okay i was lookin in the new Jegs today and saw a t-brake for the th-350 trannys and was woundering. how do they work? do they help alot in the reation time and 60' time? do they do any damage to the tranny its self? and would it be good to use when i swap engines from my 305 to a supercharged 355 making about 500hp estimated? and the one i was lookin at was the Hipsters Brake on page 148-n in the xmas edition of Jegs. it goes for 394.99. any help is appriciated (spellin on that )

 

I'm not a tranny expert, but I'll take a shot at this. A transbrake is usually used with a high stall converter. The cars brakes won't hold the tires still long enough to achieve the full stall point of the torque converter. The transbrake applies two gears simultaneously, which causes the trans to bind up. This prevents any power from being transmitted to the rear end, so you don't have to use the cars brakes to achieve stall speed. Also, by using a transbrake the suspension does not get preloaded during the loading up of the converter. By shocking the suspension rather than slowly loading, it can do its job better. This may equate to better 60 ft times. As far as reaction times go, that part is still up to the driver. Transbrakes are not healthy for the tranny, and should be reserved for race use only. I would not recommend one for a regularly driven street car.

 

well i would only use it at the strip only kinda thing. but so basicly enstead of holdin the brakes and having it in gear and bringin up the rpms. the t-brake holds the 2 gears or whatever inside the tranny and then it just brings up the rpms until the stall speed is met and then when u release all u need to do is nail the gas after lettin the button go and it will basicly send the hp what ever it is as that rpm thru the tranny and all that to the ground. and there for u dont need to use the brakes when waiting at the line for the final amber light ?

 

Correct. Release transbrake, hold gas pedal to the floor, and launch violently.

 

hmmm sounds like a plan sweeeeet. lol but one thing if ur holding the t-brake button wouldnt ur car move forward at all? and plus when u hold the botten does holding the botten bring the rpms up or do u have to do that with the gas pedal? or when ur staging when ur sittin there waiting for the lights coming down ur on the brake pedal and then u hold the butten and release the brakes. and u should be standing still but the tranny is bringin up the rpms, right? and when u let go u just hammer it?

 

I've never used a transbrake, so I'm not sure on all the details. I think you hold the RPMs with the gas pedal and let go of the button and mash the pedal when you're ready to launch.

 

Oor, get an MSD 2 step, wire it to your t brake button, stage, press button, floor it, last yellow release button, and hang on to your ***.

 

The transbrake works by putting the transmission in 2 gears at once. Turbo trannys apply third gear to lock the transmission, PG applies reverse.

You put the transmission into first gear and push the transbrake button. When third gear is applied the transmission is locked since having it in 2 gears at once, nothing inside can turn. No power will come out the rear of the tranny and the car won't move. You push the gas pedel to the floor and the engine rpms increase to the torque converters stall point, or 2 step setting. When you release the transbrake, the fluid is dumped from the third gear circuit and the car launches hard just like doing a high rpm clutch drop with a manual.

When using a transbrake, the converter can come up to it's full stall speed. You'll need a converter that can take the abuse of a transbrake. A typical street converter will disinitgrate.

You can use a 2 step to limit the max rpm of the launch. My converter will stall at 5700 rpm with the transbrake but I launch at 3000 rpm off the 2 step. It makes a softer launch and doesn't shock the tires so much. Launching at 5700 rpm I create too much wheel spin.

When installing a transbrake you will also need to beef up the rest of the driveline. A torque converter built for transbrakes or NOS, stronger driveshaft with larger u-joints (1350 series), anything bigger than the tiny 7.5" ring gear in the diff. You'll also need to have a good tranny oil cooler. Coming up on the converter while using a transbrake builds heat real fast.

 

yeah prepare to start eating rear ends / drivetrain components.

I Tbraked 1 Time, 1 time only and that was enough to destroy half my drivetrain

but it was worth it

 

The TH350/400 both use reverse & forward to apply the transbrake.

 

I was told for how many runs your tranny's good for the trans brake will cut that in half.

 

I can believe that, Joey, a kid that's been racing his Malibu deemed "twister" for years decided to use a tranny brake this season. 1 time. Let go of the button, nasty noise, car did'nt move. We all pushed him back behind the wall and looked underneath, the tranny pan was perpendicular to the ground, sheared the bellhousing from the case. It was cool looking, and he's never ran one since, there was a nice tell tale "bump" on the inside tranny tunnel, but when we all looked underneath, we were to say the least aw-struck. Definately race only, and LOTS of coin making sure the drivetrain is "bullet proof" If you think it's just going to be a track thing, get an account at an auto store cause your gonna go through parts like crazy-not a mod to have just to be cool, get the MSD 2 step and practice for better R/T's and buy a good stall for better 60's.