Are these Maxi Brakes?
 

Are these Maxi Brakes?

Started by Barn Owl, March 24, 2007, 06:56:19 PM

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Barn Owl

Finally! Nice weather and time to get working on the bus. The problem is now I will have lots and lots of questions that I will be posting. This will be the first of many. I don't know what Maxi brakes are and how to identify them. The PO said my bus has them but I have had some tell me that I have just plain old spring brakes. Can someone tell me what I have? How do you tell the difference?
L. Christley - W3EYE Amateur Extra
Blue Ridge Mountains, S.W. Virginia
It's the education gained, and the ability to apply, and share, what we learn.
Have fun, be great, that way you have Great Fun!

prevost82

Maxi ... spring brake ... park brake all the same thing
Ron

Barn Owl

I thought Maxi-Brakes were shorter and that they are no longer made. Is that true? If so what does one do if they need parts?
L. Christley - W3EYE Amateur Extra
Blue Ridge Mountains, S.W. Virginia
It's the education gained, and the ability to apply, and share, what we learn.
Have fun, be great, that way you have Great Fun!

bobofthenorth

Those are maxis.  The reason - because you clearly have 2 chambers.  There are also single chamber brake pots - they are NOT maxis.  The 2nd chamber (the big bulge on the back) houses a great big spring.  With no air pressure applied to the spring chamber, the spring applies the brakes.  When you push the parking brake release knob, that applies air to the rear chamber which cages the spring and releases the brakes.  When you push the brake pedal that applies air pressure to the front chamber which houses a diaphragm attached to the brake push rod.  The push rod applies the brakes.  QED
R.J.(Bob) Evans
Used to be 1981 Prevost 8-92, 10 spd
Currently busless (and not looking)

The last thing I would ever want to do is hurt you.
Its the last thing but its still on the list.

RJ

Larry -

How many air lines are going into the brake cans?  Two or three?

If two, you have spring brakes.

If three, you have DD3 cans.

Function conception similar, yet different design to accomplish the task.

Maxi-brakes is a generic term (like Kleenex) for the air-operated/controlled parking/emergency brake.  One of the early designs was manufactured by a company called Maxi, now defunct.

FWIW & HTH. . .

;)
1992 Prevost XL Vantaré Conversion M1001907 8V92T/HT-755 (DDEC/ATEC)
2003 VW Jetta TDI Sportwagon "Towed"
Cheney WA (when home)

Barn Owl

I have two lines, so that makes them just plain old spring brakes.

Thanks guys.
L. Christley - W3EYE Amateur Extra
Blue Ridge Mountains, S.W. Virginia
It's the education gained, and the ability to apply, and share, what we learn.
Have fun, be great, that way you have Great Fun!

bobofthenorth

NO - spring brakes ARE Maxi brakes.  Same thing - different name.  You have Maxi brakes or spring brakes - take your pick.
R.J.(Bob) Evans
Used to be 1981 Prevost 8-92, 10 spd
Currently busless (and not looking)

The last thing I would ever want to do is hurt you.
Its the last thing but its still on the list.

RJ

Maxi brake = Spring brake, yup.

Same difference. . . but some folk call ANY air-controlled parking/emergency brake, be it either spring or DD3s, Maxi brakes.  Just like folk call tissue for blowin' yer nose Kleenex, even if you buy the private label stuff at Target or Wal*Mart.

Doesn't mean they're technically correct for the actual type of brake installed, but for the layman in general conversation, they don't know the difference anyway.  It becomes a knowledge thing when you need to service them, however.

So Larry, now you know you've got spring brakes for your Maxis. . .  :D

Nice thing about that, is if you need to replace them, they're quite inexpensive compared to DD3 cans!

FWIW & HTH. . .
1992 Prevost XL Vantaré Conversion M1001907 8V92T/HT-755 (DDEC/ATEC)
2003 VW Jetta TDI Sportwagon "Towed"
Cheney WA (when home)