Brake Buddy brake lockup resolved

[Backdoctor]

In a couple of other threads I questioned why the brake buddy was locking up my 2025 Maverick Lariat.

I think I have solved the riddle of why the Brake Buddy locks up my Maverick hybrid (toad) brakes! The calibration of their pressure sensor is way off. I added a regulator with a pressure gauge to see what the actual piston psi was.

10psi goes almost 25
15psi go to 30
20 goes to 35
30 goes to 42
40 goes to 50psi

I lowered the 10 psi setting down (formerly 25) to 15 psi. It slows the filling of the piston, and also the release. So in some ways it’ll make the braking a bit more gentle.

I got all the parts I needed from Home Depot. A pressure regulator, 2 male 1/4”NPT fittings and some 1/4” hose. The regulator sits at the back of the assembly between the accumulator and the air pump. It took several hours to figure out how to split the case and open it up. But otherwise the repairs were dead easy.

I did videos of the air pressure at each setting but they’re too large to upload. I’ve done screen shots to show the 10psi setting before and after reducing the pressure with the regulator. The first shot isn’t really clear of the pressure reading, but it’s ~25psi. Afterwards it’s closer to 15 and much slower onset and release. If you’d like the videos send me private message.

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[Tony Pandy]

Good information. I have an older Brake Buddy I would like to use once I get my 25 set up as a TOAD. Have been reading some have had issues with lockup while others have not. So I have been on the fence about using. With this info, I'll hold off on purchase & Install of a different supplemental braking system.

Have you actually put in use yet while towing ?

 

[Backdoctor]

I have not. The coach is parked at our cottage 160 km away. But I plan on testing it next month when I bring the coach home to store it.

 

[Tony Pandy]

I have not. The coach is parked at our cottage 160 km away. But I plan on testing it next month when I bring the coach home to store it.

Please keep us updated when you get the chance.

 

[Backdoctor]

The fix seems to have worked. I installed the brake buddy and operated it last week. The brake operation does not cause lock up and the degree of braking is substantially reduced.
Interestingly, because there was a defect of the structure of the base, Hoskins said it was covered under warranty and I could return it. I’ll do that soon and ask them to calibrate the pressure of the system.

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