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Banks Exhaust Brake for our Dodge's

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Hello you folks. I love this site.



I will be installing an exhaust brake in the next 6 months or so and haven't seen much that helps me. Anybody know anything about the new Banks Exhaust brake for our TDC trucks? It seems that they will send it to your door and you can install it yourself. They say it takes about 3 hours for a reasonable handy mechanic type guy.

Not sure I can qualify. The Banks Brake for the dodge is new so I wonder. Thanks to all





1996 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4. Banks Power Pac, Monster Mirrors and the most fun I have ever had in a truck.

:D :)
 
Any truck that tows should have an exhaust brake. Banks makes high quality upgrades, but you pay more for the high quality. I would get one if I didn't already have a B-D. Like the idea of the reverse cruise control. Haven't heard of anyone here trying the Banks. How about you being the first one Lynn?
 
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Banks brake

Lynn, Just yesterday I saw the new Banks brake at an RV show, at the Banks booth. It is different to say the least. They had one on a display engine. It is much longer than the exhaust brakes we have seen and you will have to change out the headpipe regardless if you have a stock exhaust or a 4" exhaust. The brake will come with a new headpipe per the salesman and be in the $1000 plus neighborhood.



Sam
 
Exhaust Brake - Banks

Thanks "illflem", "Ram4Sam" and "Big Bob". I will probably make a move on the Banks Brake in a month or so. I never like to be first anymore since I bought a GM Diesel Station Wagon from Oldsmobile in the late 70's - I could tell you stories... I will keep you posted on my progress. Regards,Lynn.
 
Lynn;



I didn't see if you have a manual or automatic transmission.



With a manual pick your pleasure.

With an automatic things get a bit more complicated. Based on tech data, observations, and my opinion; contact the Kondolay clan at <a href=http://www.dieseltrans.com/ target=_blank>DTT</a> for a complete package.



Is the new Banks e-Brake is available for a Cummins? FWIW, Banks chose to start the product line with Ford.



-John
 
John, the Banks rep at the show said they would start shipping the new brake for the Cummins "in the next week or two".



Sam
 
Thanks John and Sam.



I have an automatic transmission. Was hoping I could still install the Banks Brake.

I am pondering what to do.



I spoke to Jeff, at Banks today. The price is $1,030 (Introductory) and will be $150 or so higher after they complet 1,000 or so orders. They will ship directly to my door with a complete installation manual. Jeff has a couple of people in the Portland, OR area that will install if I feel it's beyond my capabilities. The Exhaust Valve springs need to be changed and they will include the springs and the tool for installation. The brakes will begin shipping as early as Friday of this Week says Jeff. The "Reverse Cruse Control" feature will not be available for 6 months or so. Jeff says you can set the speed at which the brake will cut in. I really need an exhaust brake for the towing I expect to do next spring so I will probably make a move very soon. I really appreciate your input. Regards, Lynn
 
Lynn,



Installing an exhaust brake does get complicated to say the least.

I am assuming that your Dodge Ram is a 94-98 since this is put in the 12 valve forum.



First things to consider, how many miles are on your transmission,

and how are you going to control the lockup on your converter?Why do i ask this? because without the lockup system the exhaust brake is useless on the automatic.



What is the retarding hp at 1500rpms, 2000rps, 2500rpms?

Those numbers are important because the if the retarding hp is too high at the lower rpms it will cause damage to your tc,



The tc clutch is weakest at the lower rpms, the higher the rpms the stronger the tc clutch becomes. Think of it like a bucket of water,



If you are swinging the bucket of water , the faster you swing the bucket the greater centrifigual force pushing the water to the outside of the bucket.



Between 1500rpms and 2500rpms you almost double the capacity of the tc clutch.



Last but definately not least, in 1999 Chrysler was buying back exhaust brakes that was installed as a factory option.



Why do you think that was?

It was because it was more cost effective to buy back the brakes than it was to fix the transmissions.



It is not that i dont sell exhaust brakes for automatics, i just think people should know both the positives and negatives of having the exhaust brake.



Personally having towed heavy trailers with an exhaust brake i know the safety benefits of having one in the mountains, and wouldnt be without one.



No matter who's brake you choose keep this in mind,



I make it my practice to keep my rpms high, shift out of od anytime your speed drops below 60 if you have 354 gears,

54 mph if you have 410 gears.



Whether they tell you you need it or not, it is a smart idea to install exhaust valve springs, better yet if you have high mileage change both the exhaust and intake springs.



I am not trying to scare you into not buying an exhaust brake, it is just the exhaust brake on an automatic should be chosen and installed keeping all of the above in mind.



The transmission will also require special attention, what are your transmisson line pressures at?



