hey guys and gals,

I was just wondering today as I waited in traffic, has anyone ever thought about putting some form of air brakes on a 2500 or a 3500? This occured to me as I came to a stop at the stop light, the semi next to me pulled the pressure release, and made that piisshhhh sound. Many of the cummins on the road have stacks or aftermarket exhaust systems, exhaust brakes, and some even have the semi horn. So I just got to thinking, why has no one that I can think of done this to a truck, I searched google but to no avail. Is this illegal for consumer vehicle with theDOTor something?

Just stirring the pot a little bitAny thoughts would be interesting.

 

One of the many jobs I had during my college days was school bus driver. The bus I drove had a GVW of 26,000 lbs and was equipped with air brakes (and a Cummins 6b engine). They work well on a heavy vehicle, but I can't imagine having air brakes on a light duty truck like a Dodge Ram. For one thing, the conversion would be very expensive. The system requires a very reliable engine driven compressor and a large tank. As a fail-safe, if you get any sort of air failure thesystem goesinto full parking brake mode. I imagine it would be possible to convert your Ram to air brakes, but I would not suggest it. Maybe a mechanic like Jakebrake could tell you more.

 

There are a number of folks who've converter to a hydroboost system.

As an example ~ http://www.hydratechbraking.com/products/mopar_ram/

 

Airbrakes would be a downgrade on our Rams. They're really a lousy antiquated brake system anyways I don;t know why we still have them on big trucks and why we can;t move into the 21st century like Europe and have electronic brakes pon 18 wheelers. Well I do know why, electronic aren't DOT apporved. Air brakes would also require you to have a commercial driver's license. Yeah they sound cool but really they are sucky brakes. You hit the brake pedal in a big truck and there is a couple of seconds before anything happens. Really just all around inferior...

 

If you want the sound, just put an air compreesor and tank under your hood and put a solenoid valve on there. When you want the sound, just release the valve for a second or two.

 

But what about using it for a parking brake alone? Commonly when you find trucks for sale, specifically standards, they don't have a working parking brake. Though this could be an easy fix, could you swap it for a pneumatic parking brake with hydraulic pedal brake?

 

16 year old thread?

 

Yeah I saw that, don't expect to get an answer really.

 

Was going to reply to this, but noticed this being ancient thread I decided not to do so. But since someone already dig this up from the past, I'd like to clear slight misinformation.

On this date, European big rigs don't have electronic brakes, as in axles, there are still air cylinders on all wheels, whether they are drum or disc brakes. They are electronically controlled, though, being very responsive and fast. But if sh*t hits the fan and something on the electric side breaks, then you'll be pushing the pedal with all your force!