Exhaust Brake selection

[gaylejoe]

Thinking seriously of adding an exhaust brake to my 06 Dodge 2500 2WD. My choice is the PacBrake but, my choice will probably be between the Dodge brand and BP. Can't find anyone around the east side of San Antonio or Seguin who carry the PacBrake. Which would be my best choice, the Dodge brand or the BP (I think I have that right) ? The prices given installed are $2200 to 2400.

 

[AEdelheit]

I would strongly suggest the PakBrake even if you have to install it yourself, They are fairly easy to install. Either way Id atleast try to stay away from anything requiring a belt driven Vacuum pump, heard to many stories of them failing and taking out the serpentine belt.

 

[jelag]

I was a pacbrake distributor for a lot of years... . you'll like how the pacbrake interfaces with the ECM and how easy it is to install... go to the pacbrake web sight... and they can help you find a local distributor... or offer you one direct... if you specific questions either post them or write me directly... I'll be happy to answer them for you...

 

[TFaucette]

I have a Jacobs and love it, just like they were talking about interfaces with ecm it works like a charm, however it is on a beltdriven vacuum pump and not that it created a problem with belt just after 100k the pump got weak

 

[RVTRKN]

Were the 06 autos upgraded for the EB? The thrust bearing in the 48re were upgraded either in 06 or 07, any year below that should have a transmission upgrade if an Auto.

 

[jelag]

TFaucette

When I ran Fords, they had a Delco vacuum pump that functioned the same as the vacuum pump on the Jacobs unit... it also ran the power brake booster... we found that if once a year... we put 2-3 table spoons of oil in the vacuum line and let the pump run that oil through the pump and out the exhaust. . it would flush out all the dirt... this process is a mess and I've never seen the suggestion in a service manual...

But we found that if we tested the vacuum with a gauge before and after... there was always an improvement. . you can't believe how much dirt will come out with the oil... clean oil in... black nasty oil out... . We chose to do this in the fall when we checked the antifreeze for winter... in fact we had a winter check list... but that's another tread... .

 

[B.G. Smith]

There is a member on here who sells the Pac Brake and the one I bought was shipped from somewhere here in Texas and I got it in a couople of days. I installed it myself, not too difficult, works fine. bg

 

[EricMcCooeye]

Is an exhaust brake on a auto '94 3500 a good idea? Cost?
thanks,
eric

 

[Shadrach]

Is an exhaust brake on a auto '94 3500 a good idea? Cost?

thanks,

eric

Not unless the trans has been upgraded.





I have the Pac on my 03 and love it. The Jake works good too but you will need to carry a spare belt ( you should anyway ) as it is different from the stock one. David

 

[jelag]

For an exhaust brake to work well on a auto transmission vehicle it needs the ability to hold the fluid pressure until the engine rpm drops to about 800 rpm. this fluid pressure keeps the transmission locked up to transfer the power through the transmission to the engine... in most early transmissions... as soon as the throttle (not RPM) went to idle the transmission would normally drop fluid pressure to almost zero... allowing the torque converter and clutch packs to slip and let the engine free wheel... .

There are some transmission guys who can do this for you... and PacBrake used to have some kits to do this... for those years of trucks that had transmissions that could handle the power running backwards through it...

I know I installed one a BIL's 2nd gen truck but can't remember the year... we were able to find a transmission kit for that truck... we also changed the valve springs to run the exhaust brake at 60 psi back pressure... .

Hope this answers some of your questions. .

 

[EricMcCooeye]

Thanks David,
eric

 

[EricMcCooeye]

Thanks Jim,
Very helpful!
I understand that this '94 3500 4x4 is stock at 160HP. I am told that the pressure in the pump is turned down so that the auto transmission can handle it.
Can I safely turn up the HP or do I have to upgrade the transmission before I do?

thanks,
eric

 

[cerberusiam]

Were the 06 autos upgraded for the EB? The thrust bearing in the 48re were upgraded either in 06 or 07, any year below that should have a transmission upgrade if an Auto.

The thrust bearing non-issue was addressed in mid 04. Basically 04. 5 thru 07 48RE's were good to go with an EB and accompanying mods.

Is an exhaust brake on a auto '94 3500 a good idea? Cost?
thanks,
eric

If you are towing heavy then it is an excellent idea. The trans will need some mods to use the brake effectively and a billet cover TC is almost a must. The stock TC will work but they were a weak point. A shift kit and this http://www.dieselperformance.com/index.php/product/index/29P will allow the use of an EB. How long the trans will last is dependent on worn it is now.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Almost 200k on a BD brake without issues here. Less moving parts and non- vacuum operated.

 

[CKelley1]

we run all of them in our fleet. the bd and pac are equal and best in stopping power. the bd is a better choice for you because of where the compressor mounts. avoid the jake, it is old technology with half the brake hp of the pac or bd and is expensive to fix.

 

[Shadrach]

Eric The 94 didn't have the same pistons, injectors or fuel pump as say a 97 215 engine, so don't get too carried away with increasing the power without changing these parts. You can always get big power out of a engine but the life span decreases accordingly. For parts contact Harry http://www.peakdieselperformance.com/home.html. They are in someplace called Langley. I thinks it's out West of you :-laf

gaylejoe Don't forget you can always have one shipped to you.

David

 

[EricMcCooeye]

Thank you,

eric

 

[gaylejoe]

Nobody has mentioned the exhaust brake by Dodge.

 

[AEdelheit]

The one by Dodge is the Jacobs brand and it has been mentioned

 

[EricMcCooeye]

Thanks David and God bless,
eric