e-brake/wet pavement - THANKS for the advice

[Scott Gray]

I had seen in a previous thread that e-brakes can lock up (cause you to start skidding) on wet pavement. Well tonight it happened to me.

Just want to say THANKS to those of you who so willingly share your knowledge on this board. Without your inputs, I wouldn't have realized what was happening so quickly and who knows what might have happened... ...

But I will say the e-brake is great with or with out a load on.

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2001. 5 2500 ETH/DEE, QuadCab, 2WD, LWB, SLT+, 3. 54, Tow Package, Camper Package, Jake e-brake and more...
Pulling a 30', 12. 5K lb Alpenlite 5'ver

 

[Wirenut]

You should see what fun it is on snow and ice!

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• '93 250 LE 4x4 5spd 4:10 Loaded,dual 5" chrome stacks,12cm² turbo(37psi),PW injectors,K&N,pyro/boost,US Gear E-Brake,tool box,CB,10" AR rims, 285/75/16 Bf goodrich. "wirenut_21529" on Yahoo Messenger
• '97 Ford B-Series school bus (5. 9 Cummins!)I'm gonna Bomb it!
• '94 GMC 2500 6. 5L Turbo

PICTURES.

 

[Happy Camper]

Knock on wood! I have never had that problem. I have read the warning not to use it on wet pavement. I have used it rain or shine, snow and icy snow. No skidding problem but am careful not to have in to low a gear. I have a BD brake noww and will aproach the wet pavement problem with caution as it is more agressive.

 

[claymike]

Going to work the other morning I stopped at the ATM. It was cold and icy out so I turned on the e-brake to heat up the engine. Got back in and took off and forgot to shut the darn thing off. It will wake you up quick while sliding sidways down the street.

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Mike Clay
2001 HO,6 speed QC,2500,4x4Dark Garnet Red,ISSPRO E&B gauges on A Pillar, Rhino Nerf Steps Lit, NW Custom rocker panels, Jacobs E-brake, all options except leather, Reese 20k hitch. Towing a 30' Gulf Stream Sea Hawk 5th Wheel triple slide. The Mule

 

[QRTRHRS]

Mine has settled in at 20lbs with the sixty lb springs. I leave it there rather than up it to 25lbs because I can still use it on a wet road. I can do a quick 180' on snow unless I have mucho weight on.

 

[merryman]

Oregon is rumored to be WET. Either last year or the year before we had 106 inches of rain where I live. Roads are wet much of the time from Oct to April. I have used an exhaust brake for 135,000 miles now on two vehicles, and never stopped using them because of wet roads, and never had a lock up. For 125K on the '93, I had a pack brake with the 60 # springs, and now for 15K on the '01 I have had the E-brake. I use the exhaust brake all the time, not just for towing.
Wonder if the problem others have encountered (other than or ice or snow), may have really been the product of oily build up that then got wet?
Where I used to live we got virtually no rain in the summer months, so that the roads would get a build up of oily residue; when the first rain hit in Sept or Oct, there would be fender benders everywhere as people got out on to the wet AND oily roads.

Vaughn

 

[Scott Gray]

You're probably correct MerryMan. We don't get steady rain here in Houston and the oil can tend to build up on the roads. Additionally, I tend to use the e-brake quite agressively (why wear down the brakes?)

Only thing that I keep wondering is if someone will rear-end me because I'm stopping quit fast with no brake lights.

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2001. 5 2500 ETH/DEE, QuadCab, 2WD, LWB, SLT+, 3. 54, Tow Package, Camper Package, Jake e-brake and more...
Pulling a 30', 12. 5K lb Alpenlite 5'ver

 

[Happy Camper]

Scott! I have the same concern with the brakelights. I tap the brake pedal when I think of it when some one is behing me.

Why couldn't a qualified designer set it up so the brake lights come on when the e-brake is activated! Simple question but probably a much complex answer.

 

[QRTRHRS]

The brake light coming on with the exhaust brake idea has come up in the past. Someone said that it is not legal. Big trucks are set up the same, no brake lights.

 

[DHatfield]

I turn my exhaust brake on ice and the backend of my truck starts darting to the side (sideways) its actually kinda fun as long knowone is near me, but mostly I don't use it when its slick as I do not want to hit anyone.

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2001 2500HD Quad Cab SLT SB 4x4, HO Cummins, 6-speed, 3. 55 gears, LSD, brightwhite/driftwood, 4w ABS, camper and trailer tow packages, HD transfer case, snow plow prep, group, cab lights, Isspro Boost and Pyrometer gauges mounted on A-pillar, 4" JRE exhaust, BD exhaust brake. 27100 miles and counting as of 1/16/01.

1980 CJ-5, Modified for off-road use, bobbed fenders, 350 TBI, NP435 trans, 4. 56 gears, Dana 300, Dana 44 front, Dana 60 reverse-cut rear axle, ARB air lockers front and rear, 15/35/15 Super Swamper TSL on 10X15 steel rims, Cobra CB, Warn 9000I winch, nerf bars, 1/4" steel rock crawler bumper front and rear, jerri can/spare tire rack, custom roll cage.