If the trailer is heavy enough , 3rd gear clutch capacity and 2nd gear band capacity should be strengthed to handle the extra load.



Shift timing on the transmission becomes extremely critical, as a transmission technician i have a habbit of using the terms

1-2 , 2-3 , shift . While this sounds right , actually on a dodge transmission it is the wrong terminology.



On a dodge the correct technical shift pattern is 1-2, 1-3,

there is no 2-3 upshift on the Dodge.



What does all this mean?

Most guys when they have a trailer tend to manually upshift from 2nd-3rd, or from 3rd back down to 2nd manually.

I know i am using the wrong terms again, but this is how most idenfify the shift pattern.



If the 2nd gear band is not full released before the 3rd gear clutches come on, you are going to do damage to both your 2nd gear band and your 3rd gear clutch pac.



Same is true when you go from 2nd - 3rd.



In first gear the rear clutch pac is on all the time in all forward gears, ie) 1st , 2nd , 3rd, and 4th,



In 2nd gear the front band comes on,

In 3rd gear the front clutches are applied and the front band is released.



You MUST make sure the front band is released before the front clutches come on, or you will have a bind up.





Make sure the person doing your work has a full working understanding of what he is doing. On an automatic it is not as simple as bolting the brake on.



Bolting the brake on the automatic is the easy part of the job, preparing the automatic for the exhaust brake is a whole different story.



If the job is done properly, it is a pleasure to drive the truck and it gives you good reliability, improperly prepped or a not prepped transmission can become a nightmare.
 
WOW

I have a standard transmission, but I love it Bill when you get to going. I have learned more about automatics on this site and from people like you than I have ever known !!

Plain and simple



THANKS:D
 
IMHO

there is <b>Nobody</b> out there that knows more than Bill when it comes to our automatic transmissions



Bill is the Guru and I read every one of his post and I always learn something new every time.



Once question though does Bill have ATF running through his veins :confused:



And why is his new nickname Hydraulic Bill?
 
Thanks QRTRHRS. I never dreamed that a little modification like an exhaust brake could be so ... ... . frustrating. The Piers site looks very inviting. Also Bill really seems to know his stuff. I am a firm believer that "You cannot beat a man at his own game". I shall consider a trip across the boarder to see both Piers and Bill. Regards, Lynn
 
Lynn,



IMHO, it is only with the auto transmission that the brake becomes complicated. With stick, depending on your skill level and truck age (frozen bolts), it's a no brainer. Your lucky to have access to some of the "best".
 
Lynn,

I have a friend in the Seattle area with a brand new BD turbo mount exhaust brake still in the box. It has the adapter plate included so it will also fit a 2001. All hardware and instructions are included. I can supply some 60# springs CHEAP! He paid $895,he'll let it go for $625-$650 and no taxes. I have the same brake on my truck, he has the same on his, they work great, we wouldnt go without them anymore. He ordered this one for a friend,friends finances went for the worse and couln't afford anymore. His loss is your gain. Why not buy this one and use the $400+ you saved towards your transmission upgrades?His name is Dan, cell#360-731-9994.

Garry.
 
Garry - Thanks for your offer. Because I am a novice I don't feel comfortable in buying stuff that I don't know anything about. I am pondering (waiting for a green light from my wife) a trip to see Piers to get his recommendation on the exhaust brake and then drop in on Bill to see what he can do for my transmission. I need a few days (maye a couple of weeks) to line things up. Regard, Lynn
 
There are still a couple of things that I don't understand. I'm going to make an assumption that the V10 boys are using the same auto. transmission and I never hear of destroying the transmission using compression braking on a gasoline engine. I used to run a GCVW of 16000lbs. with a Suburban with a 454 and could pull in down into second and never touch the brakes over any mountain pass here in Colorado. Now I'm at 18000lbs. and have to continually ride the brakes with the diesel. I would like to get an exhaust brake, but am told that the stock transmission won't take it. Why does it work fine for a gasser, but not in a diesel? I can't see that adding an exhaust brake is much different than closing the throttle plate on a gasser. I have heard that an exhaust brake produces much more retarding hp, but if that's the case, it seems like the truck/trailer combo would basically slow to a stop while coasting down hill. If retarding hp is the reason for the transmission trouble, why not make a brake with an adjustable butterfly that won't completely close when you don't want the max effect?



Sorry for the long post, but I keep going around in circles about this.



Thanks,

Kevin
 
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because without the lockup system the exhaust brake is useless on the automatic.



One more question. This quote is from Bill's post. I'm sure that the TC wasn't locked up coasting down a pass on my Suburban, but the transmission still held the everything in check. Why does it have to be locked up with an exhaust brake?



Thanks again,

Kevin
 
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