MaxBrake Install

[HBarlow]

JLandry,

Nice work and excellent photos.

 

[Nigel]

John

Thanks for the pictures. I'll do the same with my install.



Harvey

After your insistance the the BrakeSmart and the MaxBrake were so much superior than the inertia type controllers, I ordered one for my work truck (GMC 6500 with 4 car trailer). I was so impressed I imediately ordered another for my Dodge. I also had the Prodigy in both trucks. The only thing I can add is I'll have no concern about the wife taking the Dodge and the fifth wheel out by herself.



Nigel

 

[HBarlow]

John
Thanks for the pictures. I'll do the same with my install.

Harvey
After your insistance the the BrakeSmart and the MaxBrake were so much superior than the inertia type controllers, I ordered one for my work truck (GMC 6500 with 4 car trailer). I was so impressed I imediately ordered another for my Dodge. I also had the Prodigy in both trucks. The only thing I can add is I'll have no concern about the wife taking the Dodge and the fifth wheel out by herself.

Nigel

Thanks for the report, Nigel. I'm pleased that you like the product enough to be confident of your wife's ability to pull your fifth wheel with it.

Your name and your testimony adds to the long list of satisfied owners here.

I wish I owned stock in the companies who created the BrakeSmart and MaxBrake controllers.

 

[KLauber]

I wish I owned stock in the companies who created the BrakeSmart and MaxBrake controllers.

They are not publicly traded, probably not enough market or need to do so. But I plan on getting one for the new truck as it came with some Prodigy thing already installed ... !



Ken

 

[HBarlow]

Prodigy controllers and all brake controllers made by Tekonsha make good paper weights. Tekonsha is an excellent company but for whatever reasons their engineers or managers have led the company down the wrong path for years. I guess they have sold a lot of sorry brake controllers and made a lot of money doing it and that is the bottom line.

 

[Grizzly]

I too am a very satisfied owner of a BrakeSmart and my son is a very satisfied owner of a MaxBrake. This was a huge improvement over brand X brake controller.

 

[morbius]

If I may suggest ... I would dump the tee block that comes with the max brake kit and get a replacement, you can do a much easier install like this:



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Vibrating brake lines with hanging sensors at the end is not a good thing, vibrations will cause problems in the long run. Strapping the line to the pressure hose also not good in my opinion. The hoses are designed to flex and do with engine, the brake line does not, thus over time the bracket on the hose will wear a soft spot in the hose and cause an expensive repair.



Just a suggestion Nice installs and write ups !



Cheers.

 

[MGreer]

morbius



Were you able to get that fitting from the local parts store or from a hydraulics company? Are there any numbers stamped in the fitting? Thats the install I would like to do.







Thanks

 

[THoltz]

morbius,



Thanks for the photo. I am in total agreement with you. This is a safer method, a much shorter moment arm will drastically reduce the force created by small but constant vibrations.



I to, would appreciate any info on where your purchased the hydraulic block.



Nice Install.

 

[THoltz]

So in your opinion this product should not be purchased or used because of the design problem you have noted? I am currently using the Jordan as I believe in the KISS principle. In reading your post this product not worth the price until those issues correct? So when the Jordan stops working what unit should I replace it with? I have very seldom found an after market addition to be able to install as you seem to subscribe to to make a great product. Even direct factory replacement OEM parts. Kind of a challenge that makes life interesting. Seems the posts you mention concerned some but was corrected and installed with no safety concerns. While I agree the poor threads on the fitting should not have happened it was not a significant problem.



Here is an example when I purchased the Jacobs exhaust brake to replace the exhaust elbow the bolt holes was not threaded. I merely tapped them and went ahead with the install. Sure was a pain for sure. Could have returned and got a replacement of course but why it was an easy fix though I did notify Jacobs about the problem but did not want to wait. It is all part of the fun when we fix and modify our trucks. One of the reasons for TDR is to share the problems and solutions. I have seen a lot worse problems and gotten awesome/innovative solutions to them. IMHO What was your solutions to the problems posted from your first hand experience when you installed your MaxBrake?



Thanks for you help I always look forward to help to make easier?

