Exhaust brake - any disadvantage?

[HBarlow]

Jim,

I don't know of any way the 2003-2005 transmissions would have received the improved reverse thrust washer unless the transmissions received full high performance rebuilds by one of the big builders at owner's expense.

The decision to "refresh" your transmission is probably more personal than factual. If it has been serviced occasionally it will probably continue to provide good service for quite awhile longer.

To make it nearly bullet proof for heavy and frequent towing and use of an exhaust brake it will require a significant upgrade and rebuild.

I had a complete heavy duty towing rebuild done on my '06 48RE by James Northrum, a skilled Texas rebuilder who was an authorized DTT builder. He used all the high dollar billet components available including input shaft and other hard parts. The job was not cheap but the result was impressive.

I have no experience with mild upgrades so can't comment on how much good a torque converter and valve body would do.

I had my 48RE rebuilt at around 135k miles because I thought it had been damaged. It had lost the tailshaft bushing and seal and a lot of fluid. I figured that was a good reason to have it rebuilt. As it turned out, when disassembled no damage was apparent.

 

[KLauber]

It stops real nice and sounds good too.

I'm not actually too concerned about fuel consumption, I gave up on that. It is odd that in order to reduce emissions we have to burn more fuel, and I wonder what the net effect really is, but I don't lose sleep over it.



In my experience so far it doesn't seem like the EB provides much braking compared to a jake brake, but I'll take what I can get. The lack of an EB was the whole reason I didn't get the diesel back in '04.

The EB combined with the 6-spd is an awesome combo based on the one month I've had mine. It's just as effective with 14 grand pushing from behind too although when empty I sometimes don't engage the binders at all. A great design IMO.



Ken

 

[JDennis]

H Barlow



Thanks for reply---The info you are providing is good.



I started an earlier thread but did not get as much discussion as you are providing.



To provide you with more info regarding my situation: I have a 2003 /3500 Dually LWB

5. 9 HO with 48 RE---156,000 miles---have towed a Cardinal 5th Wheel ( 13,000 lbs/est) since 2003---tow about 6-8 months a year--have pulled from Houston, TX to Northern Calif --to Washington State and return (twice) and up to New Jersey / Penn--etc. ---without exhaust brake---waiting to get past 100k for warranty purposes--



I have maintained engine/trans/rearend/fuel filter--all per Dodge specs--I have no "known" issues with "power train"---I now am considering a exhaust brake---leaning toward BD Equip with the "pressure-loc" to maintain line pressure to torque converter--

Knowing this info, what would be your comments/suggestions---



Thanks again for your assistance--



Jim Dennis

 

[HBarlow]

Jim,

All I can offer is my own opinion based on my own experience.

Both of my previous Dodge Rams, an '01 HO/6 spd and an '06 w/48RE, had Jacobs Exhaust Brakes installed from day one and, of course, my '08 has the variable geometry turbo w/exhaust brake function now. In the aggregate I have driven three Dodge-Cummins about 630,000 miles and approximately half of those miles have been towing miles. I was a commercial RV transporter for almost three years and a long time RVer before, during, and after that experience. I simply would not tow a heavy fifth wheel or other trailer without an exhaust brake.

Based on my own experiences, if I planned to tow a heavy fiver extensively I would pay the high price and have a complete performance rebuild such as a DTT done on my 48RE and install a Jacobs or PacBrake exhaust brake. That is only my opinion and my choices.

Any aftermarket torque converter, valve body, lock up switch, and exhaust brake may provide good service for towing as well. I don't know. Any brand of exhaust brake will provide exhaust braking and an aftermarket add-on switch that will lock the torque converter when the exhaust brake is applied will prevent burning up the transmission.

From my point of view, Cummins builds our engines. Jacobs (Jake Brake), originator and oldest manufacturer of exhaust brakes, is a Cummins subsidiary company. Their engineers work side by side building and testing their products together along with Dodge. I like both companies. I also believe PacBrake builds an excellent product. I don't have any experience with BD products. I do have an opinion but will not express it freely on a public forum.

 

[JDennis]

H Barlow



Thanks---Considering your experience and knowledge, I certainly appreciate your time and comments.



