48RE with Jake Brake

[HBarlow]

I got my new factory Jake brake installed last night and thought some might be interested in my evaluation.



I haven't pulled a trailer with it yet, have only driven around town empty with it so far but my initial impression is that Carlton Bale and other Cummins/Jacobs engineers and, I assume, DC engineers did a good job of integrating the exhaust brake into the computer programming and making it compatible with the 48RE.



Installation took about 5 - 6 hours by a friend who was a Dodge dealership mechanic when I met him. He knows the Dodge product but had not worked on an '06 or done an installation of the new Jake Brake with vacuum pump.



The activation switch mounts on the automatic transmission shifter. It is just like the six speed units, an old two speed axle push/pull switch.



If engine coolant temp is above 170 degrees the EB remains off at idle. When the brake is activated it closes quickly after the driver lifts his foot off the "throttle" pedal.



The EB effectively retards road speed in overdrive but as rpm drops the ECM causes the EB to disengage momentarily, the 48RE shifts down to 3rd, and the brake reengages. I'm not sure yet but sometimes it seems that the ECM blips the throttle as it makes the OD to 3rd shift to match engine speed with 3rd gear. In 3rd gear retarding effect is stronger. The brake remains closed down to about 19 mph with 4. 10 gears.



A nice surprise is Jacobs throws in two chrome and black 6" by 1" plastic adhesive-backed labels for the truck with the words: "Jake Brake" emblazoned. I installed them just below the Cummins C on each front fender. I've occasionally seen the debate on this forum whether it is appropriate to call the Jacobs exhaust brake for the B5. 9 engine a Jake Brake. I guess it is now okay because Cummins calls it Jake Brake.



Harvey

 

[Tractor Mike]

I really wish they'd come up with the computer flash to allow the 05's with auto to add the Jake Brake...

 

[p-Bar]

I really wish they'd come up with the computer flash to allow the 05's with auto to add the Jake Brake...

Me too, Carlton said there isn't enough ram in the computer. It's a big software package.

 

[BStoecker]

I wish I hadn't spent $40,000 on a truck that was promised to have an exhaust brake released for it by DCX.

 

[JXP]

i have one on my 06 3500 48re, and i pulled my 18000 lbs boat home last weekend and the brake is really nice. dc did a great job getting this brake developed for our trucks. i would buy this again. good luck, ps i love this truck.

 

[donnier]

Maybe if enough of us that own 05 and earlier trucks complain to DC they will get it together and figure out the programing to allow us to use a Jake.

If I had known that it wouldnt work with the 05, I would have waited a little longer and gotten an 06.

Is there a manual type brake that would work with the earlier trucks?? If so who makes it.

 

[socal610]

Does anyone with the jake brake hear a hissing sound while driving down the road. My truck makes a wind noise type of sound when driving down the hiway,it goes away when I turn the brake on thanks

 

[PGiannetto]

I have it on my 05 manual transmission & no i don't hear any hissing.

 

[BStoecker]

Maybe if enough of us that own 05 and earlier trucks complain to DC they will get it together and figure out the programing to allow us to use a Jake.

If I had known that it wouldnt work with the 05, I would have waited a little longer and gotten an 06.

Is there a manual type brake that would work with the earlier trucks?? If so who makes it.

Riiight. We have the truck. They have our money. Game over. We have only two options. Go aftermarket and worry about voiding our worthless warranty, or trade up to a truck that actually delivers what DCX promised would be availble for my truck. :-{}

 

[Bill Stockard]

Does anyone with the jake brake hear a hissing sound while driving down the road. My truck makes a wind noise type of sound when driving down the hiway,it goes away when I turn the brake on thanks

Check for an exhaust leak between the Jake Brake inlet housing and the turbo outlet.



Bill

 

[ohnoitsyu]

or trade up to a truck that actually delivers what DCX promised would be availble for my truck. :-{}

Out of curiosity, could you show me where this was promised?

 

[klenger]

I was wondering the same thing. Other than dealers making promises that they can't possibly keep, and rumors on the internet, I've never heard DC promise an exhaust brake with the auto till 2006, which did happen, and works quite well from what I've heard.

 

[p-Bar]

I think it all was salesman hype to sell a truck

 

[byoslandry]

2006 Jake Brake Assesment

I also picked up my 06 2500 CTD QC LWB 4x2 today and had the exhaust brake installed. I only have 75 miles on the truck and as far as I can determine, the brake works as it is advertised. There is about a 2 second delay when you take your foot off of the pedal before the brake starts working. This is programmed in on purpose in the event you want to shift the auto to another gear.

I also own a 2004 identical truck that I was told by the dealer that the exhaust brake would be available for that truck within two months. So,like a dummy, I bought the truck anyway and put several miles on it, then the dealer tells me sorry, DC won't be coming out with the exhaust brake for quite some time. A call to DC was made where I was informed that they were not responsible for what the dealer tells the customer and the dealer says they are not responsible for what the factory tells them. Catch 22 - each points the finger at each other, but I as a customer was screwed. So I had to wait for the 06 models to get my exhaust brake.

Byron

New Orleans, LA

I got my new factory Jake brake installed last night and thought some might be interested in my evaluation.



I haven't pulled a trailer with it yet, have only driven around town empty with it so far but my initial impression is that Carlton Bale and other Cummins/Jacobs engineers and, I assume, DC engineers did a good job of integrating the exhaust brake into the computer programming and making it compatible with the 48RE.



Installation took about 5 - 6 hours by a friend who was a Dodge dealership mechanic when I met him. He knows the Dodge product but had not worked on an '06 or done an installation of the new Jake Brake with vacuum pump.



The activation switch mounts on the automatic transmission shifter. It is just like the six speed units, an old two speed axle push/pull switch.



If engine coolant temp is above 170 degrees the EB remains off at idle. When the brake is activated it closes quickly after the driver lifts his foot off the "throttle" pedal.



The EB effectively retards road speed in overdrive but as rpm drops the ECM causes the EB to disengage momentarily, the 48RE shifts down to 3rd, and the brake reengages. I'm not sure yet but sometimes it seems that the ECM blips the throttle as it makes the OD to 3rd shift to match engine speed with 3rd gear. In 3rd gear retarding effect is stronger. The brake remains closed down to about 19 mph with 4. 10 gears.



A nice surprise is Jacobs throws in two chrome and black 6" by 1" plastic adhesive-backed labels for the truck with the words: "Jake Brake" emblazoned. I installed them just below the Cummins C on each front fender. I've occasionally seen the debate on this forum whether it is appropriate to call the Jacobs exhaust brake for the B5. 9 engine a Jake Brake. I guess it is now okay because Cummins calls it Jake Brake.



Harvey

 

[BStoecker]

I also own a 2004 identical truck that I was told by the dealer that the exhaust brake would be available for that truck within two months. So,like a dummy, I bought the truck anyway and put several miles on it, then the dealer tells me sorry, DC won't be coming out with the exhaust brake for quite some time. A call to DC was made where I was informed that they were not responsible for what the dealer tells the customer and the dealer says they are not responsible for what the factory tells them. Catch 22 - each points the finger at each other, but I as a customer was screwed.

This was my case exactly. I had done the research. I had talked to the dealer. I was told that yes, a Mopar produced, DCX approved exhaust brake was being released for my 2004. 5 CTD. I made the purchase of a truck that fit my needs at the time based on that information. Now, 2 years later, I still don't have one. I will probably trade up at some point and take a severe beating on the trade so that I can move up to a DRW (hopefully larger than a 3500) with the options already available. My dealer screwed me over on several issues, not just the EB though.