Trans brake, internal or external, solenoid?

rallye bob · 03-15-2014, 05:18 PM

Looking to make the jump from foot brake to trans brake (T-400)... I want to do this right the first time... Is there a solenoid location preference?
I'm a high 9's bracket racer, if that matters..Any trans brake info that you have,...... (what to look for, what NOT to look for) you can share with me would be greatly appreciated
TIA.

Geerhead55 · 03-19-2014, 12:09 AM

I don't know what brand your T-400 is, but you might start by talking to one of the manufacturers,, mine is a Coan, but its a Powerglide so the circuitry is different. They could guide you to a decision on wether an internal or external system is better for your application. By the way, my solenoid is external and I don't have to activate the trans brake to back up like some others do. I'm sure Coan, ATI, TCI, or any racing trans builders out there can help. Good luck with your choice.
Danny Durham

380 Olds · 04-21-2014, 12:42 AM

Bob, I ran a J W in my 400 and of course a Coan in my Coan 350. Have been pleased with both of them. Oh ya, forgot to tell you they were both external mounted.

Tom Goldman · 04-21-2014, 07:07 PM

I've both built for customers and used TH400's myself with a variety of transbrakes
For release quickness and shift quality the Griner internal valve body cannot be beat .
Most of the external brakes are similar in operation and are ok , but none compare to Griners valve body .

drgrcr1156 · 04-22-2014, 12:31 PM

X2 on the Griner Brake. I have used one for years. It is an internal solenoid for quickness. Can be hard to get one although I think they are introducing new products.

Bob

Tom Goldman · 04-22-2014, 12:37 PM

The TH400 internal brake that ATI sells is a Griner.

K Stubbs · 06-03-2014, 07:43 PM

If you are bracket racing go with the external, it will cool much quicker than the internal. The internal is not designed for back to back round racing and will get hotter more easily than the external.

Tom Goldman · 06-08-2014, 07:32 PM

Having used both the ATI internal Powerglide brake and the Griner internal TH400 brake ,I can tell you the ATI will change about .015 after about 3 hot laps.
The Griner on the other hand did not vary on bit hot lapping, probably due to the physical size of the solenoid valve and the passages.
The ATI unit is obsolete, I sold about a dozen take outs to mud racers , perfect for them !

03-15-2014, 05:18 PM	#1
rallye bob Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Genoa, Illinois Posts: 488 Likes: 8 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Trans brake, internal or external, solenoid? Looking to make the jump from foot brake to trans brake (T-400)... I want to do this right the first time... Is there a solenoid location preference? I'm a high 9's bracket racer, if that matters..Any trans brake info that you have,...... (what to look for, what NOT to look for) you can share with me would be greatly appreciated TIA.

03-19-2014, 12:09 AM	#2
Geerhead55 VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tacoma, Washington Posts: 1,632 Likes: 0 Liked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Trans brake, internal or external, solenoid? I don't know what brand your T-400 is, but you might start by talking to one of the manufacturers,, mine is a Coan, but its a Powerglide so the circuitry is different. They could guide you to a decision on wether an internal or external system is better for your application. By the way, my solenoid is external and I don't have to activate the trans brake to back up like some others do. I'm sure Coan, ATI, TCI, or any racing trans builders out there can help. Good luck with your choice. Danny Durham

04-21-2014, 12:42 AM	#3
380 Olds Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 6 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Trans brake, internal or external, solenoid? Bob, I ran a J W in my 400 and of course a Coan in my Coan 350. Have been pleased with both of them. Oh ya, forgot to tell you they were both external mounted. Last edited by 380 Olds; 04-21-2014 at 01:06 AM.

04-21-2014, 07:07 PM	#4
Tom Goldman VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Allentown,PA Posts: 2,436 Likes: 776 Liked 700 Times in 204 Posts	Re: Trans brake, internal or external, solenoid? I've both built for customers and used TH400's myself with a variety of transbrakes For release quickness and shift quality the Griner internal valve body cannot be beat . Most of the external brakes are similar in operation and are ok , but none compare to Griners valve body . __________________ Tom Goldman 1500 SG , 1506 STK

04-22-2014, 12:31 PM	#5
drgrcr1156 Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Massachusets Posts: 91 Likes: 0 Liked 2 Times in 1 Post	Re: Trans brake, internal or external, solenoid? X2 on the Griner Brake. I have used one for years. It is an internal solenoid for quickness. Can be hard to get one although I think they are introducing new products. Bob

04-22-2014, 12:37 PM	#6
Tom Goldman VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Allentown,PA Posts: 2,436 Likes: 776 Liked 700 Times in 204 Posts	Re: Trans brake, internal or external, solenoid? The TH400 internal brake that ATI sells is a Griner. __________________ Tom Goldman 1500 SG , 1506 STK

06-03-2014, 07:43 PM	#7
K Stubbs Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Benton, Arkansas Posts: 402 Likes: 0 Liked 20 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Trans brake, internal or external, solenoid? If you are bracket racing go with the external, it will cool much quicker than the internal. The internal is not designed for back to back round racing and will get hotter more easily than the external.

06-08-2014, 07:32 PM	#8
Tom Goldman VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Allentown,PA Posts: 2,436 Likes: 776 Liked 700 Times in 204 Posts	Re: Trans brake, internal or external, solenoid? Having used both the ATI internal Powerglide brake and the Griner internal TH400 brake ,I can tell you the ATI will change about .015 after about 3 hot laps. The Griner on the other hand did not vary on bit hot lapping, probably due to the physical size of the solenoid valve and the passages. The ATI unit is obsolete, I sold about a dozen take outs to mud racers , perfect for them ! __________________ Tom Goldman 1500 SG , 1506 STK