Diesel Exhaust Brakes

[brewmark]

Does anyone have suggestions on the best diesel exhaust brake?
Also any suggestions on installing it yourself or having it done?
I have a 2005 Dodge 2500 with 5.9 L Cummins TD.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

BD Power. Air compressor operated without the troublesome vacuum failures. Less moving parts than any exhaust on the market.

Almost 250k without an issue.

Install yourself.

Enjoy

 

[brewmark]

BD Power. Air compressor operated without the troublesome vacuum failures. Less moving parts than any exhaust on the market.

Almost 250k without an issue.

Install yourself.

Enjoy

Thanks for the info. Sounds like a good plan.

Mark

 

[JLandry]

I had an exhaust brake from Banks on my 2001 which used the existing vacuum system to operate and it worked perfectly for many years. I was happy with it and never had a problem.

I installed it, and and an entire Banks exhaust system, all by myself.

John L.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Pac Brake is top quality and so is their customer support.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

Pac Brake should be your first choice. They have been building exhaust and engine brakes MANY years longer than any of the other manufacturers, More R&D more units in use on everything from class 8 trucks to Military contracts. The PRXB Pac has been on my 04 from new, the one issue I had Pac next day aired parts to me at no cost. Stellar service the tech support will talk you through installation if you need it. And (in my opinion.) a better brake than Banks or BD.

 

[Bob V]

I prefer PacBrake. Pull the right side inner fender (easy to do) to install the brake. also easier to tap into the PCM with the left inner fender removed.

 

[CKelley1]

only go with bd or pac, bd is best because of where the compressor mounts. if you go pac, mount it on the frame. I can mount a bd in about two hours by myself with minimal tools, the pac takes longer to fabricate a compressor mount and make longer wire and hoses.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

Also the Pac will exert much more braking power at lower RPMs because of the vairable valve./

 

[Motorhead]

Also the Pac will exert much more braking power at lower RPMs because of the vairable valve./

I have had the Pac brake on my '07-5.9 for 40,000 miles. No problems whatsoever. My truck is a 6 speed stick and coming west on interstate 80 from top of Donner pass west to Sacramento, 28ft TT, fully loaded, 3 adults in the truck with a shell on the back of the truck. NEVER touched the service brake going down the hill using 6th and 5th(direct). I am NOT also a high revver exhaust brake either. The variable orifice works great at low engine speeds. It also interfaces with the TRUCKS ECM and you don't need any pedal switches. Works as an excellent engine warm up tool too.

 

[BlackBullit]

Ya go with the Pacbrake. I have installed lots of them and they are a great product.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

What made up my mind was when I searched exhaust brakes by brand on all of the diesel web sites. A quick search will reveal what brands tend to have issues and what brands almost never do.

I hated reading the advertisement by any of them as they ALL claim theirs holds better than brand B or C. After all, who gonna say their is 2nd best, right?

I'd love to see a true comparison between all the brands. Same truck, trailer and 6-8% mountain grade using every exhaust on the market. Now that would show who's boss.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

I could ALMOST do a brand comparison, I took the old style Pac Brake off of my 04 (same as BD and Banks) and installed the vaiarable oriface PRXB. There was not much difference at red line RPMs but down low (under 2000rpm) the PRXB worked much better than the not controlled brake.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Pac Brake should be your first choice. They have been building exhaust and engine brakes MANY years longer than any of the other manufacturers, More R&D more units in use on everything from class 8 trucks to Military contracts. The PRXB Pac has been on my 04 from new, the one issue I had Pac next day aired parts to me at no cost. Stellar service the tech support will talk you through installation if you need it. And (in my opinion.) a better brake than Banks or BD.

They sent me a new EB even after DTT over torqued the bolts that hold the exhaust flange.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I could ALMOST do a brand comparison, I took the old style Pac Brake off of my 04 (same as BD and Banks) and installed the vaiarable oriface PRXB. There was not much difference at red line RPMs but down low (under 2000rpm) the PRXB worked much better than the not controlled brake.

Almost is almost. I want to see someone take the same truck and trailer down the same grade using PAC, BD, Banks etc and provide a chart of comparison. The rest is hear say.

 

[NIsaacs]

I took the old style Pac Brake off of my 04 (same as BD and Banks)

The BD brake uses a spring loaded offset butterfly for backpressure management. They recommend 20-25 psi adjustment at idle, they hold back great at low rpm, unlike the old style Pac. I have 180k miles on my '01's BD, I would buy another one.

Nick

 

[brewmark]

Thanks everyone for all the feedback. Love the knowledge.
Not sure which way I will go but this definitely gives me more knowledge and I need lots of that.
Thanks.

 

[Motorhead]

The one drawback of the vacuum actuated ex brakes is the vacuum pump failure (seizes) and then you are dead in the water. The drive pulley of the vacuum pump is run on the serpentine belt and it has to be longer than stock belt because of the extra pulley. If the compressor fails on my Pacbrake, I just don't have an exhaust brake until I fix the compressor.

 

[CKelley1]

the bd and pac are exactly the same brake hp all the way down in rpm. we run five different brands and know exactly what they do. US gear has one that is electric and equal in bhp. the jake and banks are old technology depending on a orifice to limit pressure, no regulation therefore poor performance compared to the others. the vacuum pumps are troublesome and expensive to maintain. as the jakes fail we replace with bd.

 

[SnoKing]

Just remember that when you use an exhaust brake at low RPM with an auto transmission that line pressure to the TC lock up falls off with those low RPM's. Chris