AirForce 1 brake system vs Ready Brake
Gents, First off, I've used the Ready Brake system for quite a few years now and for the most part, have been pretty happy with it. That included many years using it with a gas coach. Well, we chang...
Forum Discussion
Well Gang,
No decision as of yet. As stated earlier, we just got back from this long trip and, there's been other more pressing items to attend to, before I really get down and serious about what may be the next step in re-establishing toad brakes. Also as stated, on my Ready Brake unit which by the way, is old enough that it doesn't even have the trigger switch for actuating an indicator light, is so weak, that I can put my hand on it and move it forward, almost all the way 'till it stops.
I tried that with a friends and it was impossible without some sort of cheater bar. So, those of you that do not experience indication of Ready brake application, either with an exhaust brake or, a gasser with any trans that is capable of good downshifts for slowing those monstrous beasts, I can see your appreciation of how well your system works.
At present, I cannot remember just how strong my return spring and or, shock mechanism was, when I first setup my Ready Brake, some years ago. It may, in fact, have been a lot weaker than those sent out today by NSA or, it may have been defective and been weaker from the start or, it just simply WORE OUT!
This is another one of those cases, just like any warranty or, after the sale stories where, one person gets excellent treatment from a manufacturer, after the product is out of warranty or, maybe is sill in warranty and get's a total rebuild, (read of a few stories of how NSA has rebuilt the units of many folks for nothing) and, my side of the report which was, like state, for me to send that heavy thing in and get it rebuilt for a price.
Now, first of all, I wouldn't mind paying at all if they'd just send whatever "kit" is needed to bring mine back to good working order. But, sending that seriously heavy unit back to them, so they can throw a KIT into it and send it back, just doesn't make sense to me.
And I kind of understand maybe their reasoning. There's lots of incapable folks out there that might goof up the installation of a such a simple mechanism.
And it goes without saying that, if you have a gasser then, of course an AF1 will not work for you, never will. An AF1 unit is by far, not the cheapest auxiliary braking system out there, neither it the Brake buddy, Even Brake or a few others. Yet, they all seem to be still on the market. Must mean there's folks buying them. Ready Brake and it's bigger brother, Ready Brute, are slowly approaching prices equal to some of those units. I may have made a mistake in an earlier computation of costs of both a new Demco 10,500 bar and, an AF1. I do that once in a while.
I'm not made of money, never have been, never will be. But, I'm willing to pay for quality, if and when I decide it's appropriate for a given application. As stated previously, I'm not a fan of the large robot braking systems, i.e. Even Brake, Brake Buddy and those types.
I even set up my Ready Brake, years ago, on different toads, so that it was not connected to the brake pedal, 24/7, like Ready Brake would have you do. I use a pin through the brake arm and the cable has a pulley on it. So, when I get ready to tow, the wife reaches under the floor mat and pulls out the tip of the Ready Brake cable and put it next to the brake arm and inserts the pin, DONE!
This is some thing that's personal with me. Even if I jumped in with both feet and ran out and bought both items being discussed here, I don't like the fact that the AF1 operating unit, is constantly attached to the brake arm. I'd have to make it just like I did on the R/B unit and, that is to make it hidden, 'till it comes time for readying it for towing. Then I'd have it setup so that, I'd pull it from some hiding spot, attach it to the brake arm and, it would work, as normal. But, when not in use, it would be disconnected and inserted in its hiding spot. It's just me.
That way, the cable does not actuate, while we're driving the toad. Saves wear and tear on that cable and housing.
Anyways, I'm not dead set on the AF1, or, even the Demco unit but, it's just some ideas I'm toying with. Another braking system is the one that fits "inside" or, in between the master cylinder and the power brake unit. I can't remember what it's called right now but, I'll get that one figured out too. Again, thanks for all your contributions to this original inquiry. The saga continues.
Scott
No decision as of yet. As stated earlier, we just got back from this long trip and, there's been other more pressing items to attend to, before I really get down and serious about what may be the next step in re-establishing toad brakes. Also as stated, on my Ready Brake unit which by the way, is old enough that it doesn't even have the trigger switch for actuating an indicator light, is so weak, that I can put my hand on it and move it forward, almost all the way 'till it stops.
I tried that with a friends and it was impossible without some sort of cheater bar. So, those of you that do not experience indication of Ready brake application, either with an exhaust brake or, a gasser with any trans that is capable of good downshifts for slowing those monstrous beasts, I can see your appreciation of how well your system works.
At present, I cannot remember just how strong my return spring and or, shock mechanism was, when I first setup my Ready Brake, some years ago. It may, in fact, have been a lot weaker than those sent out today by NSA or, it may have been defective and been weaker from the start or, it just simply WORE OUT!
This is another one of those cases, just like any warranty or, after the sale stories where, one person gets excellent treatment from a manufacturer, after the product is out of warranty or, maybe is sill in warranty and get's a total rebuild, (read of a few stories of how NSA has rebuilt the units of many folks for nothing) and, my side of the report which was, like state, for me to send that heavy thing in and get it rebuilt for a price.
Now, first of all, I wouldn't mind paying at all if they'd just send whatever "kit" is needed to bring mine back to good working order. But, sending that seriously heavy unit back to them, so they can throw a KIT into it and send it back, just doesn't make sense to me.
And I kind of understand maybe their reasoning. There's lots of incapable folks out there that might goof up the installation of a such a simple mechanism.
And it goes without saying that, if you have a gasser then, of course an AF1 will not work for you, never will. An AF1 unit is by far, not the cheapest auxiliary braking system out there, neither it the Brake buddy, Even Brake or a few others. Yet, they all seem to be still on the market. Must mean there's folks buying them. Ready Brake and it's bigger brother, Ready Brute, are slowly approaching prices equal to some of those units. I may have made a mistake in an earlier computation of costs of both a new Demco 10,500 bar and, an AF1. I do that once in a while.
I'm not made of money, never have been, never will be. But, I'm willing to pay for quality, if and when I decide it's appropriate for a given application. As stated previously, I'm not a fan of the large robot braking systems, i.e. Even Brake, Brake Buddy and those types.
I even set up my Ready Brake, years ago, on different toads, so that it was not connected to the brake pedal, 24/7, like Ready Brake would have you do. I use a pin through the brake arm and the cable has a pulley on it. So, when I get ready to tow, the wife reaches under the floor mat and pulls out the tip of the Ready Brake cable and put it next to the brake arm and inserts the pin, DONE!
This is some thing that's personal with me. Even if I jumped in with both feet and ran out and bought both items being discussed here, I don't like the fact that the AF1 operating unit, is constantly attached to the brake arm. I'd have to make it just like I did on the R/B unit and, that is to make it hidden, 'till it comes time for readying it for towing. Then I'd have it setup so that, I'd pull it from some hiding spot, attach it to the brake arm and, it would work, as normal. But, when not in use, it would be disconnected and inserted in its hiding spot. It's just me.
That way, the cable does not actuate, while we're driving the toad. Saves wear and tear on that cable and housing.
Anyways, I'm not dead set on the AF1, or, even the Demco unit but, it's just some ideas I'm toying with. Another braking system is the one that fits "inside" or, in between the master cylinder and the power brake unit. I can't remember what it's called right now but, I'll get that one figured out too. Again, thanks for all your contributions to this original inquiry. The saga continues.
Scott
