Replacing traxxas EXV-2 with MM

[J3110]

I'm having trouble getting my MM properly set to run the dual titans in my E-Maxx.
I've got the motors wired in parallel(both motor - to ESC black, both motor + to ESC red).
I have not tried doing the high powered brushed motor setup yet, but I doubt that is the issue here.
While this setup works fine for the most part(more powerful than the EVX-2), the issue is the braking.
If I used proportional braking w/ reverse lockout, it seems to forget about the braking part(no brakes) and after the 2 seconds of no throttle, I get reverse, but I'm usually still rolling forward, so it's basically like having an on/off switch for brakes that simply lock up the wheels=flip.
If I use the forward to brake to reverse setting, it's just forward to reverse.
Rest of my settings:
Brake amount - 50%
Reverse throttle - 50% (seems super slow)
Punch control - 30%
Drag brake - disabled
Start power - low
Motor timing - lowest (0)
Motor type - Brushed reversing
Arm timing - 2 seconds

Setup: I didn't do any motor syncing or anything like that. Just soldered connectors to the motor leads, configured the MM and ran it.
I'd previously been running a 7XL that seemed to lose it's ability to brake and started cogging more at low speeds. Added a cap to the ESC power leads, boosted brake power and motor start power which seemed to help for awhile, but the brakes suddenly faded again a few runs later.
Additionally, as the power switch had gotten ripped off at the PCB, I have the solder pads joined together now so the switch is constantly on as I don't have the dexterity to solder points that small.