BrakeMaster Air Line Issue

[Gadget Man]

I have a RoadMaster BrakeMaster auxiliary brake system for my toad. There is a short air line that connects the air piston to an air chuck under the dash of my toad. I get kinks in this air line that ends up restricting air pressure. I keep replacing the air line but I would like a more permanent fix. I went to my local Hose Man to see if they had any type of shielded or steel braided air line but they were no help. Any suggestions?

Thanks!



Craig

[slickest1]

Try a truck parts place. They should have braided airline that will work.

[Mr_D]

Move the connection in the towed so it's straighter. I've had the BrakeMaster since 2005 in my Odyssey and have NEVER kinked the line. I did the installation myself way back when. Now I need to redo the MH side since we traded rigs.
I installed the connection next to the front seat rather than under the dash.

[dnystrom]

Something is not right there. I have 2 rigs the piston goes on. 1 is the Subaru and the other is the truck. I can't see how that line would kink if it's connected halfway straight to the fitting. How about a picture of the inlet you connect to? Something is haywire with the connection there as the line is hard to kink UNLESS it's not the correct type of line. The air line I have is strong stuff. You may not have the right stuff there that Roadmaster uses.

[jacwjames]

I have a Jeep GC with the same model of brake and never have had a problem.

I mounted the connection on the lower side of the dash pointing straight down. The short hose coming from the brake is long enough so that I route it under the brake and then attach it to the quick connect. The hose has a gradual curve and then last portion is perfectly straight.

Getting the right size and thread type will be difficult in a different type of hose. Take it to a good hydraulic shop and see if they can duplicate the fitting type and if they can get them to make you a short hose. This type of hose shouldn't kink. The hose will be stiffer so make sure it you will be able to route it and attach it. You'll spend some $$$ on this as the fittings and hose isn't cheap.

[hogdriver]

I had the same thing happen to my air line. I found a similar size flexible hose with compatible fittings at Harbor Freight. The hose was intended for grease guns, which are pretty high pressure. I just removed my brass fittings and put them on the new hose.

As others said you can also go to one of those custom hydraulic hose places commercial machinery operators use and they can make you what you need.

[MoHoGo]

Try to find an insert like this to support the line out of the fitting.

[dnystrom]

You need these 2 parts. I got these from our local Tru-Value hardware store. That should solve your kinking.

[spinn]

I had a similar issue a while ago, I s able to find the correct connector at a hydraulic supply store. I talked to Roadmaster at a show, they hold me they use aircraft fittings, which are slightly different from standard air fittings

Steve

[Hikerdogs]

Originally Posted by Gadget Man

I have a RoadMaster BrakeMaster auxiliary brake system for my toad. There is a short air line that connects the air piston to an air chuck under the dash of my toad. I get kinks in this air line that ends up restricting air pressure. I keep replacing the air line but I would like a more permanent fix. I went to my local Hose Man to see if they had any type of shielded or steel braided air line but they were no help. Any suggestions?

Thanks!



Craig

I think the biggest problem is the location of your connector. When I installed the same system in our Jeep Wrangler the instructions said:

"Two common mounting points are: 1) under the

dashboard, on the kick panel; or 2) far enough under

the front of the driver’s seat so that the quick coupler

is accessible when the seat is slid back, but concealed

when the seat is slid forward."

I mounted ours under the seat. It's a straight line from the connector on the cylinder to the permanent connector on the floor of the Jeep. We've towed the Jeep over 11 years and 130,000 miles and never kinked the line.

[Gadget Man]

Originally Posted by jacwjames

Take it to a good hydraulic shop and see if they can duplicate the fitting type and if they can get them to make you a short hose.......You'll spend some $$$ on this as the fittings and hose isn't cheap.

I took it to Hose Man, all they had was the same air line.

Originally Posted by dnystrom

You need these 2 parts. I got these from our local Tru-Value hardware store. That should solve your kinking.

My air line had those already, but thanks.

Originally Posted by Hikerdogs

I think the biggest problem is the location of your connector....

Agreed. That's where CW installed it when I purchased the system way back when...it came with free installation so I was happy to let them install it, LOL! I really don't want to move it at this point as it would mean running an all new air line from the engine compartment back. I was hoping for a simpler solution and I think I came up with one.

I purchased a longer piece of air line. I found a pair of springs at Lowe's that fit snugly over the air line. I positioned the springs at each fitting, in hopes that it will prevent kinking. This was an easy and inexpensive fix. If it doesn't last, I will move the air chuck under the seat as you suggested.

Thanks everyone!



Craig

[jacwjames]

Craig,
That may work, they use a spring similar to this to bend copper tubing to prevent it from kinking. Keep us posted.

[Falcon190]

I took a photo of the fitting location in my Wrangler. It's located below and to the left of the clutch peddle (yep, 5 speed manual transmission). Though the hose from the piston to the fitting isn't perfectly straight, it's not at much of an angle, either.

I've treated the hose pretty poorly, tossing it in the back after disconnecting it, etc. I'm gonna be more careful from now on! But, regardless, I checked and there's no evidence of there ever being an issue with kinks. Like other posts have implied, maybe you should lower the fitting.