eb290

I have used most of them including the Jordan and Prodigy and if you tow a lot, it is worth it, even with the price increase. I have had mine for over 2.5 yrs and 265,000 miles and it hasn't given me any trouble at all. The only complaint I have is that you can't shut off the alarm if you have a wiring problem or have short in your braking system. On new years day I was coming back from a job when the alarm went off saying I had a short in the braking system, (read that, bad magnet) I hit the button to cancel it and 10 seconds later it came back on. That's fine, but I was 200 miles from home, drove me crazy, stuffed about a roll of paper towels around it to muffle the sound. Jacked it up the next day, sure enough, had a bad magnet. Put a new one on and was back in business before lunch. I pull for a living and wouldn't have anything else. My Prodigy is behind the seat just in case.

Jeff in TD

Actually, you can turn off the audible portion of the alarm.

After having the alarm go off (annoying/distracting) to notify me that it was about to auto-powerdown, I turned off the audible part. The controller comes back on instantly when you hit the pedal anyway. (Could have adjusted the length of time till powerdown).

That's part of why I wish it would display some sort of warning light constantly if there were a short or open circuit, in case you miss the text message that goes away the next time you hit the brake.

As I understand it though, if you stop and apply the manual control fully and get the "Calibration Done" message, that confirms that the plug is still plugged in and there isn't a broken wire or short.

Relying on that little wire to stop a trailer that weighs more than the truck makes me a bit paranoid, and I would really prefer to have some indicator on all the time that indicates when it does or doesn't detect good brakes.

Anyow, I don't remember how I did it (somewhere in the menu, or in the directions) but you can turn off the audible alarm...

eb290

Thanks, didn't know you could do that. I'll try to find it in the menu or the book (if I can find it behind the seat) and know how to do it next time.

Jeff in TD

I was just out to my truck. Looks like you hit Menu, select controller settings, and scroll down to where it says something like "Beeper setting" and if you hit enter, you can then use the arrows to select on or off, and hit enter again to set what you want.

Scotty

Have the folks at Doc Perf mentioned anything about the extra features?

Like pyro and boost? I have a prototype and my last couple of emails to Steve did not get a reply. So I am wondering if its going to be something they want info from me on or not. I was providing feedback to Steve for refining this.

The boost and pyro are real time but a couple of very small items/glitches need to be addressed.

Scotty

on edit
I turned off the alarm as soon as I could and I shut down the controller whenever I know I am not going to use the truck for several hours.
Its cool when I hook up two trailers with four axles, it tells me exactly what is hooked up. I unhooked the wires to one wheel and it showed an error immediately.

Jeff in TD

Scotty, how do you shut the controller down?

I know how to change the time delay before it shuts off, but I didn't know there was a manual way to turn it off- which would be nice to know how to do.

Scotty

Going from memory...click M button, then click E and then scroll down six times, then click E again

I think it goes like that.

Memory, E for Commands, then scroll down with the arrow 6 times until it shows Shut down. Then click E for enter again.

Scotty

Totallyrad

If you look at the higher horsepower DR. Performance module in the installation video you"ll see an extra wire just sticking out of the module. The folks at DR. told me that wire was to connect to the brakesmart unit. I had that conversation with them over three months ago. That's all they would say at the time.

Casey Balvert

I noted on another forum that someone ordered the BrakeSmart with the EGT and Boost modules for $800.00. Still no info on the Dr. Performance website however.

Casey

OTR PU

My receipt for my BrakeSmart, about 2 years ago, 04/21/2004:

Item # Description QTY Amount
------------------------------------------------------------------------
98042 Ford-Dodge-Chevrolet/GMC Wir 1 109.99
ing Harness
78004 BrakeSmart "BrakeSmart Contr 1 239.99
oller-Gray"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub Total 349.98
Tax 0.00
Shipping & Handling 0.00
ORDER TOTAL 349.98

For me, it's been worth every penny. But I haul daily, if I didn't, I'd maybe give it a second thought. Last trailer I thought I was going to have to return BrakeSmart for warranty claim. I restarted my hours, babysitting a 5er over the weekend sitting at the J in Ehrenberg, AZ, couldn't deliver till Monday morning. Left my fridge plugged and running. Late Saturday afternoon when I went to the truck BrakeSmart was displaying "Warning, Truck Battery Low". I took out my lil Honda Genny and fired her up and throwed the bettery charger on. Took the charger off when it indicated batts were fully charged. Then BrakeSmart started acting really weird. Flashing through several messages too fast to read. Left early Monday morn for drop in Yuma, BrakeSmart still acting up. After drop heading back to Colorado it just plain went blank. No display at all. Crappo I thought, must have killed it leaving it in the circuit while charging the batts. Been sittin on my butt, submitting applications for anything I can find around town for work. Went out today to fire up and run the truck to restore the batts. Got to fondling my nest of 4 spade connectors that wire the BrakeSmart Controller. Low and behold. . .one of the spades was unplugged. Plugged it back in and walla, BrakeSmart's back to norm. Me and my bright idea about using spade connectors so I could easily swap out controllers if I needed to. Well the nest is hanging and close to the accelerator pedal. A 5 cent wire tie is in order. I may be selling both my BrakeSmart and my Prodigy controllers. I don't think I'd want the EGT & Boost features on my BrakeSmart for safety reasons. I want my controller mounted low and right, (mine is under removed ash tray). I don't wanna be looking down to see guages, better off keeping my eyes on the road. Panic button needs to be real easy to grab if you need it. Not certain yet, but may be hangin it up. Road Warrior life gets old fast.

Cheers,
OTR PU

Patrick Campbell

Steve am I reading right you are trying to get out of hauling ? Anything to haul locally so you can stay close to home?

zulusafari

Is this the same Dr. Performance company I was warned to stay away from two years ago? What happened? Were the rumors and outrageous claims bogus? Is "the Dr." now a bona-fide, reputable supplier of quality parts??? I am very confused, and highly skeptical!

Homestead

Has anyone ordered a Brakesmart from DR performance and recieved it? Any problems?

I want one but right now am sitting on the fence.

Jeff

Fat Framer

I ordered one from them in January, the first day it was available from Dr. performance. They sent it out and I got the day they said it would be here(4 days after I ordered) It works great and I am going to order another for my other truck next week.

RCW

The Brakesmart works quite well, but the brake proportioning sensor requires a tap into the hydraulic brake system, and that is still a warranty kiss off with Dodge.