larger brakes for 6k axles?

rhagfo wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

CYNCWBY wrote:
Thank you gentlemen for most of the replys, Cummins.....did I say I would rely on my Pacbrake to "STOP" me??? I just asked a simple question about the larger brakes.

Did not look like a question to me. I just said the PacBrake will not make you STOP any better. They do help you slow down and control speed. You implied that having the PacBrake would make the larger brakes possibly not needed.

"I'm putting a Pacbrake on my '02 F-250 PSD so I may not need a larger brake...but it's always nice to have them, thanks........Dave"

Cummins, either you have never really used yours or used it wrong.

Pacbrake will certainly help one stop!

#1 use coming down a grade leaves the service brakes cold, so MAX stopping power available.

Depending how well you transmission locks up they greatly shorten stopping distance.

I know mine will put some serious whoa on my rig at any speed.

When I say stop I mean STOP!!!!!! I know an exhaust brake helps you slow down, I use mine ALL THE TIME but when you really need to STOP you need really good brakes.

Re read what I said.

"Anyone that descends mountain passes on services brakes only in just asking for trouble! Chris" Hey bucko, what makes you think I do? I have an ebrake and I use it right so I don't have to use the brakes. Two times I've had pinched wire problems and as luck would have it, the blue and red wires were getting the insulation split and bumping the conductors together. Both times, I was cruising down the road, not touching the brakes at all. Both times, it was only intermittent and light pulsing and it only took 5-6 miles to melt the lining. Both times, it felt like engine miss firing and I was worried about the truck conking out and then I saw the smoke... too late. Craig

My exhaust brake empty chirps the rear tires when the smart controller shifts it from OD to 3rd gear at 44 mph were I have it set to down shift. With the trailer it will give you a real jolt if you do not help it down shift smoothly. I usually manual down shift it at a higher speed with a little throttle to smooth it into 3rd, then back onto the brake(exhaust).

Chris

Cummins12V98 wrote:

CYNCWBY wrote:
Thank you gentlemen for most of the replys, Cummins.....did I say I would rely on my Pacbrake to "STOP" me??? I just asked a simple question about the larger brakes.

Did not look like a question to me. I just said the PacBrake will not make you STOP any better. They do help you slow down and control speed. You implied that having the PacBrake would make the larger brakes possibly not needed.

"I'm putting a Pacbrake on my '02 F-250 PSD so I may not need a larger brake...but it's always nice to have them, thanks........Dave"

Cummins, either you have never really used yours or used it wrong.

Pacbrake will certainly help one stop!

#1 use coming down a grade leaves the service brakes cold, so MAX stopping power available.

Depending how well you transmission locks up they greatly shorten stopping distance.

I know mine will put some serious whoa on my rig at any speed.

C Schomer wrote:
I put 7k brakes on my Dexter 5200s. Dexter told me they have stronger magnets, more aggressive lining and heavier back plates. The 7k brakes still suck and they won't take any heat without the lining melting. Upgrading the wiring/pattern hardly made any difference too. I don't think it's possible to go to 8k brakes w/o replacing axles. Craig

Anyone that descends mountain passes on services brakes only in just asking for trouble! Chris

The use of an exhaust brake leaves one with nice cool service brakes when descending mountain passes. This can be very important when stuff happens! Like wrecks on the road ahead of you. Chris

CYNCWBY wrote:
Thank you gentlemen for most of the replys, Cummins.....did I say I would rely on my Pacbrake to "STOP" me??? I just asked a simple question about the larger brakes.

Did not look like a question to me. I just said the PacBrake will not make you STOP any better. They do help you slow down and control speed. You implied that having the PacBrake would make the larger brakes possibly not needed.

"I'm putting a Pacbrake on my '02 F-250 PSD so I may not need a larger brake...but it's always nice to have them, thanks........Dave"

Thank you rhagfo and Craig..........I had a Pacbrake on a '97 Superduty 5 spd that towed a 4 car hauler, worked really good for me. Instaed of spending a ton of money for bigger axles and drum brakes I'll probably go with discs over the winter.

We don't have the new 5th yet but it looks like it will be a 331 RK Mountaineer, don't have a lot of steep hills out here in So. Utah but my biggest fear is running out of brakes....specially when some A/H pulls in front of you. Picking up a good used Trailer Saver TS3 also this week for $900...can't go wrong with that.......Dave

I put 7k brakes on my Dexter 5200s. Dexter told me they have stronger magnets, more aggressive lining and heavier back plates. The 7k brakes still suck and they won't take any heat without the lining melting. Upgrading the wiring/pattern hardly made any difference too. I don't think it's possible to go to 8k brakes w/o replacing axles. Craig

Cummins12V98 wrote:

CYNCWBY wrote:
Besides changing over to discs, does anyone know of a little larger brake set up than the standard 12x2 for the 6k axle. I've looked at E-trailer and others but anything that I've found larger requires a 7/8/9k axle.

I'm putting a Pacbrake on my '02 F-250 PSD so I may not need a larger brake...but it's always nice to have them, thanks........Dave

Don't rely on your PacBrake, they DO help you slow down but they don't STOP you!

Call Dexter and see what they can do for you.

Well at 27,000# maybe not, but I can reach the bottom of a several mile long 6% down grade and never use my service brakes.

It really is a lot of fun coming down watching all the cars and trucks in front of me hitting the brakes, and I just listen to the sweet rumble of the Pacbrake.