Dodge's Jac or Pac Brake?

[kollmer]

I am considering an exhaust brake, is one better than the other? I don't know anything about them except what they do.

Any info will help.

 

[radixr]

Exhaust Brake

I have the Jacobs/Ram brake and am happy with it. If I remember correctly, the Pac brake can stick if it is not used on a regular basis. Someone please correct me if I am wrong. :--)

 

[dmurdock]

They are all good... any of them *could* stick if not used at least randomly... the older pacbrakes were more prone to sticking than the others. The newer ones have a treated butterfly spindle and sticking isn't a problem anymore. The main thing to keep clean is the vacuum valve assembly (not on the brake itself, usually mounted near the intake or on the fender). . there is an article in the current TDR explaining how to clean them, etc...

 

[rwilliams4]

PacBrake sticking

I have a PacBrake in my 97 3500 and I used to leave the switch in the "off" position. It stuck on me; not just stuck, but froze. I removed it and put it in a vise and still could not unfreeze it. A friend of mine took it to work with him and soaked it and heated it and finally unfroze it. He opened up the shaft hole a thousanth or so and it has worked fine ever since. I do lube it with hi-temp grease, about once a month, though and leave the switch "on" now. The PacBrake people say that the elbow assembly costs about $500 to replace.

 

[RustyJC]

I had the Jake Brake installed when we bought the truck. As part of the sales negotiation, I got a good price, and it's covered by the Dodge warranty (for what that's worth) since it is a dealer-installed accessory.



Rusty