Ready Brake Install Failure = 2K in Costs and Counting!

[Squealers]

So, I am paying a steep price for allowing a small local RV shop install the pull cables on my 14 Jeep Cherokee.

After my Brake Buddy's compressor failed, I looked an alternative braking system, and after research here, decided to get the NSA Ready Brake. Figured the lack of electronic, and a simplified mechanical mechanism, It would avert any possible failures.

Boy was I wrong. I had my local RV shop install the jeeps 2 cables, the primary brake and the brakeaway which run from the bumper and attaches to the actual brake peddle.

It took them 2 days, which was suspect, and I must say it worked fine on our way to New England last week. However on the way back home, my TPS started screaming indicating the Jeeps tire temps were over limit. I stopped to smoking brakes, and hub temps over 450 degrees.

It appears the cables kinked in the firewall and caused the pedal to depress.

So today the Jeep was towed to the dealer in PA, and so far the estimate is 2K for new calipers, rotors, pads, a broken brake pedal switch (the pedal goes to the floor and locks down in place). Hopefully it won't be much more.

At least the dealer is responsive and gave me a loaner vehicle as we are not at home, and in-route.

So I am back to the brake system search....I am dumping this Ready Brake, not because it is a bad system, but I don't want to chance another botched install of the cables.

I will probably look at getting my Brake Buddy rebuilt and go back to that system as it never failed me in 5 years.

My local shop is a small operation, 2 guys...and there is no recourse there as they probably don't have 2 nickles to rub together....so I will pay the price of learning not to use them again.

Thanks for letting me vent, and hope everyone is traveling happy, safe and for a lot less than I am spending this week 🙂

[Squealers]

Y-Guy wrote:
Squealers, just wanted to say thanks for the frequent updates and sharing your experience. As one looking at the Ready Brake it got my attention fast, but greatly appreciated the knowledge base you and others added to the thread.

My pleasure. It's all about sharing and caring 🙂

[Dutch_12078]

Y-Guy wrote:
Squealers, just wanted to say thanks for the frequent updates and sharing your experience. As one looking at the Ready Brake it got my attention fast, but greatly appreciated the knowledge base you and others added to the thread.

The ReadyBrake is simple and effective, but like any other safety device, proper installation is critical...

[Y-Guy]

Squealers, just wanted to say thanks for the frequent updates and sharing your experience. As one looking at the Ready Brake it got my attention fast, but greatly appreciated the knowledge base you and others added to the thread.

[Dutch_12078]

Sounds like you have it well in hand then! Have a great trip!

[Squealers]

Quick Update. Got the system inspected, tested and all the issues resolved today. Big thanks to Jim Evans in Stow Ohio, a certified Ready Brake Dealer.

If you ever need work done of any kind (Jim is a certified RV Tech) don't hesitate to contact him at 330-715-7292.

We are ready for when we hit the road Sunday!
Thanks again folks.

[Squealers]

Thanks John&Joey, I did have one Jackwagon pm me claiming that he doubted this really happened. It is amazing how many keyboard warriors there are out there who see the world strictly from their distorted lens.

I would say that the majority of the folks posting in this thread really do want to help and have great insight.

I will post back later this week once I get the rework done.

[John_Joey]

This was one of the better threads I've read in a long time. Thanks for putting forth the effort, and keeping a level head in all of this regardless of comments that could have been taken in multiple ways.

[TriumphGuy]

willald wrote:
This whole experience here, IMO is a big reminder of why regardless what brake system is used, it is very important that some kind of indicator is set up on the MH dashboard, that will let the driver know when the brakes are being engaged on the towed vehicle. It needs to work directly off brake switch of some kind in towed vehicle, not an actuator on the brake system.

With the ReadyBrake, as already indicated, they provide such an indicator light, but instruct you to wire it to the ReadyBrake actuator, which is just not as effective at telling you whats going on as it would be if you wire that light to the towed vehicle's brake switch/light. That is what I've done with both of my vehicles I set up with ReadyBrake, and wouldn't have it any other way. I highly recommend this approach regardless what brake system is used. If that would have been done here in this case, it would have been known immediately when something was wrong, and probably could have avoided most of the damage, expense.

