Exhaust Brake Help Needed...

[mconstable]

Well, I've been towing a toy hauler for 5 years with my truck (see sig).

Bought a new Teton, which weighs about 5,000 lbs more than the toyhauler, and after crossing the Rockies, the need for an exhaust brake has become extremely evident to me!!!



Can I get opinions... I have no freaking idea on these things and don't want to make a purchase I'll regret. (no... . that's never happened! lol)

Thanks!

 

[Boomer1]

I have just installed a Jacobs Brake in my 2006 Dodge Laramie 3500 4X4 6speed manual. I did the job myself and it's not to hard to do just time consuming. The brake works well although I have not used it with a big trailer as yet as I'm still shopping around for one. I can see that it will be a big asset when towing and being in the hills as it works well empty. I think the garage wanted 10 hrs to install but like I say if your handy with tools you can do this yourself.

Good luck and hope this was some help to you.

 

[SBeretz]

PccBrake is the heat, very good low speed breaking and holds my truck and big toy hauler at the desired speeds on pretty much any hill I have hit so far. Hit up member Jelag for a deal you will not beat and the install is very easy. But it is time consuming. Scotty

 

[WHazelwood]

I just recently installed the PacBrake on mine and it does a good job with my 5th wheel "wildcat". It's about 9000# loaded. Only thing that I could have used two extra hands on was pulling up the exhaust pipe after installing the new elbow with the exhaust brake. Just follow the directions and everything went smooth.

Keep grinnin,

 

[Motorhead]

Oo. Pacbrake on mineOo. LOVE IT!

 

[wcjp]

Pacbrake is air operated. This adds onboard air to your truck. The compressor is not 100% duty cycle. But, great for an emergency. Also, no special belt needed for the vacuum pump. Coming down the mountain pass last weekend at 19. 1k Gross Weight never touched the vehicle brakes. Install was easy. I never removed the wheel liners or tires.

 

[mconstable]

Thanks for the help guys!!



btw... what are the differences between the Jake and the Pac?

 

[HBarlow]

Jacobs Exhaust Brakes are vacuum operated and PacBrakes are pressure operated. Gen III trucks don't have a vacuum pump so the Jacobs system uses an add on vacuum pump.



The PacBrake comes with a small air compressor for activation.



Both operate in similar ways and provide basically the same braking. Some prefer the Jacobs because it will be integrated with your ECM, some prefer the PacBrake.



PacBrake advertising claims better braking but both brakes operate with a 4" elbow and all either brake can do is block the 4" elbow with a butterfly valve. The EB is either open or closed, there is no partially closed or partial braking. I don't see how one can provide any more braking than the other.



It's a matter of personal choice.

 

[Pacbrake]

The biggest difference between the two brakes is the pressure regulation system. Back-pressure is determined by an orifice in the butterfly (set at maximum engine rpm) so at maximum engine speed all the exhaust brakes are equal in performance. What makes the Pacbrake PRXB stand out from them all is the variable orifice within the butterfly. As your engine RPM's start to drop the PRXB will shuttle the orifice closed to maintain the maximum back-pressure throughout the entire engine RPM band. A fixed orifice exhaust brake is set and will not change therefore the retarding performance is greatly reduced between 1900 and 1200 RPM's. Attached is a link which should give you a better idea of the retarding difference between the PRXB and a fixed orifice exhaust brake PRXB Exhaust Brakes: PRXB To The Test If I can answer any questions you may have feel free to drop me a line.

 

[Motorhead]

I just this last weekend towed a car trailer with a Corvette on it to L. A. Yea I was only towing 6,000lbs but the PRXB worked incredibly good. Most grades I had to turn it off intermittently because I didn't need to slow that much. It also works very good well below 2,000 rpm. It engages fast!

 

[Bob V]

Both operate in similar ways and provide basically the same braking. Some prefer the Jacobs because it will be integrated with your ECM, some prefer the PacBrake.

Both the Pac and the Jake integrate to the ECM the same

 

[AH64ID]

I have the Jacobs and really like it. I know some like the Pac because it has even braking down to 1200 rpms, but I really like the fact that the Jacobs doesn't do that. I may not always want max braking and find that the Jacobs almost always provides the braking I want, and if I need more I downshift...

I also like the Jacobs since it is endorsed by Cummins and Dodge.

 

[mconstable]

Thanks again guys... Do you manually activate the brake, or do the accelerator switch?

Any other tips before I purchase?

Thanks!

 

[AH64ID]

Thanks again guys... Do you manually activate the brake, or do the accelerator switch?

Any other tips before I purchase?

Thanks!

The brake has a on-off switch that links to the ECU, the ECU then controls the brake. It will only turn the brake on above 5mph with 0% fuel going to the engine, or stopped with a coolant temp below 180*.

 

[jelag]

Gosh... . missed getting my 2 cents in... . but it looks like its all been said very well... .

 

[AABEN]

I have the jacobs brake. With a 100 gal tank plus 40 + tool box 17. 000 38 foot fifthwheel camper . My Jacobs does a very good job It held me when I came down I 8 in Ca. going to Az. That is one big drop in to Salton Sea. Check out that drop. Hard pull to the top !!!--BEN

 

[mconstable]

Thanks BlackBear... done that road a few times, everytime I see signs for the Salton Sea, reminds me of the movie with Val Kilmer... crazy, crazy movie!!

 

[VZarich]

I have a Jake on my 06 Megacab. I have a 10k lb. Laredo 32ft bunkhouse I run about 21k lbs. combined fully loaded. I have negotiated some of the toughest mountain roads in the state of California with it with no problems. I purchased the Jake due to the fact that it is covered under my base and extended warranties for 100k and will not void any warranties. I have had no problems at all with my Jake in 25k miles. It makes a tremendous difference on the downgrades. Had I been out of warranty I would have purchased the Pac due to the fact that it is less expensive.

 

[Dan Simmonds]

The pressure regulation system that Pacbrake Harold referred to is a huge benefit. When loaded heavy (upper 20k's and lower 30k's) I often drop gears with the Pacbrake on right down to 2nd gear without touching the hydraulic service brakes in the truck (G56 manual trans). The PRXB is effective down into very low RPM's of 1200 or even 1000.



One thing that I am glad that I added to my PRXB, however is a simple water drain valve under the air tank. In the morning when I drain the air tank before getting started, I can see water vapor hitting the ground / asphalt directly under the valve after it's opened while the tank is emptying air, so there is a small amount of condensation that enters the air system.



This drain procedure I've gotten accustomed to doing may or may not be helpful to the lifespan of the PRXB in real life, but I figured it can't hurt to keep the air system as dry as possible.



Dan

 

[Andersonville]

I have the Jacobs brake and I have bought 3 of the vacuum pumps from Cummins for $95 each( Dodge wants $680 the last time I checked) If it were me I would get the Gear Vendors or Us Gear the one that uses an electric SOLENOID to switch the exhaust brake in and out. I have 270k on my truck and have been thru 3 vacuum pumps and fixing to get a 4th maybe. Anybody have a copy of the wiring diagram for installing the exhaust brake in the truck. Usually they last 100k,this one is intermittent. I am wondering if something else has crapped out or maybe salt corrosion is causing a bad connection. OH YEAH It is definately worth the money. I am still on my original brake pads and I tow '40 RV's all the time.