I'm thinking about adding one to the van, but I have absolutely no experience with it. I've read that a trans brake can help you hook better at the line because it hits the tires harder, but I'm not really sure how that works. Does it require a certain type of tire or suspension setup to work? I would really appreciate some feedback from the guys who have used them before (I don't care if it wasn't in a diesel application).
Trans Brake
- Thread starter JoshH
- Start date
A trans brake basically applies reverse and 1st at the same time to create a tie up in the drivetrain. I don't have any first hand experience with them as I feel a race car should have 3 pedals on the floor, but I have heard you need to be careful with how many RPM's you turn it with the brake on. With it locked in 2 gears, the converter is taking all of teh power and converting it to heat. If you push it up past stall speed you can pretty much guarantee yourself to have a cooked converter in short order, so make sure you have a rev limiter when you use one.
as far as i understand it how hard the hit should be changes from tire to tire. and suspension/trans brake/converter setup combined with how you deliver power decide how hard it hits the tire. honestly it might be worth spending some time over on yellow bullet researching and discussing what might work the best.
any way you dice it a brake will hit the tires harder because the driveline is slack.
I also think on diesels they will benefit for a tire that likes less hit,just because the nature of their power delivery not being nearly as violent when compared to most gasser race motors.
any way you dice it a brake will hit the tires harder because the driveline is slack.
I also think on diesels they will benefit for a tire that likes less hit,just because the nature of their power delivery not being nearly as violent when compared to most gasser race motors.
It will definitely help. A friend of ours ran his car foot braking and ran consistent 5.05's then started using trans brake dropped to 5.00's. That is with a 615.
The tires are M&H 12.00/16 Nostalgia. Maybe I should call and talk to someone at M&H and see how their tires react to launching off a trans brake compared to a foot brake. As it is now, I'm leaving at about 2400 to 2500 RPM with about 12 lbs of boost. I'm running nitrous set to come on at 18 lbs of boost (which is about 1/2 second after I launch by looking at the logs). There is definitely a little spin coming off the line and again on the 1-2 shift and at converter lockup. I've been getting pretty consistent low 1.7 60' times (lots of 1.72s last weekend). I'm just wondering if a trans brake will help drop the 60' times some.
Run one Josh you will not regret it. The tires will be fine and the only thing you mite have to change it the shock settings if there adj. and if not you may have to put some on the slow the shock down some. Jeff
I talked to John at M&H, and he said the tires should react well to a trans brake. I guess we'll see how it works next time out at the track.
Front or rear shocks? Or both? I need to hook up my GoPro to watch the rear suspension when I launch. I think I softened it up to the point that it is hitting the bump stops now. I'm probably not lifting the front end much though. I bet a set of adjustable drag shocks would really help.
A two step is for a gas motor, how can you cut spark too cylinders on a diesel when they don't operate on spark? Just asking I've never heard of a two step on a diesel unless they work completely different?
ive always made my (cars) hook as good as they can off the foot brake before i use the trans brake.. what im sayin is make sure your suspension is set up as good as it can be before u use the brake, if it doesnt hook too good now, its not gonna hook on the brake. do u have some sort of traction bars already? some QA1s up front wouldnt hurt either... adjust them so they are like 90/10s
EFI two step
It sure can. You can also use timers to step up the tune going down the track.:hug:
It sure can. You can also use timers to step up the tune going down the track.:hug: