| Author | Message | ||
| Sam Summers (Greyghost)
Registered Member Username: Greyghost Post Number: 65 Registered: 4-2011 Posted From: 166.235.168.107  Rating: N/A |
OK everyone, especially 4107's, my local truck shop has my bus. They're wanting to replace my rear air cans but haven't seen this type before and are having a stumped up time to find them. Can anyone point me in the right direction on where to get them? | ||
| Larry & Lynne Dixon (Larry_d)
Registered Member Username: Larry_d Post Number: 329 Registered: 7-2005 Posted From: 50.39.221.113  Rating: N/A |
Like I said aboout other parts Sam call Luke at U S Coach. I don't have the number but just hollar LUKE on this board. Larry | ||
| Donnie Daugherty (Dr_detroit)
Registered Member Username: Dr_detroit Post Number: 21 Registered: 3-2008 Posted From: 98.145.201.90  Rating: N/A |
U.S. Coach and Equipment Sales Inc. 1-888-262-2434 uscoach@att.net | ||
| Luvrbus (Luvrbus)
Registered Member Username: Luvrbus Post Number: 1191 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 74.33.48.167 Rating: N/A |
Someone probably installed Maxxi Brakes they are no longer made good luck | ||
| Bob MacIsaac (Wildbob24)
Registered Member Username: Wildbob24 Post Number: 136 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 98.92.175.227  Rating: N/A |
Sam, If they are Mini Max chambers, I've got a NOS pair for sale. They look like this:  Bob | ||
| Tim Brandt (Timb)
Registered Member Username: Timb Post Number: 618 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.165.176.62  Rating: N/A |
What is or was a minimax is it a spring brake? DD3? Other? The size looks really attractive for a tight spot. Can you still get parts to rebuild them | ||
| Bob MacIsaac (Wildbob24)
Registered Member Username: Wildbob24 Post Number: 137 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 98.92.175.227 Rating: |
Tim, They function more like a DD3, except they use a spring loaded piston and pawl mating with teeth on the push rod to lock the brake, instead of ball bearings and a collar like the DD3. The other differences are they can be mechanically released or "caged", if the need arises, unlike the DD3, and the chambers are cast aluminum instead of pressed steel. They do work well in tight places. I have a friend who installed them on a 4106 about 15 years ago and they still work great. I do have a photocopy of the maintenance manual and can send a scan of the page showing cutaway pictures, if any one is interested. The file is too big to attach here. To the best of my knowledge, parts are no longer available for them. Bob | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 2100 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.71.157  Rating: N/A |
You can obtain the parts to rebuild them if the housings are in good shape. Approx $250 for all the usual parts for two. Rebuilt mine about a year ago. No big springs to cage first. Pretty easy to rebuild if you have the GM or Bendix manual (which is available online. Don't get housings mixed up. Drains must point down. I scribed marks on mine so everything went back together proper. They sat apart for two years. These rebuild parts can be obtained from Mohawk Bus Parts.They have an online site. | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 2101 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.71.157 Rating: N/A |
You can obtain the parts to rebuild them,DD-3's, if the housings are in good shape. Approx $250 for all the usual parts for two. Rebuilt mine about a year ago. No big springs to cage first. Pretty easy to rebuild if you have the GM or Bendix manual (which is available online). Don't get housings mixed up. Drains must point down. I scribed marks on mine so everything went back together proper. They sat apart for two years. These rebuild parts can be obtained from Mohawk Bus Parts.They have an online site. | ||
| Tom Christman (Tchristman)
Registered Member Username: Tchristman Post Number: 311 Registered: 1-2006 Posted From: 66.218.33.156 Rating: N/A |
If at all possible-I would up grade to normal truck type maxi-brakes. Much more reliable and parts are easily available at any truck store. Brake cans for trucks are only around $100.00. Good Luck, TomC | ||
| Len Silva (Lsilva)
Registered Member Username: Lsilva Post Number: 485 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 72.187.35.208  Rating: |
I don't think he has room for regular maxis, thus the only choices are DD3's or the almost extinct Mini-Max. I think some have found a way to install regular cans but it takes a lot of fabrication in a very critical area. | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 1478 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 76.4.118.153  Rating: N/A |
I have the parking brake on my 04 and it is a lot of plumbing and close quarters. You will need to cut a hole in the bulkhead to access the chamber if broke down! gomer | ||
| Sam Summers (Greyghost)
Registered Member Username: Greyghost Post Number: 66 Registered: 4-2011 Posted From: 69.88.245.34 Rating: N/A |
I'm few hundred miles from home right now but before I left I showed the picture of the mini's to the mechanic and he drew me a picture of what was under there right now. It has three air lines going to it and the clamps have a double bolt instead of one. With the 3 air hook up's, is this a DD3? We did talk about the possibility on upgrading to todays cans. | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 2102 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.71.157 Rating: N/A |
