BrakeGuard

[StevenWalker]

Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of a product called BrakeGuard. They are two small cannister like "accumulators" that are plumbed into the brake lines, usually near the master cylinder. They are supposed to "improve braking efficiency" and shorten the stopping distance during an emergency brake application. I looked at the "accumulators" and I'm not sure how the work or if they work. Accumulators usually have a valve to store fluid at higher pressure for release when needed. I didn't see any valve or check ball and don't see how they can actually accumulate any fluid at higher pressure. I did an all forum search and didn't come up with anything useful. Is anyone familiar with this product? Do they work or are they snake oil? When I call BrakeGuard I can't get any direct answers to my questions. Thanks for your help.

 

[Wiredawg]

I have them!

I bought them at May Madness. They work great. My 3500 stops much quicker than it did. I now get little chirps from tires as I'm hard stopping.



Great upgrade.



Wiredawg

 

[snowracer69]

but how do they mechanically work?

 

[Wiredawg]

I believe they are accumulators that increase line pressure, resulting in stronger clamping forces and stronger braking. When I retire, I'm gonna replace the rubber brake lines w/ stainless steel ones to minimize/remove brake pressure loss due to expanding brake lines.



I bought 'em because they had a 30-day money back warranty. I loaded up the truck w/ some friends and took her for a test drive (actually test stop ). Results were very noticeable.



Wiredawg

 

[StevenWalker]

Thanks for your replies. I still can't figure out how this product would improve braking "efficiency" as the dealer says. When I ask them to explain exactly how they work, I do not get clear and direct answer. Has anyone been told anything that would make sense mechanically or hydraulically? If they worked, I would think that there would be a very clear explanation the dealer would be able to give me. After reading the several articles regarding brake systems that have appeared in the TDR magizne recently, I still have questions. Thanks.















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[EricBu12]

In short terms, they are a 2 piece unit that when they are put together, there is a separator that when pressed, makes 120 PSI in a chamber. So they said it makes the line pressure when static, higher. Now it doesn't make the calipers drag more when not braking, it just reacts faster when you hit the brakes. Makes our hydraulic brakes seem like air brakes... . I did a test stop on mine and measured it out. I went from 60 to 0 in 170 ft. !! some Sports cars cant stop til 130ft so a 8000# truck in 170 is very good. You use less pedal too when you stop, just seems to be less work when using brakes..... This is also transferable to any vehicle with the adapters...



I put the explanation into words but the guy that sells them says even fluid and mechanical engineers scratch their head on how it works..... So I just say if it works, GREAT!! just use it... you won't be sorry, 'specially if you tow

 

[StevenWalker]

After some calling around I was sent a test report done for BrakeGuard. To briefly summarize, it turns out that the accumulator has a diaphram and a spring inside. The report states that when brakes are applied, especially ABS brake systems, there are pressure fluctuations that occur rapidly with in the brake system. The report says that this results in fluctuating contact of the braking material against the rotor or drum. The BrakeGuard accumulators modulate the pressure fluctuations allowing the braking material to stay more in contact with the drum or rotor in the same way that water hammer arrestors are used in plumbing. In this way, the report says, it improves braking effieiency. The modulating effect of the BrakeGuard is only effective when making an emergency brake application and is more effective when braking from a higher speed where more braking effort is required than at lower speeds where less is required.



At least this answer seems to make some sense. The big question is, is this the most effective effective way to improve braking? The cost is rather high for something that works only during high speed emergency applications. Would investing in better pads or shoes be a better option? That's what you get to figure out.



Thanks to all the expresed an interest and replied.

 

[Wiredawg]

RUN8RAM:



I feel the improvement in all braking situations, but most dramatically at hard braking.



Here is from the Brake Guard website:



"This is accomplished by modifying the braking system from a normal hydraulic system to an air-over-hydraulic system. The air is pre-charged around the outer periphery of each metering system. The pre-charged air allows the metering system to function within the parameters needed to operate with the pressures already existing in the brake lines during light, medium, or hard braking providing optimum response and performance every time the brakes are applied. "



So the company says improvement light, medium and hard starts. And that's what I've seen. If they still have the 30-day money back, what do you have to lose.



Wiredawg

 

[StevenWalker]

Thanks Wiredawg. With a warrenty like that It seems worth a try.

 

[hasselbach]

Where do you get them from? I did a search and found the FTC sued and prevailed over Brake Guard in 1997, whereas they were told they couldn't use the Term ABS nor advertise stopping distances were reduced 20-30%. But they sound great. What are the prices of the set? How easy to install?



http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1997/05/brake.htm

 

[jwgary]

Didn't Sam Memolo write about this in the latest TDR about "placebo parts"? It sounds to me like it could be one of two things. The first is an accumulator that takes the variations out of the braking line pressure like Run8Ram said. The second possibility I see is that it could be a hydraulic intensifier that takes a large piston to move a smaller piston to increase line pressure. I would be very wary about using either of these things in a brake system, especially one with ABS.



ABS relies on fluctuations to quickly modulate the brake pressure to eliminate tire slippage. If you had an accumulator in the circuit it would slow the response time of the electronics. It would be similar to having air in the lines except it wouldn't compress until it reached 125 psi. Accumulators are generally used to supply oil when there is a LOSS of pressure. An intensifier would do the opposite and cause the brakes to react too quickly.



I can see either one causing increased tire slippage when the ABS is supposed to be activating. That would agree with what Wiredawg said about getting little chirps during hard stops. It is a possibility that these could increase braking efficiency in special occasions since the ABS algorithms are designed to work for most situations. However, I would have a hard time using something in the hydraulic system that wasn't accounted for when the controller was designed and programmed. There is a potential for some erratic and possibly very dangerous results. Be very careful when playing with vehicle safety systems. If this really was a necessity for ABS, the vehicle manufacturers would have put an accumulator in the circuit.