Max Brake Controller????????????

[Builder]

Hear you go again bring up the whole my truck is better than your thing! This has nothing to do with Ford, GM, or Dodge. I agree GM has the Dura-Max straightened out now but that was not the case when I had one and yes the Allison is a good tranny but in my opinion GM needs to put a total package together that can hang with Ford. In my eyes the GM trucks just fall short. This is not not pick on GM because I feel the same way about Dodge, thats why I buy Fords for now until Toyota or Nissian get in the Diesel game.

I know you think the GM offering is better. That is why you spent your hard earned money on it. I personally think the Ford trucks have them topped. The guy who lives across the street owns a 3500 Cummins Dodge. He would have not bought it if he did not feel it was the best truck for him.

We all have opinions and they are like the old saying goes. "They are like ***** HOLES, everybody has one and most of them stink!"
Chris

Yeah, I know. I just wanted to point out that despite Ford being 1st to the market with a brake controller, GM now has one and still has a better drivetrain to go along with it.
Ford has a tougher (albeit rougher riding) front axle, and that's about it.

If you're waiting for Toy & Nissan for your next new truck, all I can say is good luck. I highly doubt GM, Ford or Dodge are going to let them win away their customer base.

 

[Diamondpilot]

If you're waiting for Toy & Nissan for your next new truck, all I can say is good luck. I highly doubt GM, Ford or Dodge are going to let them win away their customer base.

I bet that is what our parents said when the Japs brought in the first cars to the US Market. Now look at us. Said to say but we have already lost the battle. The only way any of the big 3 will survive long term is to join forces which is actually already happening.

Anyway back to the Max Brake Controller.

Chris

 

[Eagleview]

Which master cylinder line does it tap into ? The front line which is the rear brakes or the rear line which is the front brakes ? And do you also have an over ride in the cab ? Because if you were pointed up a slippery hill with a trailer on the back and had to reverse back down the last thing you would want is to press hard on the brakes to slow the trailer as you would lose traction on the steer tyres and slide off the track .

 

[Diamondpilot]

From the pictures it looks like it taps into the front line.

Chris

 

[Eagleview]

Yes , that makes sense to tap into the rear brakes which still allows the vehicles steer wheels to brake first as per normal .

 

[tlbuser]

I went the extra distance and bought the Maxbrake for my truck. So far, very pleased with it's performance. Installation was not difficult although you do need a helper to apply the brake while you tighten the fittings. Since installing, I've used three different trailers and loads without having to readjust any setting. A 24' GN with my JD 350B, 20' GN dump with 6 tons of sand and a 22' tri-axle bumper pull with 6 tons of palletized rock. Got very smooth trailer braking with all of them.

Plus, Southwest Wheel has them and offer a TBN discount, don't they??

 

[Diamondpilot]

Glad to hear you like it. Just curious what type and year of truck do you have? Just curious if some installs are easier than others?

Chris

 

[tlbuser]

My work truck is a 1996 Chevy K3500. Inside the cab wiring was easy because I was replacing a Prodigy that I just didn't like. The sensor cable was a tad difficult to get run through the firewall, I swapped the 6.5 for a Cummins 5.9 and all my easy access firewall plugs were being used requiring me to drill a new one. On my 2005 Chevy K3500, it was much easier. Plug and play wire harness and had a firewall plug to route the sensor wires. First one, less than an hour. Second was maybe twenty minutes, very easy stuff.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Thanks for the reply. I am glad to hear you like it better than the Prodigy. I own 2 Prodigy's and thought they were top notch until I used the Ford Integrated System. It is just hands down better than any of the other controllers I have used. I am sure this Max Brake system is every bit as good as the Fords so I know know what I am getting for Christmas to upgrade my other 2 Diesel Trucks. I am just going to leave the Reese in the F-150 since it is not used to pull that often and only 8,000#'s at the most.

Thanks again tlbuser.


Chris

 

[Ryan03]

I swapped the 6.5 for a Cummins 5.9

No wonder you found yourself needing better trailer brakes.

 

[tlbuser]

No wonder you found yourself needing better trailer brakes.

Yea, I'm kind of a push the limits person. Setup to haul a tad heavy. The new engine was a freebie, the mods weren't We also added 4" pipes, an exhaust retarder, 19.5" wheels and 4 wheel discs while we had it apart. It's an all white truck now, want to add some cool graphics but can't decide on a pattern and kinda scared to just let my painter decide on his own

 

[Diamondpilot]

Ok, so we have beat'n the Max Brake thing to death. Anyway my neighbor who is a commercial mower asked me to come down after dinner a week ago and get his dads 1978 Chevy C60 Dump truck out of the muck and running. It has not ran since 2001. His dad passed away and he already has a F-750 dump truck but figured two is better than one.

I pulled it out of the weeds and we put a fresh battery in, some fresh gas, and a little tweak here and there and she started. We had no brakes for the drive home so today's project was to replace the master cylinder that was full of rust and also work on the Power Steering. The PS ended up being simple. The brakes is where we learned something. There was a "T" in the single brake line running from it and sure enough it ran though the fire wall and into the brake controller. It was all hard line with a flex coupler. This controller has to be 25 years old and uses brake pressure like the Max Brake but not nearly as sophisticated. I can not wait to see if it still works. There is no display, just a knob.

Chris

 

[Builder]

I had brake controllers like that in IH dump trucks from the early 70's.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I had brake controllers like that in IH dump trucks from the early 70's.

This controller may be that old. The truck is a 1978 Gas C60 Chevy. It runs really well. I drove it today and after putting on a new master cylinder and a few other little things its a pretty good truck. Everything works on it with the exception of 2 roof clearance lights and the heater blower mower which I will get fixed this week.

I need to weld up a hitch for it and check out he controller or put another one in it and it will be ready to work. We did haul 2 6 ton loads of gravel around the neighbors property with it and it did fine.

Chris

 

[mojoinco]

I have an 84 F250 with one. Simple. The only complaint I have is that you have to calibrate the curve for each load (love the Max Brake for that reason).

 

[Zephrant]

(old thread warning)

I'm looking at getting a MaxBrake for my little Subaru Legacy to haul a tent trailer. Anyone use one on a mid-sized sedan like that?

The MaxBrake is pretty spendy, are their any similar units that I should be considering that are cheaper?

 

[Diamondpilot]

(old thread warning)

I'm looking at getting a MaxBrake for my little Subaru Legacy to haul a tent trailer. Anyone use one on a mid-sized sedan like that?

The MaxBrake is pretty spendy, are their any similar units that I should be considering that are cheaper?

While it would be nice in a Subaru I personally think its overkill. Also, do they even make one for it? These are specif to each year make and model.

All I see a listing for is Ford, GM, Dodge, Toyota, and Nissan popular trucks.

Chris

 

[Zephrant]

Good point - I was assuming that if they made that many kinds, one of them would work for me. Other than some custom fitting for the brake line, I can't see what would be different on them.

Overkill, yeah, but I really like the idea of one that adjusts trailer brake power based on hydraulic brake pressure in the car. I burned up a set of discs on my parent's car years ago because I miss-adjusted the basic electric brake controller.

 

[Builder]

I say if that's the controller you want, go for it. The adjustability feature is nice to match the vehicle brakes.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I am sure it can be done. It will take some custom fittings and changing of the wiring harness. I would call them and see if they have done the R&D on it to give you a starting point.

Chris