yes, that is a dd3. There is not enough room to put any currently available maxi chambers in there. That is why everyone just rebuilds them or gets rebuilt ones. Once done, you shouldn't ever need to do them again. You could make a recess in rear storage compartment to use maxi's (remember to allow for full suspension travel)and re do the brake plumbing. By the time you are done, you'll have more in the project than just rebuilding what you have. Nice thing is, 4104's have just enough room for maxi's. Luke has rebuilt ones. Last I checked, they were about $500 each-exchange | ||
| Jack Fids (Jack_fids)
Registered Member Username: Jack_fids Post Number: 837 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 72.211.145.15  Rating: N/A |
WILDBOB... you have mail...!! | ||
| Tom Caffrey (Pvcces)
Registered Member Username: Pvcces Post Number: 1380 Registered: 5-2001 Posted From: 65.74.69.252 Rating: |
Chessie, a friend and I helped in the scrapping of a shorty 4106 that was used in Pike's Peak tours. When the shortening was done, they cut two holes in the bay in order to make room to mount the Maxis. That meant that they cut two angle braces in the middle that were in the way. The bay floor on that bus developed full length longitudinal cracks in the bay floor in line with the cut braces. When I showed the owner the cracks, he said that he would have scrapped that bus sooner, if he had realized the cracks were there. The bay floors and braces are structural and should not be cut. Our bus has Maxis, and they fit just fine. The mounting bracket was shortened up around 1 1/2" to make enough room for the cans. We have around 8 years and around 70,000 miles on them. YMMV. HTH Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576 Suncatcher Ketchikan, Alaska | ||
| Jack Fids (Jack_fids)
Registered Member Username: Jack_fids Post Number: 838 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 72.211.145.15 Rating: N/A |
That was info I really needed... thanks Tom..!  | ||
| Patrick levenson (Zubzub)
Registered Member Username: Zubzub Post Number: 295 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 174.91.218.163  Rating: N/A |
"I have the parking brake on my 04 and it is a lot of plumbing and close quarters. You will need to cut a hole in the bulkhead to access the chamber if broke down! gomer" FWIW on a 04 with 30/30s they fit fine, but to use the cage bolt there is no room between the bulkhead and the cage hole in the can ....when the brake is off. If you have the assistant push on the brake pedal, apply parking brake or simply supply air pressure to the parking/ e brake side of the can, there is enough room to get the cage bolt in and out....on my 04 anyhow. I have always heard the later GMs had less room but the 4104s have room for regular 30/30s. If I had a later GM I would probably spring for a one time rebuild of the mini maxis, but I did think they were more like wee spring brakes, not DD3 ish. | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 2104 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.71.157 Rating: N/A |
yes, altering the brackets is another option, and unless done properly like altering the rear bulkhead area, can result in safety issues. Bottom line...fix what you have; they worked fine for millions of miles on hundreds of coaches. | ||
| Luvrbus (Luvrbus)
Registered Member Username: Luvrbus Post Number: 1194 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 74.33.48.167 Rating: N/A |
Anybody know the difference between a 4905 and the 4107 for room spring brakes were not all that hard to install on a 4905A you can unlock the springs cans and rotate those to about any position to clear, I use the MGM TR model they are not as long as most models good luck (Message edited by luvrbus on July 17, 2011) (Message edited by luvrbus on July 17, 2011) | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 2105 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.71.157 Rating: N/A |
4905 and 4107 are the same; one is just longer, other than some components like brake size and ac systems | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 2106 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.71.157 Rating: N/A |
as I haven't installed the DD3's yet, I measured them for height. End of chamber to mounting surface is 7 1/4 inch. There is about 1 1/2 inches of clearance between end of chamber and bulkhead with airbags down. Don't know how much this free space varies at normal running height or from suspension oscillations and movement going down the road. The 30-30 MGM-TR is 9.04 inches. It will be close... could probably slot rear of bulkhead to make access to install bolt. Probably need to raise air bags to install them to clear mounting studs. Don't forget changes in valves and plumbing. The several brands I checked about 5 years ago were about an inch taller | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 2107 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.71.157 Rating: N/A |
4905 and 4107 are the same; one is just longer, other than some components like brake size and ac systems |
