48RE + Exhaust Brake: Current Status

[Carlton Bale]

Sorry everyone, I stopped receiving e-mail notification of replys to the thread. I'll start answering questions now. . .

Carlton,

If D. C. doesn't want to upgrade our "used 04. 5" trucks, will your authorized Cummins repair shops have access to the software to download into our computers?

No, the Cummins shops do not have Cummins-provided software for Dodge Trucks. They use the same DRB tool that Dodge dealers use (it's a Dodge tool). Dodge has to release the calibration before anyone in the field can flash it to an ECM.

 

[Carlton Bale]

Has anyone here heard of D/C telling thier "dealers" to basically disconnect any brakes that come into a shop for repair, or pretty much any complaint related to its operation?

I haven't heard anything like that.

What mine is doing some of the time is failing to release when I hit the go pedal. Seems to be very sporadic when it does it, seeing as how I can not determine if it will shut off or not. I've sprayed down the shaft of the brake itself and cleaned the vent on the solenoid, and am thinking about hooking up a test light of some sort to see if this is an electrical problem or possibly vacuum related. Any ideas Carlton?? Anyone else? TIA, Mark

It's a little complicated, but the best way to test is to install a test probe for the electrical feed into the air solenoid and a vacuum gauge at the outlet (brake actuator side) of the air solenoid. It's not as likely to be electrical. If vacuum pressure is not being released, the air solenoid may be the cause. If the vacuum is being released, it could be caused by the mechanical brake assembly.

 

[Carlton Bale]

Test Update

There was some concern over the exhaust brake test truck "shaking" during braking so the truck was taken off of test last week. I was panicked. After looking over the truck, it appears to have been caused by a plugged air filter. Two days back on the road and no problems so far. About 5,000 miles to go before the test is over.

 

[jcarey]

Thanks, Carlton. We really appreciate your taking the time to keep us up to date and informed.



Jim

 

[MMeier]

Yes, thanks Carlton, the little "vent " on the one port of the solenoid, what exactly is its purpose, to filter air (vacuum) going or coming out of the solenoid?

 

[JCotte]

Vent

The little vent is there so the non pressurized side of the diaphram so that it can brethe to atmosphere and allow the diaphram free movement. if the vent was not there that side of the diaphram would be in either positive or negative pressure all the time. Think about putting a straw in a glass of water and putting your finger over it. you can lift a whole straw full of water but as soon as youintroduce a vent into it by moving your finger it freely flows back down the straw. No Vent on the EB and you get sluggish or no movement of the butterfly. Oo.

 

[MMeier]

Sooo, is it possible for that thing to get dirty and perhaps restrict movement, therefore making the brake stay on by not being able to vent to the atmosphere at times ?

 

[LightmanE300]

Anyone have the part # for the updated thrust washer? carlton?

 

[Elite1]

I found this interesting & helpful web site, on installation of the Jacobs exhaust brake: http://www.jakebrake.com/pdf/32414_working_1103.pdf

 

[Carlton Bale]

Anyone have the part # for the updated thrust washer? carlton?

I don't have it. It's not a Cummins part so there's no way for me to look it up.

 

[Carlton Bale]

p-Bar,



I don't think that link is in any way related to the thrust washer that was changed for exhaust brake compatibility. The revised thrust washer is loaded only during reverse-torque conditions and is only significantly loaded with the exhaust brake activated. This is not the part being referenced there.

 

[p-Bar]

OOP's learned something new

 

[Carlton Bale]

There was some concern over the exhaust brake test truck "shaking" during braking so the truck was taken off of test last week. I was panicked. After looking over the truck, it appears to have been caused by a plugged air filter. Two days back on the road and no problems so far. About 5,000 miles to go before the test is over.

Quick update: The final tow test finished-up last night. The truck is being shipped back to Detroit where it will have the trans removed and torn-down. Hopefully, everything is OK because the problem I mentioned earlier with the shaking/surging remained for the last 5,000 miles of the test; obviously it wasn't the air filter causing the surging and hopefully it wasn't the transmission.

 

[p-Bar]

Carlton,

How fast will D. C. be on the teardown of this transmission? What kind of time frame do you think D. C. will take in making a decision on the whole enchilada?

 

[tschwab]

Carlton,



Could you give us '05 owners some perspective on why the '05 48RE does not have OD lockout (you cannot lockout OD on the '05, but you could on the '04. 5 and earlier models). Thanks.

 

[p-Bar]

Carlton,



Could you give us '05 owners some perspective on why the '05 48RE does not have OD lockout (you cannot lockout OD on the '05, but you could on the '04. 5 and earlier models). Thanks.

Carlton's job is with Cummins and their sister company Jacobs. Your question is more for the D. C. boys

 

[tschwab]

Pbar, I'm aware of that as I have follwed this thread from almost the beginning. However, based upon his Carltons) knowledge and the testing that is going on with the 48RE, I felt he would be an excellent source regarding this question. If I knew of an "D. C. boys" who could answer the question, I would have already asked them.

 

[p-Bar]

Pbar, I'm aware of that as I have follwed this thread from almost the beginning. However, based upon his Carltons) knowledge and the testing that is going on with the 48RE, I felt he would be an excellent source regarding this question. If I knew of an "D. C. boys" who could answer the question, I would have already asked them.

Getting back to the thread we all have been following you are going to have a better chance of the brake working on the 05 than the 04. 5 although they are both engine controlled trannys But I guess we will have to stand by and sees what comes of it

 

[Carlton Bale]

Carlton,

How fast will D. C. be on the teardown of this transmission? What kind of time frame do you think D. C. will take in making a decision on the whole enchilada?

I'm still trying to figure that out. It will probably be a couple of weeks but nothing has been finalized.

 

[Carlton Bale]

Carlton,



Could you give us '05 owners some perspective on why the '05 48RE does not have OD lockout (you cannot lockout OD on the '05, but you could on the '04. 5 and earlier models). Thanks.

I don't know too much about this as it is Dodge who controls the transmission and the shift schedule, so don't consider this to be an "authroitative answer". I know the functionality of the switch was changed from a simple "overdrive on/off" function to more advanced "tow/haul" feature. The "tow/haul" mode actually changes the shift schedule for all of the gears instead of just locking out overdrive. This gives better overall performance when loaded. Hope this helps.