Exhaust Brake Comparison Test....

[AndrewKing]

HI All,



I've been reading everything I can about exhaust brakes here an on other forums but so far I have not been able to find any head to head comparison tests between the big 4 makers of exhaust brakes... .



Is there a test in any magazine that has done extensive tests between the major brands of brakes?



It seems that most people like either the Pac Brake or BD brakes..... I did take the time to get literature from Banks and of course they say theirs is the best (unbiased no doubt! ;-O)... .



Some people say BD brakes to the lowest RPM while Pac Brake says they have the most retarding force... . I'd like an unbiased test... .



Anybody out there know of such a test?



Thanks!



Andrew

 

[HBarlow]

I had Jacobs/Mopar exhaust brakes on my '01 and '06 Dodges and cannot offer any experience related to the other brands. Clessie Cummins designed and pioneered the engine brake and Jacobs, was the first manufacturer. Jacobs brakes were offered as an option through Dodge parts departments. These facts made me partial to the brand.

But regardless of the brand a buyer chooses, my thought has always been . . . how can one brake provide more braking force than any other? Regardless of which brand name is stamped on the exhaust brake, the Cummins engine displaces 5. 9 liters. The compression ratio remains the same. The exhaust valves and exhaust manifolds are the same. The turbos are the same. The gearing of any given truck is the same. If you block the exhaust with a rag, a potato, a beer can, or the butterfly valve of an exhaust brake the exhaust stream is blocked. How can one exhaust brake do a better job of blocking the exhaust outlet and provide better braking than another brand?

Stated another way, if you select one Dodge-Cummins truck and test each of the three or four brands of exhaust brake on that one particular truck with the same Cummins engine, all each of the different brands can do is block the exhaust. How could one differ from the other in braking force?

There are differences between the brands on the trucks of some years in that some were vacuum activated and others were pressure activated. And the brakes are manufactured to different designs by different companies so there may be differences in the durability or lifespan or cost to the consumer.

 

[AndrewKing]

HI HBarlow,

Good point about a blocked is blocked in terms of braking power.....

I suppose there could still be some variations in braking power depending on a manufacturers exhaust bypass holes (I suppose you can't totally block ALL exhaust flow or something will give somewhere... . ). So maybe the brake with the smallest bypass hole will give the best braking performance... . THAT logic seems to make sense. .

The one other interesting thing I noticed in the Banks brochure was that they claimed their setup was better than the others because it was designed to flow more air when in the opened position... .

I suppose in looking at the total picture... . more often than not the exhaust brake will be OPENED rather than closed for braking so maybe there should be significant weight put on the flow when opened... . This seems to make sense too since most people want to lower EGT's by flowing better..... Hmmm sooo much to think about

But without definitive answers as to what is truly the best overall (braking while activated AND flow when not activated) maybe just getting an exhaust brake is better
and not worrying about it is the best answer? NAhhhh Hey... . TDR how about an in depth test PLEASE? ;-)

Andrew

 

[Matt400]

It was my understanding that a standard EB allows for a certain amount of exhaust flow when closed at high RPM's to keep back pressure within safety limits. So as you slow down and the RPM's decrease so does the back pressure yet you still have the same flow resulting in less braking than when the RPM's are higher.



The newer style PRXB (pressure regulated exhaust brake) here: PRXB Exhaust Brakes: The Mechanics closes off more of this flow (that can't be closed at higher RPM's) at the lower RPM's resulting in higher back pressure for better braking.



Maybe its hype, dunno never had a standard brake but I have read here from people who have changed from a standard Pac to the PRXB and notice a difference.

 

[SRadke]

It was my understanding that a standard EB allows for a certain amount of exhaust flow when closed at high RPM's to keep back pressure within safety limits. So as you slow down and the RPM's decrease so does the back pressure yet you still have the same flow resulting in less braking than when the RPM's are higher.



The newer style PRXB (pressure regulated exhaust brake) here: PRXB Exhaust Brakes: The Mechanics closes off more of this flow (that can't be closed at higher RPM's) at the lower RPM's resulting in higher back pressure for better braking.



Maybe its hype, dunno never had a standard brake but I have read here from people who have changed from a standard Pac to the PRXB and notice a difference.

Basically what Matt said here is exactly correct. The old design was a fixed orifice design which was calibrated to create 60 psi back pressure at redline. This pressure would then tail off as rpm decreased because exhaust flow decreases with rpm but the orifice stays the same size.



The new design such as the PRXB uses utilizes a spring loaded window which does a better job of holding the pressure up higher at lower rpm thus providing better braking.



What you may have deduced from this information is that all brakes which are working correctly will make that 60psi at redline and all have comparable braking power. It's how they function at lower rpm that separates the men from the boys.



-Scott

 

[CUMMINZ]

I installed a Mopar brake on my 06 auto and thought it was great. One thing is for sure it was not much good after you slowed your speed in 2nd. gear and it kicked out. It is my understanding that some advertise that their brakes stay engaged longer which if true would be an advantage.

Since I now run an 07. 5 6. 7L with built in brake I now notice how inferior the Mopar brake was on my 06. One other thing, I just had my turbo cleaned and after a year or more of driving I can tell a large difference with the turbo cleaned. The turbo spools up faster and the brake is more responsive.



The eBrake is a good investment no matter what brand you install. :-laf

 

[CKelley1]

we run all three the cr's were purchased with the jacobs installed, the bd and pac are the same in braking power at low end and many times better than jacobs, i have a slight preference of the bd over pack and as the vacuum pumps fail on the jacobs we change to bd

 

[BrianJ]

Since I now run an 07. 5 6. 7L with built in brake I now notice how inferior the Mopar brake was on my 06.

The build in brake in the 6. 7L is not comparable to the Mopar/Jacobs exhaust brake, or any other after-market exhaust brake. The built in brake is 25% more efficient than ANY other exhaust brake by design (much more efficient working with the turbo vanes).



You statement would be more correct to state ALL exhaust brakes (not just mopar) are inferior to the built in brake on the 6. 7's.

 

[SRadke]

The VGT is more efficient but the 10% more displacement is a big factor in better retarding.

 

[Desperado]

I have ran a BD turbo mount brake on my 95, with 60# valve springs, it did a nice job, then went with a BD 4" remote mount, after changing turbos, the 4" worked a lot better then the turbo mount. On my dads 96 with stock valve spring I put on a used turbo mount PAC brake that works just as good as the BD turbo mount that I had on my 95. I'm now running the Cummins/Dodge brake that came on my 2001, and what a POS it is compaired to any of the others I have ran, it takes 3 to 4 secondes longer to apply and dose not hold as good as the others, when I get some money saved up I'll be getting either a BD or PAC 4" remote mount, to replace the Cummins/Dodge brake.

 

[CUMMINZ]

Brian's quote... You (your) statement would be more correct to state ALL exhaust brakes (not just mopar) are inferior to the built in brake on the 6. 7's. [/QUOTE]



Brian,



I can only speak to the accuracy of my statement about the Mopar because it is only one I have owned and operated.

 

[CKelley1]

you are correct about the 6. 7. i just noticed he has a 12 valve truck, andrew you will have to change your valve springs at the time you install the brake