Here's another vote for, Just get another Readybrake cable (only costs $60 IIRC for a new cable), and have it installed properly by a good mechanic, and move on.

When this system is installed and set up properly, you just can't beat it. At least, not unless you have a DP Motorhome with full air brakes, and you spend a bunch more $$ on a full air system like Air Force One or M&G.

Great points. I was worried about knowing / not knowing when the brakes were activated in my car, so I put two LEDs in (thanks to tips from this forum) - one for the ReadyBrake and one for the car's brake circuit.

I would vote for a re-install but I also can empathize with the OP about not trusting something anymore and wanting a change. The good thing is there are many options out there for toad braking so we can do what we feel comfortable with. Having had some experience now with the Ready Brake I'd say the only thing I miss from my trailer towing days is the ability to manually activate the trailer brakes, wish I could do that with the toad with the Ready Brake.

[Squealers]

No question this has been a valuable learning experience. A bit expensive for sure but my attitude is some lessons are free some cost you lol.

I agree on many points you all have made. It was poorly installed. I thought I educated myself enough but obviously I didn't.

Now I'm going to an expert in Tuesday and it will be done right and I'll be educated to the highest degree.

There are reasons I'm not going to seek recourse from the installer and you will just have to trust me that I know this would be a fruitless fight.

We will get this all done, and hopeful this experience will help others.

And I have full confidence in the Ready Brake system.

[Effy]

mtrumpet wrote:
there is one thing that I don't like about it..That is, the way that the cable loop has to hang out of the front of the towed vehicle when not being towed by the MH. Looks sort of ugly and not too desirable if considering installing the system on a newer vehicle that will be used as ones daily driving vehicle.

On the CRV I can tuck up nicely in the lower spoiler and you can't see it.

[mtrumpet]

Been using the READY BRAKE and READY STOP for ten years now on two different toweds and two different motorhomes without any problems. I did all of the installations myself (including the vehicle base plates) each time. Anyone with good mechanical aptitude should be able to install READY BRAKE system and then be able to spot any potential problems. The trick is to follow the instructions. There are also YouTube videos online that give installation tips.

Just as the thread subject title indicates, the OP's unfortunate mishap was clearly the fault of a bad installation and not the fault of the READY BRAKE system or it's design.

Having said all of that, as a long time user of the READY BRAKE system, there is one thing that I don't like about it..That is, the way that the cable loop has to hang out of the front of the towed vehicle when not being towed by the MH. Looks sort of ugly and not too desirable if considering installing the system on a newer vehicle that will be used as ones daily driving vehicle.

[DSDP_Don]

I'm not a fan of the Ready Brake system, but I've installed a couple of them for friends. I think they're a good choice for a light or moderate weight vehicle. I also believe they need the air pump to keep from pulling on a dead pedal.

"willald"....made a point that I was thinking while reading through this thread. Even though you may not be mechanically inclined or physically able to install something like a supplemental brake system, you need to speak to the installer and understand the nuances of connecting/adjusting it. Especially a product like the Ready Brake that has a cable that sits loosely above moving mechanisms.

[Dutch_12078]

willald wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:
I don't understand how the breakaway cable could break the brake pedal. The cable is supposed to have a link installed that breaks loose with just a few hundred pounds of force if the vehicle breaks loose. I can understand the breakaway cable getting caught on something and applying the brakes enough to fry them, but not physically breaking the pedal.

If the metal link on the breakaway cable that is designed to break loose with just a few hundred pounds of force was not used properly in the connection, I can definitely see how this would happen. Just hate that this had to be such an expensive lesson for Squealer.

Lesson to be learned: Even when you have something installed and set up professionally, you still need to understand how a system works, and make sure you are hooking it up correctly and that the installer did their job right.

Will

Good point, I'm just stunned that the installer could be that incompetent. I would definitely be going after them for some sort of redress.

[Effy]

I would definitely be putting some of this back on the company that did the initial install. Bad enough as it was but this could have been really tragic.