSI to fill the tank. I've even stooped to the level of dragging my hose w/glad hand and air chuck to "BORROW" air from the trucks at work on occasion just to fill a low or leaking tire.



I still wanna hear how your install goes. It might be my only effective option.

 

[jwgary]

Where is John McIntyre

John McIntyre had to do an air over hydraulic braking system for his rig to run in Europe. I am sure he can shed some more light on this subject. I think he went with a Thomas electric compressor. John, where are you?

 

[Pogodually]

FWIW, there is a person in Canada that does Air conversion's. Not sure where. I think Phillips / Hurd, now living in OR had his Y2K 3500 converted to air, look in old posts. He is pulling a big goose neck, as an over the road freight hauler.

 

[JohnMcIntyre]

What goes around, comes around.....

Originally posted by jwgary

John McIntyre had to do an air over hydraulic braking system for his rig to run in Europe. I am sure he can shed some more light on this subject. I think he went with a Thomas electric compressor. John, where are you?

<font color = blue>Strange ol' world eh? Okay, now that I'm back in Europe, a quick recap for those who missed out on my findings the first time around...



The rear engine mount plus the physical location of the associated PS pump effectively rules out driving an engine based air compressor off the Cummins - basically there just ain't enough room in the engine bay... .



Check out the links to Dave Fitz's website for the details on the Thomas air compressor, which I bought when last in the USA but have not yet fitted. This is good enough for most demanding air applications when supported by a good-sized reservoir with a pop-off valve.



Over here in Europe Electric trailer brakes aren't considered good enough - but that's a whole different argument, which is why I was considering the air over hydraulic option.



The next thing to consider is either suck or blow. My trailer has to be a three axle unit and for the max weight I want to tow, especially with a future 5th wheeler, according to Euro trailer specs would need hydraulic brakes and air over hydraulic was a neat option.



A fellow TDR member from Northern California (name escapes me for the time being) has precisely this set-up already, complete with the neccessary hook-up to feed in proportional braking to the trailer brakes on his boat trailer.



That's the story so far. Pictures of my set-up will come eventually, but hopefully the other TDR member will now take up the baton. ???