I think it is a good product but I think they need to rethink their design and approach in how pressure is sensed. People seem a bit defensive if I suggest some improvements may be in order. I do not have one now, but I will probably buy one and install the transducer similar to what Morbius did. It definetely seems superior to the inertia type brake controller as you get instant and proportional output of the trucks brake demand. Have a nice day.

 

[Bob Cochran]

Not defensive at all just love the solutions provided such as Morbius and was looking for your answers to the posted problems so I might be able use them when my Jordan goes south which it will someday. I too love Morbius solution and a excellent fix.

I think it is a good product but I think they need to rethink their design and approach in how pressure is sensed. People seem a bit defensive if I suggest some improvements may be in order. I do not have one now, but I will probably buy one and install the transducer similar to what Morbius did. It definetely seems superior to the inertia type brake controller as you get instant and proportional output of the trucks brake demand. Have a nice day.

 

[Bob Cochran]

Why back I had a Tekonsha that operated very similar to the MaxBrake using brake hydraulic pressure. I am guessing when vehicles started using ABS perhaps they were worried about liability. I too think Tekonsha is a quality company and wished they had not gone the way they did. I am sure it was a sound business decision for them at the time.

Prodigy controllers and all brake controllers made by Tekonsha make good paper weights. Tekonsha is an excellent company but for whatever reasons their engineers or managers have led the company down the wrong path for years. I guess they have sold a lot of sorry brake controllers and made a lot of money doing it and that is the bottom line.

 

[morbius]

I have used both BrakeSmart and MaxBrake and both are excellent. I will never use anything else. When you have used one of these systems with large heavy trailers, you see and feel why ! They are worth the money and worth spending a little time making modifications. SmartBrake is used by lots of OEM shops customizing 5th wheel haulers (works with air/hydraulic/electric brakes) . It integrates into the dash very nicely. I use SmartBrake as a personal choice (I do not like the protruding sliding lever on MaxBrake). In the past made a several custom parts for it to have trailer brake override on the shift lever (so you can apply trailer brakes without apply vehicle brakes). Yes MaxBrake should update their design and so should SmartBrake, however that has never stopped me from purchasing any product, studying it before installation and making major or minor changes to it during installation.



Sorry, no numbers on the fitting. The hydraulic block can be purchased via McMaster's (best source for it), you will have to measure the treads on the sensor, the master cylinder (male/female ends) are standard size. Most major old fashion auto parts store will also have it. I am very sorry I can provide a part number, my old email system crashed and lost all the orders for all the various parts. SmartBrake uses that block, however when friends wanted MaxBrake installed, I used McMaster to get a replacement part and do their installation exactly the same as a SmartBrake install.



Hope that helps.



Cheers

 

[THoltz]

That does help Moribus. I am looking at the McMaster's website now and I do have another question or two.



Did you have to use a separate nipple to connect the hydraulic block to truck brake system or did the hydraulic block come with one male and two female fitttings?



Do you know what size threads the hydraulic block has?



Thanks for any additional info you can provide.

 

[MGreer]

THoltz



The tee in the Maxbrake kit that fits our trucks is stamped 7921. If you look on hydraulics.com and find the tee 7921 it will give you the dimensions of all three thread sizes. The only thing to figure out is the size of the transducer.

I stopped by a couple places today with no luck. One guy said the transducer size is a 5j something.

Hope this helps

 

[morbius]

Here is another site with fittings:

Inverted Flare Fittings

If memory serves correctly, the brake lines are standard 3/8 x 24 ... . I think the sensor is a 1/8 NPT ... . I am not a 100% positive, so the advice MGreer has is a very good one !

What you are looking for is a "Inverted Flare Male Run Tee".

Hope that helps.

Cheers.

 

[THoltz]

Thanks MGreer and Moribus. More good info.

 

[THoltz]

Oh, one more question. Does anyone use teflon tape to seal the threads or is this type of fitting self sealing?

 

[JCrockett]

Anyone find a source for that nice brass fitting Morbius used? I have been searching and cant find one? Going to order a maxbrake for my truck.

 

[DaveHess]

Oh, one more question. Does anyone use teflon tape to seal the threads or is this type of fitting self sealing?

I did not teflon tape any of my connections and have been leak-free.