Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) BD Exhaust break vs. Pacbrake

[ESteiger]

hey guys this is my first post; i need help on deciding between the BD exhaust brake and the Pacbrake. i have two buddies one has a 96 12v with the BD and if it fit my 01 HO 24v i was going to buy it or my other buddy has an 02 24v with the pac and he wants to sell that too... so im looking to see if the BD would even fit my truck and which one is better based on braking power

thanks

 

[Mad Bomber]

BD has more break HP at a lower RPM

 

[ESteiger]

ok thanks, do you know if a BD brake off of a 96 12v that was installed not even a year ago would fit on my 01 HO 24v?

 

[Bob V]

You would need to find an adaptor to get the one off the '96 to fit on your '02. The electronics would not hook up as easy, brake would be on when you use cruse control. I would go with the Pac from the '02

 

[KBrennan]

I can't say either way, I have been running the Banks Brake. Has given good service over the past 70K miles and was a God send when we went to Alaska.

 

[CKelley1]

if the pac brake has the compressor , it will have the exact stopping power as the bd. either one is many times better than the banks or jacob because of how they control back pressure. back to the bd i just remembered the 96 had 35lb springs and bd had a vacuum brake available for those who did not want to upgrade to the 65 lb springs, best way to tell is to see if it uses air you are ok

 

[darkhorse]

if the pac brake has the compressor , it will have the exact stopping power as the bd. either one is many times better than the banks or jacob because of how they control back pressure.



I'd question that. :-{} More like a little better at lower RPM. The difference being the simplicity of a fixed orifice giving a little away to the complexity of a variable orifice being theoretically better at low RPM.

 

[KBrennan]

Maybe thats why they are so durable, less fancy junk to get in the way. What i do know is when I come down out of the CO mountains with the fiver in tow it holds me back and i rarely if ever hit the service breaks. Without it I white knukle it down the grade.

 

[CKelley1]

we have a fleet of dodges as the vacuum pumps fail we replace with the bd. the bd and the pack maintain 65 lb back pressure across the entire rpm range where the banks and jacob only has 65lb back pressure at the engines max rated rpm at ea level and is a straight line graph to 0lb pressure at idle since you are never at max rpm you start out at about half the braiking power of a bd or pack and goe's to none at 800 rpm. it's like owning a vhs player you think it is good until you see a blue ray disc. it. s like some one turning on a light switch. the banks and jacobs is old technology and belong in a museum

 

[darkhorse]

I can't really compare as I've never driven or ridden in a truck with the new BD or Pac brakes. I'm sure the variable orifice feature is a low end improvement. It wasn't available when I got my Banks Brake. Which has serve me very well & provide enough braking to keep me off the service brakes down some steep grades with a loaded horse trailer. It's also a damned good exhaust diffuser when it isn't braking. I've had a couple of problems in the wiring harness over the 3 years I've had it, but it isn't ready for a museum yet. If I had it to do over again, I think I'd go with an inline unit down stream. I like the looks of the US Gear model.

 

[Bob V]

Why is everyone talking about 3rd gen exhaust brakes when he owns a 2nd gen truck?

 

[GCULP]

use the Pac off the 02, it will bolt right in

 

[darkhorse]

So getting back to your original ?. Both being older fixed orifice units they would brake about the same but the Pac bolts right on. That must be the way to go.

 

[CKelley1]

the air actuated bd or pack is made for 3rd or 2ond gen trucks and with spring change works wanders on 1st gen trucks

 

[SnoKing]

Having a brake that works at low RPM's is probably ok with a manual transmission, but with an auto line pressure to the TC lockup decreases at low RPM's. My Banks 4" brake has been working fine for 4 or 5 years.



SNOKING

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

What trans do you have? I have a BD 4" remote brake that I adore. I can lockup 2nd gear til 18mph worth of effective braking. Higher rpms result in some serious braking power. It also runs off your EXISTING vacuum pump and all you need is the simple vacuum switch and a toggle/or a miro switch under the pedal and you are slowing things down.



From what I remember 24V trucks allready have the 60lb springs needed and 12V trucks needed the upgrade.



Edit: Nevermind 01 H. O's came 6Speed