1998.5 24 V Looking for an Exhaust Brake/Engine Brake, Install and option questions.

[Joey.G]

1998.5 24 V Looking for an Exhaust Brake/Engine Brake, Can you guys tell me what my options are, Are there different types?

I am looking for one that looks well and hopefully installs fairly straight forward.



Are they worth adding, Do some towing but have a lot of hill in our area.



Thanks

 

[petersonj]

PacBrake is a good option. It is a direct fit. It replaces the exhaust elbow attached to the turbo. I have logged over 400,000 miles with mine. You will need an onboard compressor for an air operated cylinder, or your existing vacuum pump will suffice for a vacuum operated cylinder. You will also need a means to keep the torque converter locked.

But..., your first challenge is the transmission. If the transmission is still stock, it is not going be effective for engine braking. Converter lockup needs to happen in all forward gears (stock only locks in 3rd and 4th) to get the best performance. This means higher line pressure and a heavy duty torque converter with much more surface area for the converter lockup clutch.

Are they worth adding, Do some towing but have a lot of hill in our area.

My truck has a manual six speed transmission. In my case the exhaust brake is absolutely worth having for the occasional and sometimes frequent heavy towing (20,000 lbs GCW) that I do - which always include several mountain passes (6 - 7% grades for 4 or 5 miles).

Is it worth it for you? Depends. You mentioned a lot of hills in your area, but you don't mention the percent of grade or the length of the grade. Also, how much combined weight are you towing?

- John

 

[Joey.G]

The trans has Billet input and output and a Billet converter butbi Don't know the specs. Towing will be a car from time to time and a 4 place snowmobile trailer that's probably about it. Grades I am not sure but there all kinds I live in the Catskill mountain area.

Locking the converter I'd have to look into that and I think I'd rather use the vacuum pump instead bof adding a compressor.

 

[NIsaacs]

I don't see a vacuum model from Pac Brake, just air. I do have the old model Pac brake on my '91, it is vacuum. BD has a vacuum model but for some reason it starts with the '99 model truck. I have the BD on my '01. I don't recommend the universal mount, direct mount is best.

I didn't find anything from Mopar/Jacobs or Banks.

https://www.dieselautopower.com/pacbrake-c44075-direct-mount-prxb-max-flow-exhaust-brake

https://www.dieselautopower.com/exhaust-brake-1999-2002-dodge-vac-turbo-mount

 

[Ozymandias]

Go with the PacBrake, it is proven good, can't go wrong there.

I had a Jacobs/Cummins EB on mine and replaced it after a couple years with the Pac because it is so much better.

Your Trans is absolutely up to the task to handle this, even a stock Trans does just fine with very little mods.

 

[BigPapa]

Your Trans is absolutely up to the task to handle this, even a stock Trans does just fine with very little mods.

Not too sure about this statement, Ozy. This is a 47RE, not an Aisin.

 

[Ozymandias]

All it really needs is a TransGo shift kit to raise the line pressure.
An upgraded VB with 2nd Gear lockup is desirable.
The electronics to command lockup is part of the system from PacBrake.
That's what I meant with very little mods.

And his Trans is heavily modified and upgraded.

So all he needs to do is drop in the above mentioned Kit from PacBrake.
I installed the same into my buddies 98.5 2 years ago, works like a champ in the swiss alps.. combined with an upgraded VB in his Truck.

 

[Cummins12V98]

PacBrake, do NOT over tighten the two bolts!!! Bill Kondolay did and mine and it would stick in the on position. PacBrake actually replaced mine and said it was a common thing for people to use impacts on the two bolts.