Max Brake Failed

[SMasters]

Well after 3,000 flawless miles the Max Brake failed. I was pulling my 38' fifth wheel when it happened. I stopped to get fuel and I had brakes. Started to get back on the road and went to put on the brakes and I had no trailer brakes. I looked down at the Max Brake controller and the screen was blank. Here is the scary part, when the controller fails the hand lever doesn't work either. What I found out from Max Brake is you can remove the blue sensor cable and the hand lever will work. That is how I got the trailer home without running over anyone. Max Brake is sending me a new sensor cable so we will see if that takes care of the issue. They did say they had a few cables fail.

 

[Blu-meanie]

My original sensor cable had a bad splice at the "Y" junction. They sent a new one, I fixed the old one and removed that "extra" connector.

Last week I rotated my trailer tires and discovered the controller was just barely applying the brakes. I ended up removing the power connector and re-inserting it. The thing re-booted and worked again. Hopefully it won't do it again, but I don't trust it anymore.

 

[BHaden]

Mine had a shorted cable also. Worked fine one day, dead the next. New cable fixed it.

 

[SMasters]

The new cable sent to me didn't have the Y splice. All is fine now. Just got back from a 2,000 mile trip and the MaxBrake worked great.

 

[GCroyle]

Any chance for a picture of the spliced area?

 

[SMasters]

I had to send the old cable back to get the new cable free, so no pictures. The Y splice is at the end of the cable under the hood. The Y splice had 2 identical connections. One was marked "A" and the other "B". The "A" connection plugged into the brake sensor and the "B" is for testing purposes by the manufacturer. The new cable just has the one "A" connection.

 

[Dutch & Di]

Glad you are back in business again. We've put over 20,000 miles on our Max Brake without an issue. Hmmm, I hope I haven't just jinxed myself. Di

 

[GCroyle]

SMasters,



Thanks for the clarification. I'll take a look at my cable.



I have one with my almost 10,000 Lb travel trailer, 2 axles with Dexter disc brakes and a Carlisle actuator. My experience is limited to this trailer combination only.



I like the way the MaxBrake works. It makes sense output signal based on actual brake system PSI.