Exhaust brake necessary??

[mlandis2]

The truck in my signature will be here soon and I'm wondering to exhaust brake or not to exhaust brake. I tow an 8000lb fiver mostly in the hills of the east coast and I will be new to towing with a diesel so I'm not sure what to expect



Is there a "magic" weight where you should really think about installing the brake or is it more like personal preference?



I'd like to hear from those of you who chose to have one as well as those who are towing without them. Thanks

 

[GAmes]

I've had one since my truck was new, 296k+ ago. I tow trailers of weights from 3k to 14k on a regular basis (67k+ towing miles last year) mostly west of the Mississippi but do venture east every now and then. My front pads currently have almost 200k on them and the rear shoes are the originals. I use my exhaust brake even when unloaded sometimes, and almost always when hooked to a trailer. I do not believe you would regret installing one.

 

[SRadke]

If I was towing any weight I wouldn't be without one. In hilly country it's a must have. You'll be surprised how much you find yourself using it. They also go hand in hand with manual transmissions, which I see you'll have



-Scott

 

[mlandis2]

Thanks for the quick replies. I see one of you has the Jacobs and one the Pacbrake. Pros and cons of each design?

 

[MTobin]

Ive got one on my 03 and was wondering the same thing,untill I came out of the bighorn mnts in wyoming and never had to touch the brake pedal. greatest thing since sliced bread. the more wieght the better it works.

 

[RankRam]

I don't tow all that much and I must say I will always have an E-Brake.



This was 90% of the reason I dumped my 03!



Once you have an E-Brake you will wonder how you got along without it. JMHO

 

[SRadke]

Jacobs is approved by DC and costs 15-20% more. Both do exactly the same thing.



Operational diffrences, Jacobs requires you to mount a belt driven vacuum pump on the front of the engine. Pac uses a small electric air compressor that mounts either on the firewall (passenger side) or on the engine (new design).



-Scott

 

[Turbo Thom]

And mine uses an electric solenoid on the brake, under the truck. I like it best. I've never had it stick or hangup. The others will. US GEAR for me.



. . Preston. .

 

[corprimo]

My US gear exhaust brake on my '97 has worked fairly well since install in '99, but it has stuck quite a few times, and then other times, it acts like it's possessed. Use the brake to come to a stop at a red light, then turn it off, wait for the green, and just as you start getting a bit of speed, the brake comes on, then goes off after a few seconds, then comes on again, then off - etc. I'm flipping the switch on and off like mad and saying a few choice words, and eventually, it decides to behave itself. It hasn't done it in about a year, so maybe the gremlins are gone, but I'm going with a Pacbrake on my '05 truck.

 

[TRLRTRSH]

exhaust brake

Enjoy your new truck, wish I had a six speed, but after thinking back on it with my hip problems shifting could get painful, Oh well, I am just waiting for the POS DC Auto to explode, then a transmission from one of the aftermarket shops will be installed to better support the exhaust brake,



GET ONE you will not regreat it in the long run.



Bill



P. S. Towing we are at 20,300#

 

[J&LRam]

Mike

I have the Jacobs because it was part of the deal ,$295, when I purchased the truck new. Jacobs or Pacbrake are the most popular with the Cummins crowd. BD also makes a good exhaust brake... ... ..... JIM

 

[K5IP]

I've been running a pac brake on my 95 since it was new. I was originally towing about 9000 lb but now have down sized to a 4500 llb 5th wheel. The pac brake was nice for me because I tow in the mountains. It was especailly nice because the brakes on the older Dodges, lline my 95 were not very good. With the lighter trailer the pac brake is not so important.

I think you fall in the marginal area. You have much better brakes than the older units and your weight is not all that high. Also, hilly east coast country is not the same as long 5 mile 6% down hill runs we sometimes have. Additionally, brake pads are not very expensive and take me less time to change than a oil change.

Then again, there is the"nice to have" factor.

Lots to consider.

Rog

 

[mlandis2]

Did anyone notice a reduction in power after installing the brake? It seems like the brake would reduce exhaust flow even in the open position when not in use.



Several of the manufacturers claim to have better designs to keep this to a minimum although none states if there is generically a reduction with all brakes.

 

[RankRam]

Did anyone notice a reduction in power after installing the brake? It seems like the brake would reduce exhaust flow even in the open position when not in use.

I had a Jacobs on my 99 and now a Pacbrake on my 05 and I could not tell a difference in power.



Hope this helps.

 

[SRadke]

They won't provide a backpressure issues to a mostly stock truck. I'd even venture to say less back pressure than the stock muffler. On an 05 you've basically lost a 1/4" strip out of the middle of your 4" exhaust pipe, not much restriction.



-Scott

 

[cwsoules]

With a manual transmission I would look hard at a jake brake. I have been happy with my pac brake.

 

[Froadin]

Not a day goes by that I don't use my brake.

It warms your truck up faster. It saves your service brakes.

It makes driving in traffic easier sometimes.

And it makes a difference if you need to stop fast with a big trailer, even on flat ground! My last trip out to CA, I had to stop FAST on the interestate while towing a 12K lb trailer. The brake helped out a lot.

Of course I didn't have to touch my brakes while going down the grapevine in CA with that same trailer.

I wouldn't get another diesel without one, period.

 

[GFrance]

I had a Banks exhaust brake on my truck since new & would'nt be without one. My truck is used mainly to pull my 12,000 lb 5vr. I just installed a brakesmart controller today & took the 5vr out for a test run before heading to the coast tomarrow. What a difference in reaction time on the trailer brakes.

 

[ramtifosi]

Would not be without one. Pulling a load or not, I hardly use my service brakes, just downshift and use the exhaust brake. I have a BD brand and am very satisfy with it. No matter with brand you buy get a stick mounted switch not a dash mounted switch. Costs a little more but you never be sorry.

 

[GerryDrake]

The Jacobs, from DC, not only doesn't tempt warranty denial, but is covered to 3/36... . and I second the comments about definitely having one, towing or not... Wouldn't be without it. .