MaxBrake Brake Controller Questions

[KHNewman]

I am hoping I can get some opinions on the MaxBrake Brake Controller. I saw an older post but only one person was recommending the unit so I am looking to see if anyone else has installed it since then.

I like the idea behind the unit and brakecontroller.com recommended it with great enthusiasm but then again they are selling the unit so their recommendation has to be taken with that in mind.

I have taken it to my local 4WD shop to have it installed and the owner brought up a serious point I had not considered. He pointed out that all of the connections that "T" into the brake line are NPT fittings and that as far as he understands the law requires that he use ONLY flare fittings on brake lines and that the vehicle could possibly fail inspection with this modification. He also commented that the instructions require the use of thread tape and that the tape does not react well to the caustic effects of brake fluid.

In addition to the concerns about NYS inspection requirements he was also concerned that if the NPT fitting leaked I could lose my brakes.

I have (2) ford excursions and I was planning to put this in the diesel that my wife uses for daily driving and we use for long haul trips. I am very concerned about the safety issue related to using NPT vs flare fittings since my wife will be driving this vehicle everyday with our two young children in the car.

My other Excursion has a Prodigy unit that has worked great but it is annoying to have to adjust every time the load weight changes on the trailer.

Thanks for any help, suggestions and comments...

 

[Diamondpilot]

I think I was the one that started the post you are referring to. I can tell you if it works anything like the Ford Factory Unit, and it should, you will throw the Prodigy away. I sell boat trailers for a living and will start installing them this spring when the need comes. I had been using a few brands but was never really satisfied.

There are so many other things that could go wrong with brakes, I would not worry about the T fitting. If you are that worried I would not be driving. Just think of the abuse the rubber hoses take going to each wheel????

As for inspections I am not really familiar with your state but I can not believe they look that close at the car to notice.


Chris

 

[KHNewman]

DiamondPilot - I think you were the member who recommended the MaxBrake. I understand your point about brake failure but I think you have to understand that when an ASE certified mechanic and 4WD shop owner for over 25 years, who I have trusted with my vehicles for years, tells me there is a potential safety issue with a product I have to take the comment seriously. While I have some mechanical know how I respect the opinions of people who are professionals and who have more knowledge than I do.

I agree that there is an almost ZERO percent chance that this modification would be caught by an inspection but it is a reasonable point. Frankly the safety issue concerns me far more...

Why wouldn't MaxBrake use flare fittings if this is the standard for brake components? They can't be any more expensive and this unit is at the high end of the market as it stands, It doesn't make sense...

 

[tommu56]

I has to look up MaxBrake
They sorta like are like the old style (1970) hayes controllers that you tee'd in to the rear brakes and had a hydraulic line to the dash mounted controller with a piston in it to move a wiper on the resistor to put power to the brakes.

I had one on my 79 pickup till it died and never had a hydraulic problem with it.
That special tee that screwed to the master cylinder was inverted male flare x female flair x female flair same as the brake lines. There were different tees for each vehicle that had to be bought separately along with the brake line (steel).

The only difference looks like the pressure transducer mounts to the tee instead of running a brake line in to the cab.

tom

 

[Willl]

Diamondpilot, do you have one installed in your rig ?

 

[Diamondpilot]

No, I have not. I called and talked to a rep at the company and I all so saw a 10 minute vid on installing one in a 7.3 PSD Ford F-350 and then a short demo on using it with different trailers. I was sold. I have probably installed 75-100 brake controllers in the last 15 years. I am happy with some and not so happy with others until I got a 2006 F-350 with the factory unit. It made me go looking and thats when I found the Max Brake.

Chris

 

[KHNewman]

DiamondPilot - you are a pretty strong advocate for a product you have never used...I am not sure talking to a sales rep and watching a video qualifies you to give an opinion on the performance or safety of a product.

The way you advocated this product in this post and your previus post I was under the impression you had a MaxBrake instaled.

I was hoping someone who actually USED the product could give me a review on its performance and safety.

How would you know if the tape on the NPT fittings dissolves from the brake fluid and you start to lose brake pressure over time by watching a video?

 

[Diamondpilot]

DiamondPilot - you are a pretty strong advocate for a product you have never used...I am not sure talking to a sales rep and watching a video qualifies you to give an opinion on the performance or safety of a product.

The way you advocated this product in this post and your previus post I was under the impression you had a MaxBrake instaled.

I was hoping someone who actually USED the product could give me a review on its performance and safety.

How would you know if the tape on the NPT fittings dissolves from the brake fluid and you start to lose brake pressure over time by watching a video?

No, if you go back and look at my first post I was fishing for info because I was looking for a better controller. Like I said, I am in the trailer business and deal with brake controllers on a weekly basis.

I have basically torn apart my Ford factory unit and traced down how it works because I was so impressed with how much better it worked compared to others like my Prodigy in my F-250 or my Reese in my F-150. The Max Brake looks to be identical to the Ford unit in all mechanical aspects.

Chris

 

[wkpoor]

I seriously don't think pipe fittings are a problem in automotive brake applications. I am an A&P and pipe fittings are common in all kinds of hydraulics applications including Aircraft braking systems. Provided they are steel they would be just fine. As for teflon tape, there again I doubt there could be a problem. If teflon can stand up to phosphate ester hydraulic fluid then how could it be a problem for automotive brake fluid?

 

[KHNewman]

WKPOOR - Thanks for the advice...I had no real basis to evaluate or contradict what the installer is telling me so this definitely helps. If you had asked me before speaking to him if I thought it would be a problem I would have said no but after speaking with him I was no so sure of my original opinion.

DiamondPilot - I searched and found your original post and you were clear in that post you never installed a MaxBrake. I understand the point about the Ford OEM system and the logic. I have no doubt about the technnology or the premise behind how it works. I was only concerned about the durability of the taped NPT connections and the potentail safety issues realted to the potential for brake failure.

Kevin