Air Brakes

[tpruitt]

Has anyone found an air brake conversion for our trucks. if not i think that it would be a good idea to create something for our trucks. I thought that i read about on a couple years ago but i have seen nothing else about it

thanks

trey

 

[Ncostello]

If for nothing other than a novelty item, I dont think they would do any better than a 4 wheel disk hydraulic system.



I've replaced complete air brake systems on a fire trucks and there are so many components it would seem totally impractical... although not theoretically impossible.



The axles would require severe modifications including front drums... which would probably be much larger than any wheel available for the truck. They dont make many small air brake parts! Much would have to be custom made.



Plus with the compressor, tanks, reserve tanks, air dryers, valves, actuators, it would be a chore that would require a truckload of money, alot of time and some custom machine shop work. And there is still no guarantee that they would perform any better than disks. Maybe worse.



Many trucks under 36,000 lbs use some form of hydraulic disks nowadays, whether vacuum powered or air over hydraulic.



I'm not one to say something is impossible or wouldn't be neat but I think air brakes on a Dodge pickup would only be for someone who simply wanted to say "hey... I've got air brakes... wow!!" But it does sound neat!

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I had a brain fart before and came up with an idea.



I was thinking of hooking up an air brake actuator in my truck... . not for the brakes... but just for the noise!



Imagine hooking the actuator to an electric solenoid... . that way... every time you hit and then release the brakes... the actuator moves and makes that 'big truck' racket.



I also wanted to install a 'maxi-brake' pull lever on my dash... . And don't forget the pressure relief valve... . also for more 'big truck' racket... .



Imagine pulling up to a truck stop to get fuel..... you let off the brakes... . the actuator makes all kinda of noise... . and then you pull the lever for your 'maxi-brakes' / pressure relief valve setup.....



Tell me this wouldn't turn a few heads.....



My idea is now out there... ... I can only hope someone does it... . I think it would be pretty cool.



Matt

 

[BIGDIG]

MATT I think you've been sucking too much air through your BONG!!!!!!!! :-laf

 

[nickleinonen]

i'd be interested in a air brake parking brake.



great for times when you want to have the engine running in neutral [like filling up or quick run in to the house] slush boxers don't need it cause they have park.



a small brake chamber [type 9"] that actuates a disc/caliper setup on the rear pinion or t-case / trans output shaft. it could work very well. .

 

[bmoeller]

Originally posted by nickleinonen

i'd be interested in a air brake parking brake... ...



a small brake chamber [type 9"] that actuates a disc/caliper setup on the rear pinion or t-case / trans output shaft. it could work very well. .

I worked on a W-20 Case wheel loder once and that is what it had for the parking brake. Might be able come up with something that will work.

 

[Dkevdog]

Originally posted by HoleshotHolset

I had a brain fart before and came up with an idea.



I was thinking of hooking up an air brake actuator in my truck... . not for the brakes... but just for the noise!



Imagine hooking the actuator to an electric solenoid... . that way... every time you hit and then release the brakes... the actuator moves and makes that 'big truck' racket.



I also wanted to install a 'maxi-brake' pull lever on my dash... . And don't forget the pressure relief valve... . also for more 'big truck' racket... .



Imagine pulling up to a truck stop to get fuel..... you let off the brakes... . the actuator makes all kinda of noise... . and then you pull the lever for your 'maxi-brakes' / pressure relief valve setup.....



Tell me this wouldn't turn a few heads.....



My idea is now out there... ... I can only hope someone does it... . I think it would be pretty cool.



Matt

I had something very simlar o n my 96 when I had full air suspension on it. Only it was hooked up to a momentary switch so it could release the air bladder at any time the button was pushed. And yes, it did turn a few heads at fueling stations:-laf



Kev

 

[MarkF]

Nick

You could accoplish that with a line lock. Summit and others sell line locks, or sometimes called roll control. It is simply a valve plumbed in to your brakes with a 12 volt solenoid to actuate it. You tie it in to the front breaks. To use it you just press the breaks enough to keep the truck still, flip the switch and the line lock holds hydraulic pressure to the calipers and keeps the truck still. The downside is they are only intended to be used for short intervals, around five minutes. The solenoids will overheat. These things are popular with the drag race crowd to lock the front wheels and spin the rears without burning up brakes. I have a mechanical version of this in my Jeep, but to do that you have to plumb brake lines up under the dash. Thats ok for a CJ but wouldn't want to do it in my Dodge.



Matt you should really cosider your big rig racket set up for that yellow thing of yours that runs on diesel. Now that would turn some heads!

 

[illflem]

Matt, how about a collection of big rig sounds on tape, a big amp and some exterior speakers? You could get 200 psi turbo whine,air and jake brakes.

 

[bmoeller]

Originally posted by HoleshotHolset

I had a brain fart before and came up with an idea.



I was thinking of hooking up an air brake actuator in my truck... . not for the brakes... but just for the noise!



Imagine hooking the actuator to an electric solenoid... . that way... every time you hit and then release the brakes... the actuator moves and makes that 'big truck' racket.



I also wanted to install a 'maxi-brake' pull lever on my dash... . And don't forget the pressure relief valve... . also for more 'big truck' racket... .



Imagine pulling up to a truck stop to get fuel..... you let off the brakes... . the actuator makes all kinda of noise... . and then you pull the lever for your 'maxi-brakes' / pressure relief valve setup.....



Tell me this wouldn't turn a few heads.....



My idea is now out there... ... I can only hope someone does it... . I think it would be pretty cool.



Matt

I've been thinking about doing something like that for a while too.

 

[nickleinonen]

yeah, the line lock will work well too, but does it have the factor that air brakes have? :-laf

Originally posted by MarkF

Nick

You could accoplish that with a line lock. Summit and others sell line locks, or sometimes called roll control. It is simply a valve plumbed in to your brakes with a 12 volt solenoid to actuate it. You tie it in to the front breaks. To use it you just press the breaks enough to keep the truck still, flip the switch and the line lock holds hydraulic pressure to the calipers and keeps the truck still. The downside is they are only intended to be used for short intervals, around five minutes. The solenoids will overheat. These things are popular with the drag race crowd to lock the front wheels and spin the rears without burning up brakes. I have a mechanical version of this in my Jeep, but to do that you have to plumb brake lines up under the dash. Thats ok for a CJ but wouldn't want to do it in my Dodge.



Matt you should really cosider your big rig racket set up for that yellow thing of yours that runs on diesel. Now that would turn some heads!

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I like Bill's idea the best... . but I don't want to go deaf... . I just want to turn heads.



Matt

 

[Blakers]

Originally posted by MarkF

Nick

You could accoplish that with a line lock. Summit and others sell line locks, or sometimes called roll control. It is simply a valve plumbed in to your brakes with a 12 volt solenoid to actuate it.

Line locks are great. I one on my F-150 and used it all the time for a parking brake. You could use it and the regular parking brake and you'd have all 4 locked up. Mine had a quarter turn valve under the dash - no electric.



No big rig sound though. I like Bill's idea of the soundtrack. You could have a steam locomotive on there too as well as a . 50 cal machine gun.



Blake