Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Exhaust brake question

[Marv Windecker]

Hello everyone. I've been lurking here for quite a while and decided it's time for my first post.



Anyway, I've been thinking that I need an exhaust brake (more for cold weather warmup and idling than braking at the moment) For those of you with Pac, Jacobs, or Banks brakes (orifice in the butterfly type) what kind of EGTs do you see while idling?

Same question for those of you with BD or the wastegated US Gear brakes.



And finally, do the 'orifice in the butterfly types' generate much braking power below 1800 rpm?



BTW, I have the 35 lb. exhaust valve springs at the moment.



Thanks,

Marv

 

[Joe G.]

I dunno if all manufacturers make a brake for the 35 lb springs. My Pacbrake works fine with them. I have ordered the 60 lb springs so I can plug up the hole in the butterfly and get more braking.



My idle EGT usually stays above 400 degrees with the brake on. Eventually it will cool off from there but it takes a long time. Even then it will be at least 300.

 

[willyslover]

welcome to the boards. .

my set up is a little different. . however with my 4" BD remote brake I see 300/325 EGT's during warm-up use.

 

[DBCooper]

Joe, do you think there is that big of a difference in braking with the hole plugged? I'm thinking of a PacBrake and can't decide on the 60 lb springs.

 

[willyslover]

DB. . I'll jump in on this also... my old rig had the 3" mounted on the turbo model Pac Brake... and was a 98. 5 24 valve... the force / HP applied is much greater than the 12 valve with 35 lb. springs... I drove a 12v with 35 lb. springs . . IMHO well worth the price of a set of springs and install

 

[Joe G.]

DB,



I'm going to retire soon so I want the extra braking. Lots more TT pulling then. Piers has the best price for the springs that I could find.

 

[BFaoro]

60

I have the Pacbrake with the 60lb springs. I think that it was well worth the time to put the springs in. It isn't hard to do and the extra braking power is worth it. I pull gooseneck stock trailers full of cattle and it works very well, plus I dont have to worry about to much back pressure. Cool down is around 300 to 325 for my truck never lower than 300. It takes about a minute or so after pulling the trailer to get to that temp, less time if the outside air is cooler.

 

[Will Manchester]

I've been running a US Gear 3" brake for several years now. 12V stock springs. Plenty braking in Rocky Mountains pulling 6000lb TT. Idle EGT 250* off, 450*+ on. Since US Gear is wastegated to prevent too much back-pressure, HD springs aren't required, yet good lower RPM braking is maintained. Clean install... no clutter under hood. Also like the fact that the brake butterfly is 4 feet down the exhaust, not right at the turbo outlet. Suspect there might be some back-pressure created by the open butterfly on the elbow style brakes. IMHO

 

[Marv Windecker]

Thanks for your replies. I'm still undecided at this point. I've been

thinking about building my own remote mount brake. Maybe I'll try it with stock springs and an orifice to limit pressure at first.

I could always wastgate it/change springs from there.