I have always wanted an exhaust brake--based on info obtained from these forums--however, I have put it off to avoid any warranty issues--I have managed to tow so far without any issues---However, I am gathering info now as to which direction I need to proceed and what it will cost to accomplish what I would like to do---I am retired and finances are "fixed" so to speak--( and the "market" is not helping--LOL)--Again, thanks for your comments. Your personal opinion is welcome at "JamesD3402@aol.com" ---

Thanks again--

Jim Dennis

 

[daverobb]

The 6. 7's "Engine Brake' functions differently than the older style add on Jacob exhaust brake but accomplishes basically the same thing. I run my EB all the time and see no disadvantages, only advantages.

 

[CraigSmith]

Thanks everyone, good info.

 

[HBarlow]

H Barlow

Thanks---Considering your experience and knowledge, I certainly appreciate your time and comments.

I have always wanted an exhaust brake--based on info obtained from these forums--however, I have put it off to avoid any warranty issues--I have managed to tow so far without any issues---However, I am gathering info now as to which direction I need to proceed and what it will cost to accomplish what I would like to do---I am retired and finances are "fixed" so to speak--( and the "market" is not helping--LOL)--Again, thanks for your comments. Your personal opinion is welcome at "JamesD3402@aol.com" ---
Thanks again--
Jim Dennis

Jim,

You might want to call James Northrum and simply ask him what he recommends for your truck for your application spending the least amount of money required. He has been a rebuilder for many years and can tell you what it will take to allow use of an exhaust brake without destroying your transmission and also without spending a ton of money.

James Transmission Technology - (972) 467-3702 - Home

The work he did for me was excellent and he stands behind his work. James was honest with me and I believe he will give you honest and reliable advice.

He had a bit of bad luck on my 48RE rebuild. He was using a new and unfamiliar brand of thread lock paste when he installed my torque converter bolts. I was transporting at the time, averaging about 4,000 miles per week, and quickly put thousands of miles on the new rebuild. Several of the TC bolts backed out and the TC began rocking on the flexplate making a terrible noise. I called James and described the problem. He asked me to bring it back to him. He spent the better part of a day pulling my transmission, TC, and flexplate. He installed another new expensive billet flexplate and reinstalled the TC and automatic transmission while I drove his pickup that day, all at no charge to me.

A full DTT rebuild with all billet parts was not cheap but a minor refresh might be very affordable.

 

[KLauber]

Its a chuck!

"..... From my point of view, Cummins builds our engines. Jacobs (Jake Brake), originator and oldest manufacturer of exhaust brakes, is a Cummins subsidiary company. Their engineers work side by side building and testing their products together along with Dodge. I like both companies... ... "

Harvey,



Clessie Cummins had long retired from the engine company that bears his name and was enjoying his dotage when he perfected the engine brake design for Cummins and Detroit diesel engines. He was obligated to shop his patent to Cummins first, but they passed on the design as too radical (my words)! Oops! Later on, Fate arranged him to meet with the President of the Jacobs Company, maker of the finest drill chucks, and the rest is history. Jacobs Vehicle Systems is a stand-alone company. I have the book that Clessie's son wrote if you want to borrow it. Its a fascinating read. Wish Clessie had lived long enough to perfect his barrel compression engine with the Z shaped crankshaft!



Ken

 

[HBarlow]

Ken,

Well, that was a surprise. I have firmly believed for many years that Jacobs Vehicle Systems was owned by Cummins. I have no idea now why I have always had that misunderstanding. I think someone told me that back in 2001 when I bought my first Dodge Cummins and had the dealer install a Jacobs Exhaust Brake before I took delivery. Maybe it came from the TDR website because the availability of a Jacobs Exhaust Brake designed specifically for the Dodge platform and available from a Cummins dealer or a Dodge dealer in a MOPAR box back then was something new and discussed here a lot.

I guess my misunderstanding was firmly reinforced by the fact that Jacobs EB engineers were part of the briefings provided to TDR members during the July 2002 TDR Rally at the Cummins MREP in Columbus, IN. Also, by the long running thread based on informative update posts by a Jacobs engineer who was working closely with Cummins and Dodge.

Thanks for correcting what I have long believed was an absolute fact.

Actually, if you look at the Jacobs Vehicle Systems website it is revealed that Jacobs is not a stand alone company but is a wholly owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation which is apparently a huge corporation with wide interests.