Air Brakes on hotrods

Just wondering if anyone has ever tried to install air brakes on a hot rod. I thought of that while at work working on an airbrake school bus. I think it would be something different.

basically i would like to know of any smaller airbrake chambers and brakes because truck chassis brakes are too big i think

 

barf!

 

We already have air brakes. They just suck instead of blow...

 

Just because you can does not mean you should.

 

After many years in the HD truck parts game I can tell there is nothing small enough in wheel brake parts. You probably could convert a old mechanical system fairly easily to air but WHY??

 

is this your car?

 

Huh?

 

great post DHD

 

I weep for our generation

 

I guess they would be great,as long as they were traditional air brakes.

 

Um Uh Hmmmmmmmmmmm....NO!

 

A lot of the early sixties GMC and Chev C65 trucks had air brakes. they where air over hydralics. They had a compressor and air governor and a air activated brake pedal. the air pushed a master cyl that in turn applied hyd pressure to the hyd wheel cyls. This system could be adapted to any hyd brake system. Power brakes without needing manifold vacuum. I drive truck,s and when we went to larger three and four axle dump trucks with 16 yard capacity beds the hydralic brakes just wherent up to the task. We called them killer brakes. some of the small diameter wedge brake chambers possibly could be used. I have seriously toyed with air brakes on a 3/4 ton truck. I believe air over Hydralics with disk brake,s would work great. OldWolf

 

Given that you are learning about air systems you should understand why they are used.

Air brakes were first invented by George Westinghouse for use on trains. This was because of the need to brake multiple carriages/wagons at the same time. Ease of coupling of air lines as opposed to hydraulic lines means hydraulic systems could not realistically be used.

These systems have found their way on to trucks and semi-trailers for similar reasons.

Those reasons do not exist on cars and light vehicles. Air brakes do not give the driver good feel from the pedal of their application. They require the driver to re-learn how to apply the brakes. Some trucks have air over hydraulic systems to provide adequate line pressure. They too suffer from the problem of spongy pedal feel.

I think you will find that as air brakes have been around for a long time the fact that they haven't found their way into cars and light vehicles is for a good reason.

 

Lame

 

I have an air horn.

Way more fun.

 

I'd just let this thread die.... and sink to the bottom!!

 

The older air over hydralic systems in the old trucks are basicaly just the birth of the power booster . Leave the air brakes on the larger vehicles .Hell everybody knows that if it would work American motors,Rambler would have put it on their junk with all the other left over parts.

 

great idea for an old truck like a Diamond T, a done up Dodge/Cummins diesel with duel straight pipes, do you have a drivers licence for air brakes?

 

they are complicated and space consuming, first you need a large compressor running off of your engine. air tanks for air reserve. then finding small enough air brakes for your ride. then you have to relearn brake systems. they work backwards to hyd . air brakes the brakes are held off by air pressure . when you hit the brakes the brakes apply. i agree hyd brakes are what you want

 

You'd be better off converting to mechanical brakes.

 

I just don't understand this forum sometimes....

 

I agree! Great post DHD. The simpler the better; 3 words and 1 picture. Love it!

 

Never even crossed my mind. And I think of some crazy shit!

 

what's next; an engine brake? dual wheels?

 

This thread is good entertainment, I'll give it that...

But seriously, even if one could find air brake components small enough to fit on a hot rod, can you imagine how jerky it would be on a lightweight car? Forehead, meet windshield. LOL

 

It'd be EZer to have line with a big anchor to toss out,tie line around your wast with your seat belt on.
No not really

 

Isn't a shute an air brake? I've seen air brakes on diggers.

 

since were talking air powers stuff, I love the sound or an air starter, watch the begining of smokey and the bandit if you dont know what Im talking about.

air starter here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6wlsBwKX7s&feature=related

MrC.

 

Duallies are precedented on hillclimb specials, and might not be out of place on something that is simultaneously speedsterish and nasty:

 

A big long stck that hits the wheel when pulled just like the old carts we use to make