Transmission Brakes

That's all I could find. They're not referring to gearing down, using your transmission to brake your engine or something, are they?

 

Sorry MyMiniPins, just like the description said, a trans brake is used to launch a drag car (or a doorslammer w/ an auto trans, like a powerglide) when drag racing. It basically lets you bring the rpms up, without the car rolling so you can launch with the engine revving where it can make good power.
What exactly those guys are talking about is beyond me. I'm sure someone here can shed some light...

 

are we talking about a brakesaver???

the system where presurized oil slows the enginge....if so its not a tranny brake....its an engine system that uses oil in a valve system in the bell housing

works off a small handle on the steering colum, its right by and looks like a johny bar

 

I can;t find any info on them, but I remember that there was an electromagnetic retarder that was popular in logging circles. Basically, (off the cuff here) it was a magnet unit that encircled the driveshaft and put an electrical field into motion, using the resistance to slow the truck. If I remember right, they were rated at around 400 hp of braking force, which would be equal to a decent jake brake unit. And I seem to recall that they were referred to slang as a trans brake, though the correct term was magnetic retarder.

In basic terms, it would be similar to the principles of dynamic braking used on locomotives. I'll keep looking and see what I can find on it, if anything.

Found some info, Aussie in nature, but it describes the unit I was thinking of.

http://www.industrialbrake.com.au/driveline_retarders.htm

 

i have run a couple of trucks with the brakesaver...one was a heavy wrecker with a 3408 cat ( kind of dates it ) ....but between the brakesaver and the jakes it would stop that thing at a gross of 140k...just better have some room
i miss that 78 kw sometimes

you can still get one thru kw if you order the arctic heavyhual package