Someone explain to me what a transbrake is....
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TECH Apprentice
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 361
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Someone explain to me what a transbrake is.... Ive driven manual cars all my life, never had a car with an automatic, much less a transbrake. I might be purchasing a car with a TH400 and a transbrake, but i dont exactly know what it is or how it works. I know basically what it does, loads the motor but "brakes" the tranmission, but how does it work? How do i launch a car "off the transbrake"? Do i hold a button and then slam the gas, or do i have the gas to the floor while holding a button and then just release the button?
Someone help if you can, i couldnt seem to find a great definition in my search......
Someone help if you can, i couldnt seem to find a great definition in my search......
Transbrake: A transbrake is a device which allows a car to remain stationary even when the motor is under power. It works by placing the transmission in 1st gear and Reverse at the same time. Since both gears have the same ratio, but it opposite directions, the car cannot move. The transbrake can be released with a button, which releases the Reverse gear. Although they make for powerful launches, transbrakes can be hard on transmissions.
I've only been in one car that had one, and he floored it, and then released a button when he wanted to go.
I've only been in one car that had one, and he floored it, and then released a button when he wanted to go.
Originally Posted by 01_ram-air
TH400 + transbrake = bad *** launches.
The above post described it perfectly. If you want to just floor the car, put a 2-step on it to regulate the rpms.
The above post described it perfectly. If you want to just floor the car, put a 2-step on it to regulate the rpms.
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On The Tree
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 163
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From: Warsaw, IN
This is some good info as I was curious if it'd be worth getting one for my next trans. My question is tho, wouln't the effect of being in 1st and R, then dropping into 1st be somewhat similar to just putting the car in neautral, then dropping into 1st? Granted, releasing a button would merit better RT then moving you gear selector, but I mean it saves money if it's the same lol
Originally Posted by B/A 80 T/A
This is some good info as I was curious if it'd be worth getting one for my next trans. My question is tho, wouln't the effect of being in 1st and R, then dropping into 1st be somewhat similar to just putting the car in neautral, then dropping into 1st? Granted, releasing a button would merit better RT then moving you gear selector, but I mean it saves money if it's the same lol
In a neutral drop, when you floor the engine the rpms will hit the limiter or keep going. This is due to no gear being engaged at all. Blowing your engine or requiring a 2-step. With a transbrake 1st gear is engage and loads the converter upto it actual stall speed (say 5000 rpms).
In a transbrake you are already loading the trans before you hit the transbrake button to hold the trans, since it needs to be in gear when activated. This reduces the initial hit to the internal parts from being static. Much like hitting the parts with a sledge hammer, which is what a neutral drop would do.
A neutral drop equals broken parts, where as a transbrake equals hard launches.
Whats the difference between using a trans brake and say dumping the clutch at whatever rpm you want....i.e. does a trans brake still preload the rear suspension, and if it does, how does it when the trans is in reverse and drive at the same time? Isnt that just as brutal on the rear end as a dump?
