Exhaust Brake ?? YA or NA

[Sky]

I want to get peeps thoughts and opinions on a exhaust brake. I tow around 4-5k for about 700 miles a week up and over passes etc. I am a bit concerned and wondering if this puts stress on an auto, or with anything at all?



I have herd advantages and disadvantages.



Thanks for any help,



Mike

 

[RustyTRanch]

You would have to upgrade trans. before you could get any benifit from it. I don't have auto but I think it is the best addition to my truck. I use it all the time towing and running empty.

You would have to see if added cost is worth the gain for your situation. Good luck

mike

 

[ANCIENT WOOD]

You already have trans upgrades so my opinion is go for it, the exhaust brake is the best towing upgrade I made. Since you have Bill Ks' upgrades you should call him for advice and maybe a good deal on a brake.

 

[NVR FNSH]

Definite Yey - I have a 6spd & tow a 10k 5th wheel now. Wouldn't want to be w/o it.





Brian

 

[Hemiville]

The only problem I see is that if you are still under Fact. warranty, by installing the brake you would void the warranty on any failure that occured that they could blame on the brake . Like trans problems, for one. I had a pac brake on my 92 and just LOVED it But, I waited until I was out of warranty before I put it on. Now I just bought a new 01 and regretfully will have to wait for 75000 miles before I can install one, unless of course, I am willing to suffer a $ loss if anything happened.

 

[Big White Beast]

I was advised against it.....

Talked to Bill K. about carrying the constant weight I do and an exhaust break. Even with the mods from DTT you would need a controller to keep the transmission locked up.



I was told it was really rough on the auto's. Brake pads and rotors are cheap in comparison. I also don't tow really heavy loads. Truck is 10k lbs. all the time, occasionaly tow a trailer with 3k or 4k.



But Bill is the one to talk to. Your situation might be different.



Just my 2¢ worth,



Garrett

 

[Sky]

I am already out of warranty so thats no big deal. And I know Bill K doesnt like them much so Im not sure what Im going to do.

 

[Silver Streak]

E brake

I tow a 34 ft. 5th wheel and would not be without one





SILVER STREAK

 

[JohnE]

I've been meaning to talk to Bill about some <em>preventative maintenance</em> on my transmission, meaning VB & TC. I also want to talk about engine brakes.



A spark ignition engine has a built in engine brake called a buttefly valve or throttle. It too operates at low or no throttle position so the transmission is probably running at lower pressures on the clutches, too.



How does your auto powered Ran function on mountain roads when the cruise is engaged? Mine does not drop back to idle and disengage the TC. It holds engine RPM up and seems to keep the TC locked. The inertia of the Cummins helps slow my speeds.



There must be a compromise in the formula someplace?



John

 

[CUMINNTSTRKN]

i drove bill k's tuck when we were in spokane and he had a pac brake on it. with his transmission and that brake the truck worked great while slowing. he said he likes the pac brake becuase it needs more rpm to work therefore helping the tanny out. the bd brake gives alot of braking hp at low rpm's which is hard on the auto's. one more reason to have a sixspeed.



jim

 

[SlyBones]

Even though you have a 24v, which I believe has 60# springs, you could set it up like a 12v with std. springs. Not as much breaking effect, but less stress on the transmission, and still better than stock. Use a pacbrake for the reasons mentioned by Jim and one of Bill's smartcontrollers.

 

[amsoilman]

SKY,

I have the BD exhaust brake on my truck, and it has been there for many, many miles. wouldn't want to tow anything without one!! I do have the ability to lock the TCC hoowever. Whithout this feature, the EB would be useless on the automatic.



Wayne

amsoilman

 

[Sky]

Well for now I think I will shy away from it until I mabe talk to Bill and get a little more educated about it. I will not install TC lock up! I now have almost 40k on the truck and havent had to replace the brakes or anything yet so if I get 50k or more out of the brakes then I guess I will be happy.